Saquarema is the home of Brazilian surfing and hosts the WSL Championship Tour every year at Itaúna Point. The wave is a powerful right-hand point that breaks over a sand-covered rock shelf, producing long, hollow barrels when winter swells push up from the south. The spot has produced more world champions than anywhere else in Brazil, with Gabriel Medina, Adriano de Souza, and Filipe Toledo all cutting their teeth here. Expect heavy crowds and a competitive atmosphere, but the wave quality justifies the hype.
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
Return flights to GIG, departing today with a 5-day trip window.
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Water temp
22°C
Wetsuit
Springsuit / 2mm
Difficulty
7/10
Crowd level
9/10
Saquarema - Itaúna is a point break in Saquarema, RJ, Brazil, that mostly breaks right.
Saquarema - Itaúna picks up swell from the SE round to the SSW, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the SSE. It starts working at around 1.2m and handles up to about 4.5m, with the sweet spot around 2.7 to 3.7m. Period matters too: aim for 14s or longer, as anything under 10s tends to be weak. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
A N wind is dead offshore at Saquarema - Itaúna, and anything from the NW round to the NE keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 5am to 10am. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
Saquarema - Itaúna is at its best around the low to mid tide.
The most reliable run of swell at Saquarema - Itaúna comes Mar to Oct. Best in autumn/winter with SW swells.
The water at Saquarema - Itaúna averages around 22°C, so you'll want a springsuit or 2mm. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.
Not really. It's rated 7/10 for difficulty and suits experienced surfers. It gets busy (crowd 9/10), so mind the pecking order. Very crowded, strong local crew.
The nearest airport on our list is GIG, then it's roughly a 1.5-hour drive.
The closest breaks we track are Saquarema - Barrinha (1.9 km), Jacone (16 km) and Laje do Shock (54 km), handy when Saquarema - Itaúna isn't working.
Peak: Mar-Oct
Best in autumn/winter with SW swells
💥 Heavy wedge • Hawaiian-style barrels • SW swell magnet
🌊 Saquarema alternative • Less crowded • Consistent peaks
💀 3ft over rock • Death-defying slab • Experts only
⚡ Rio's most powerful wave • Dramatic boulder setting • Competition venue
🌊 All levels option • Niterói reliability • Less crowded
🛡️ Protected bay • Beginner option • Itacoatiara alternative