Best waves from the South and Southeast of Brazil to surf

Luckily for us, we live in a country with many options for those who want to surf. However, most of  the best surf   spots in Brazil are beach breaks, that is, they have a sandy bottom, which is good from the point of view of decreasing the risk of injuries, but bad from the point of view of lack of frequency. . It is not uncommon for us to have to hope for a swell, because the sea is completely flat, which does not happen in peaks with rock or coral bottom, which end up having waves, even if small.

If you are looking for wave options, planning a surf trip (we made a post to help you plan your surf trip) or even wondering if you have already surfed on  the best surf   spots in Brazil, we will help you. After the success of the articles on  the best surf   spots  in Rio de Janeiro   and Florianópolis, we decided to try to map  the best surf   spots in Brazil.

Of course, it will be impossible to please Greeks and Trojans, but we did our best. If you felt that we forgot any important peak, just let us know in the comments and we will evaluate if it is worth placing it. We try to encompass all regions of Brazil and put a maximum of 5 peaks per state, so as not to be repetitive.

Best Surf Peaks in Brazil

As shown in the map below, the count of the best waves in Brazil looks like this:

South and Southeast waves:

• Santa Catarina: 5
• State: 1
• Sao Paulo: 5
• Rio de Janeiro: 5
• Holy Spirit: 1

North and Northeast waves:

• Bahia: 4
• State: 1
• Pernambuco: 4
• Rio Grande do Norte: 2
• Ceará: 1
• State: 1

From here, we will try to talk a little about each of  the best surf   spots in Brazil, traveling from south to north of the country as if we were traveling by car along the coast.

Praia da Vila - Imbituba - Santa Catarina

Better conditions:

• Best swells: south, southeast and east
• Best winds: north, northwest and west terraces
• Ripple size: surfable from 1m to 5m
• Frequency: constant, about 150 days a year
• Problems: localism and crowd
• Other attractions: ecological lighthouse trail, with beautiful scenery, and whale watching 20 meters from the coast

The city of Imbituba is north of Laguna and south of Garopaba, about 95km by car south of Florianópolis. To get there, a car is the best alternative, but there are direct buses from Florianópolis and Curitiba, in a 5 to 6 hour trip.

Praia da Vila is a very important and famous surf spot on the national and international scene, since from 2003 to 2010 it was the Brazilian headquarters of WCT.

The peak is very consistent, as you can surf it from 1 meter and, in the surf, you will find waves of up to 5 meters. However, there is a clear entrance channel, so even on the big days, you will be able to reach the line-up with ease.

The waves break to the right and to the left on a sandbar, although the best place for surfing is more towards the corner of the beach, and sometimes they are tubular. For these characteristics, it is a beach very compared to Sunset Beach, in Hawaii.

Silveira Beach - Garopaba - Santa Catarina

Better conditions:

• Best swells: south and southeast
• Best winds: north and northwest terraces
• Ripple size: surfable from 1m to 4m
• Frequency: constant, about 150 days a year
• Problems: rocks, localism and crowd
• Other attractions: beach surrounded by mountains with preserved Atlantic forest

Another worthwhile southern wave. Getting to Garopaba is relatively easy. Just go by car on the BR101 or take a bus from Floripa. But to get to Silveira beach, it is better to take a car, as the beach is in a wilder location.

It is certainly one of the best known and best surf spots in Brazil, but I do not recommend it at all for beginners. The bottom is of stone in the point-break that is in the right corner and the waves can be really big breaking to the right. Inside, a powerful, tubular wave breaks that is known as Mike Tyson… guess why? Haha ha!

Further to the left you will find less crowded beach breaks. The best swells are from the south and southeast and the best winds are from the north and northwest terraces. From the video I think you can already see that the crowd there is not small, so respect the locals!

Guarda Beach - Guarda do Embaú - Santa Catarina

Better conditions:

• Best swells: south, southeast, east and northeast
• Best winds: north, northwest, west and southwest terraces
• Ripple size: surfable from 1m to 3m
• Frequency: frequent, more than 150 days a year
• Problems: breaking boards (shallow) and crowd

Guarda do Embaú beach is further north of Imbituba and Garopaba, a little closer to Florianópolis (55km). It is quite easy to reach, as the direct bus from Florianopolis by PaulTur. The trip takes about 1.5 hours. By car, you must turn at the interchange of kilometer 244 on BR101 (to the left of those coming from the north and right from the south).

At Guarda do Embaú beach there are two good places to surf. The left corner is at the mouth of a river and depending on the conditions, it forms a very shallow sand bank with long, tubular waves to the left. Be careful not to break the board! The middle of the beach breaks waves to the right and to the left.

Campeche - Florianópolis - Santa Catarina

Better conditions:

• Best Ripples: South
• Best winds: west, southwest, northwest
• Ripple size: surfable from 1m to 2.5m
• Frequency: works from time to time
• Problems: localism

Campeche beach is about 15km from the center of Florianópolis, in other words, quite accessible. It is on the east coast of the island of Floripa, a little to the south, and the waves break in front of the main entrance to the beach.

It is one of the longest rights in Brazil with more than a minute when it breaks classic. Some places call it C-Bay, alluding to Jeffrey’s Bay in South Africa. To break the classic, the swell must be from the south and wind from the west quadrant. On those days, all the surfers from Florianópolis will be there, so respect the locals.

Joaquina Beach - Florianópolis - Santa Catarina

Better conditions:

• Best swells: east or southeast
• Best winds: west, northwest or north
• Wave size: surfable from less than 1m to 3-4m
• Frequency: constant, about 150 days a year
• Problems: localism, rochas, correnteza
• Other Attractions: practice sandboarding in the nearby dunes and observe the beauties of the region

Another must-see southern wave is Joaquina beach. Joaquina beach is one of the most famous in terms of surfing in Brazil, as it was already host in the late 80's of the World Surfing Championship. But we didn’t put her here just because of that. In the right conditions, you can be sure that the left corner of joaquina is one of  the best surf   spots in Brazil.

It is just 18km from the center of Florianópolis by car, on the east coast more to the center of the island, very close to Campeche. To get there, you must drive along Avenida das Rendeiras and follow signs to Joaquina.

To break the classic left, the swell must be in the east or southeast and the wind from northwest, west or north. Like any beach-break, be careful when trying to reach the line-up. There is no easy and obvious way. Despite being one of the best known peaks in Brazil, it is not very difficult to find a good wave quality without being too full.

Matinhos Peak - Matinhos - Paraná

Better conditions:

• Best swells: east or southeast
• Best winds: west
• Ripple size: surfable from less than 0.5m to 3m
• Frequency: constant, about 150 days a year
• Problems: localism

We closed our list of the best waves in the south with the Matinhos peak. Matinhos beach is not close to any big city. It is just over 100km from Curitiba, a little south of Ilha do Mel. To get there from Curitiba, you must take the BR277 towards Paranaguá and then PR508. By bus, the two companies that make the journey are:

The Matinhos peak is known to form, under special conditions, one of the longest rights in Brazil. It is a right that rarely exceeds 1.5 meters, but rolls for a long time parallel to the stones. On the best days, the waves roll in sections, some full and others tubular. Locals invade the line-up, so be respectful. There is still a certain localism there.

Tombo Beach - Guarujá - São Paulo

Better conditions:

• Best waves: east, south and southeast
• Best winds: west
• Ripple size: surfable up to 3m
• Frequency: constant, about 150 days a year
• Problems: localism, correntezas

Praia do tombo has  the best surf   spots on the south coast of São Paulo. It is located in Guarujá, it is quite easy to find and is a little south of the beach of pitangueiras, if you follow Avenida General Rondon.

The beach is always crowded and is a crowd formed by many good surfers, so I don't recommend it for beginners. The most disputed points are the corners of the beach: the right with a slab and the left known as Bostrô. Tombo waves tend to be strong, hollow, with high performance on the best days.

Maresias - São Sebastião - São Paulo

Better conditions:

• Best swells: south and southeast
• Best winds: east
• Wave size: surfable from less than 1m to 3-4m
• Frequency: constant, about 150 days a year
• Problems: localism, correnteza
• Other Attractions: nightlife and, hopefully, you will share the line-up with WCT professionals

We do not need to make much effort to conclude that the place that most revealed Brazilian Storm athletes is one of  the best surf   spots in Brazil. The maresias beach is in the city of São Sebastião, on the north coast of São Paulo. Access is very easy, directly via BR101, which crosses almost the entire coast of Brazil (from RS to RN). It is also 2 and a half hours from São Paulo (capital).

Due to the fame and the quality of the peaks, maresias has a strong commercial and tourist structure, with quality bars, restaurants and nightlife. On the beach formed by beach breaks, the right corner, known as the corner of Moreira, has a high level crowd and is known for having the best tubes in São Paulo breaking to the right, perhaps from Brazil. In the middle of the beach, the waves also break in tubular ditches, ideal for experienced surfers.

Paúba - São Sebastião - São Paulo

Better conditions:

• Best swells: south and southwest
• Best winds: east and northeast
• Wave size: surfable from less than 1m to 3-4m
• Frequency: works sometimes
• Problems: current, shallow bottom
• Other Attractions: close nightlife and beach surrounded by nature

Paúba beach is just 2 km from the beach of maresias, that is, the same 2 and a half hours from São Paulo (capital) and even access via BR101. It ends up being a good alternative for the crowd of Maresias, but at the time of the big tubes, it is very common to see professional surfers competing in the waves outside accompanied by photographers.

It is not a wave for the inexperienced, as the  sandy bottom   is very shallow and the powerful tubes break very close to the shore. If you are going to venture there, take more than one board! =)

The best waves break to the right, but there are good ditches to the left as well.

Ponta do Bonete - Ilhabela - São Paulo

Better conditions:

• Best swells: south and southeast
• Best winds: north, northeast, east and northwest
• Wave size: surfable from less than 1m to 2.5m
• Frequency: constant, about 150 days a year
• Problems: current
• Other Attractions: Ilhabela's natural beauty

Bonete beach is a very isolated surf spot. Stay in Ilhabela and, to get there, you will need to face a 4 hour trek in the middle of the forest or go by boat, which is much easier, in a trip of about 1 hour. Ilhabela is right next to São Sebastião and due to the difficult access to bonete beach, you can imagine that you will surf a peak with almost no crowd.

The great stars of the peak are the tubular and strong rights that, depending on the conditions, will also allow air between sections. But you will also find some ditches on the left. If you have the opportunity, do not hesitate to check out one of  the best surf   spots in Brazil, with all the natural beauty that Ilhabela can offer.

Itamambuca - Ubatuba - São Paulo

Better conditions:

• Best swells: south, southeast, east and southwest
• Best winds: west, northwest and north
• Wave size: surfable from less than 1m to 3-4m
• Frequency: frequent, more than 150 days a year
• Problems: localism
• Other Attractions: Mata Atlântica

Itamambuca is one of the beaches that is credited both as one of  the best surf   spots in Brazil that once hosted the World Surfing Championship in 1988 without commercial reasons. The beach also hosted the first surf festivals in Brazil. The beach is in Ubatuba, on the north coast of São Paulo. It is about a 3 hour drive from São Paulo via BR116 and 4 hours from Rio de Janeiro via BR101.

The beach receives almost all types of waves from the south quadrant and all points are surfable (right, middle and left). For this reason, even in the crowd days, you will find your waves without problems leaving the most disputed point: the legendary right corner, which breaks beside the rock, at the exit of the Itamambuca River. The waves are strong and maneuverable throughout their length and, depending on the height of the tide, tubes roll!

Barra de Guaratiba - Rio de Janeiro - Rio de Janeiro

Better conditions:

• Best Ripples: South
• Best winds: northeast and east
• Ripple size: less than 1m to 2m surfable
• Frequency: works from time to time
• Problems: localism, few parking spaces
• Other Attractions: SUP on the channel and almost wild scenery of Restinga da Marambaia

Barra de Guaratiba is the southernmost neighborhood in the city of Rio de Janeiro with beaches. The peak of surf with sand bottom is at the mouth of the channel that connects the mainland to Restinga da Marambaia. Under normal conditions, the waves are small and full, ideal for beginners, but when it breaks classic, the wave connects restinga to the inside and stays long and tubular, slightly reminding some Indonesian lefts.

It only works in very special conditions: south swell (sometimes southwest) and northeast or east wind.  to surf   in Guaratiba in classic conditions, plan ahead. Arrive early, on the first day of ideal conditions. After a certain time, the line-up will be invaded by locals and the localism there is strong. There are also few parking options, as the neighborhood is quite small with narrow streets. Anyway, if you fit a wave, it will be a dream wave.

Prainha - Rio de Janeiro - Rio de Janeiro

Better conditions:

• Best swells: south, southeast and east
• Best winds: northwest
• Wave size: surfable from less than 1m to 2.5m
• Frequency: frequent, more than 150 days a year
• Problems: crowd
• Other Attractions: beauties in the sand and landscape of the nature reserve

The small beach is on the west side of the city of Rio de Janeiro and is one of the most charming and famous surfing spots in the city. To reach it, just follow the coast from Barra da Tijuca, then Recreio, macumba beach and finally you arrived.

The great thing about this  sandy bottom   beach is that there are waves for all tastes. In the right and left corners, waves break to the right and left with excellent formation, respectively, and in the middle of the beach, tubular waves break to both sides. As you can imagine, in Rio's favorite crowd is intense and it is not difficult to share the line-up with the best surfers in Rio and Brazil, depending on the conditions.

 to surf   on the beach, plan, as the beach is within an ecological reserve and parking spaces are super restricted.

Sao Conrado - Rio de Janeiro - Rio de Janeiro

Better conditions:

• Best swells: south, east, southeast and southwest
• Best winds: North
• Wave size: surfable from less than 1m to 3m
• Frequency: works sometimes
• Problems: localism, current and pollution
• Other Attractions: Pedra Bonita gliding landing point

São Conrado is an easily accessible neighborhood in the south of Rio. The neighboring coastal neighborhoods are Leblon / Gávea and Barra da Tijuca and almost all bus lines between the south and Barra pass through there. It is also the neighborhood where the largest slum in the world is located, Rocinha.

The bottom is sandy and the waves are heavy, strong and tubular, perhaps the most tubular in the city of Rio. It has already been chosen by surfers like Carlos Burle and Pedro Scooby, among others, as one of  the best surf   spots in Brazil. It is definitely not a wave for beginners, because in addition to the features already mentioned, it also breaks near the beach. On the biggest days, it is ideal for the practice of tow-in, since you will experience difficulties to get outside on the paddle.

In the left corner there is a very good left, but you will share the line-up with locals, mainly Rocinha body boarders, so respect them. The middle of the beach is where one of the best and most tubular waves breaks. In the right corner it is more rare, but in some conditions you will also find a right there.

Arpoador - Rio de Janeiro - Rio de Janeiro

Better conditions:

• Best swells: southeast, east and south
• Best winds: north, northeast and east
• Ripple size: less than 1m to 2m surfable
• Frequency: frequent, but classic only sometimes
• Problems: localism and crowd
• Other Attractions: look at the Dois Irmãos hill in Rio de Janeiro

The arpoador stone is located between two tourist symbols of Rio de Janeiro: the cobacabana beach and the ipanema beach. It is the landmark of the surf peak in Arpoador. When the wave is breaking behind the rock, you can be sure that you will have a beautiful session despite the strong presence of locals and tourists in the line-up. On other days, the beach is ideal for beginners, with the presence of several surf schools and freelance teachers.

Despite the wave breaking on a rock, the arpoador is a beach break that breaks to the left. It is very rare to find a tube there, but the waves have excellent formation and are very maneuverable. It is also a symbol of the surfing history of Rio and Brazil. It hosted several surfing championships, including IPS in the late 1970s, early 1980s - as the surfing world was known. It also shared the status of WCT headquarters in 2012 and 2013 with Barra da Tijuca.

Itaúna - Saquarema - Rio de Janeiro

Better conditions:

• Best swells: east, southeast and south
• Best winds: north, northwest and east
• Wave size: surfable from less than 1m to 4-5m
• Frequency: very frequent, more than 150 days a year
• Problems: localism, current

Saquarema has the not-too-exaggerated nickname of Maracanã do surf. It is 100km from Rio de Janeiro via BR101 and has the best surfing spot on Itauúna beach on a left point break that breaks from a rock. The beach was the headquarters of  the WCT   in 2002 and still hosts one of the most important stages of the WQS prime. There is a consensus among athletes on the tour that, were it not for commercial reasons, Barra da Tijuca would be passed over by Itaúna.

The wave is very powerful and extremely maneuverable. The left corner holds waves of more than 4 meters with east waves. Inside, with waves of up to 1.5m, the tubes usually appear. The beach is often compared to Sunset on Oahu, Hawaii.

The water in Saquarema varies from cold to very cold all year round, so bring a rubber suit. The peak also does not allow for easy disrespect to the places, but in general the vibe is very positive, as there are waves almost all year round there.

Regência Beach - Linhares - Espírito Santo

Better conditions:

• Best swells: east, southeast and south
• Best winds: north and northwest
• Wave size: surfable from less than 1m to 2.5m
• Frequency: very frequent, more than 150 days a year
• Problems: current
• Other Attractions: sea turtles

Regência beach is located about 100km from Vitória on the ES010, in the municipality of Linhares, in Espírito Santo. It is a sea turtle protection area, so help to preserve: if you find eggs, contact the Tamar project. Sea turtles serve as food for some species of shark, but don't worry, as it is a well-balanced ecosystem, no attacks are recorded, although I don't rule out the possibility that they will be seen there.

The  sandy bottom   and the best wave break in the left corner where there is the mouth of the sweet river. They are long, tubular and maneuverable waves to the left. Some locals have dubbed it “Bali's cousins”. In the middle of the beach waves also break to the right and to the left. Get ready to row a lot, as well as being a beach break, there is a lot of current.

Guys, I tried to be quite democratic in terms of location so as not to concentrate all the peaks in a few places. Of course, that made me remove some waves that could be on that list, but I really liked the final selection.

I hope you enjoyed!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do the surf conditions in Brazil's South and Southeast regions compare, and what type of waves can surfers anticipate?

The South and Southeast regions of Brazil offer diverse surf conditions, from the powerful, consistent waves in Santa Catarina to the varied breaks in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Surfers can anticipate everything from big swells to more gentle waves suitable for different skill levels.