Grumari

Grumari is an exposed beach break with both left and right-hander potential, regularly surfing best when southern or southwestern swells arrive. The break remains functional across all tidal stages and handles wave heights ranging from small—under half a meter on quiet days—to larger southwestern swells. The punchy, sandbottom nature of the break produces playable ramps and barrels rather than long walling waves, making it accessible to surfers of varying abilities, though autumn and winter months deliver more consistent and powerful swell.

Grumari was chosen as the primary venue for the 2016 Oi Rio Pro, marking the first World Surf League competition ever held at the break. The relocation happened after significant storm-driven beach erosion displaced the original competition site, and the spot's reliable sand formations and wave shape made it an obvious backup. The break has long served as a quality alternative for professional surfers training or taking laydays in Rio, known for avoiding the crowds found at more centralized beach breaks.

The beach occupies a protected municipal nature park on Rio's western fringe, roughly 45 minutes to an hour's drive west of central Rio and about 56 kilometers from downtown. Access by private car or ride-share is the most direct route. The Surf Bus operates daily service from Largo do Machado to the nearby Prainha area, and hiking via the Transcarioca Trail from the Barra de Guaratiba side offers pedestrian access, though the remote location and strict environmental status mean the beach remains undeveloped and isolated from commercial infrastructure.