Guarda do embau

Guarda do Embaú's legendary left-hand river mouth break peels consistently along sand deposited from the Rio da Madre estuary. The wave works best on low tide with southeast swell and offshore west-northwest wind, producing long, hollow barrels suited to advanced surfers. It's one of three nearby breaks ranging from beginner-friendly right-hand beaches to the main left-hand peak.

The spot was discovered by surfers in the 1970s and has since become a regular venue on Brazil's competitive circuit. In 2007 it hosted the Rip Curl Grom Search, a prestigious junior event where Gabriel Medina and Filipe Toledo first gained recognition. The site now annually hosts the RDS Pro Jr., South America's qualifying tournament for the World Junior Championship. Local icon Ricardo dos Santos earned international acclaim for his radical tube riding, and the village has produced other notable surfers including Tainá Hinckel. The estuary's ecological significance earned Guarda do Embaú designation as Brazil's first World Surfing Reserve in 2016.

Access requires crossing the Rio da Madre to reach the main beach—surfers swim or pay a small fee for local boatmen. The village sits adjacent to Serra do Tabuleiro State Park, roughly 40 kilometers south of Florianópolis. Local fishermen enforce seasonal restrictions during fish migration (May–July), and regular crowds reflect the spot's regional stature.