Surf Spots

Praia dos Amores

Santa Catarina North, Brazil

Praia dos Amores is a sand beach break near Itajaí in Santa Catarina North, Brazil, accepting waves from both directions with best swell from the east. West wind and combination tides work best at this break. Crowds are common here.

Praia dos Ingleses

Brazil

Praia dos Ingleses is a beach break with inconsistent, protected conditions. The bay-like geography restricts wave entry, so only the northern portion of the beach receives reliable surfing. Waves range from 1 to 6 feet and break in both directions. Northeast groundswells with southwest offshore winds produce the best sessions, and the break works across all tide stages. Winter and September see the most consistent conditions. The beach's name traces to an English shipwreck between the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Beyond this historical marker, no detailed record of modern surf history, competitions, or notable surfers is readily available. Ingleses lies 31 km north of Florianópolis city center in the Ingleses do Rio Vermelho district. The beach stretches about 4.8 km and is accessible as a day trip from the main urban area. Expect crowds and localism, particularly when conditions align.

Praia Grande

Sao Paulo, Brazil

Praia Grande features a beach break with multiple peaks offering both left and right-hand opportunities across a wide sandy beach. The break works across all tidal stages and responds well to southeast groundswells combined with northwest winds, particularly during winter months. Smaller swells from around 0.3 meters can produce rideable waves, though the beach draws heavy crowds that create the primary safety concern at this popular spot. Ubatuba holds a pioneering role in Brazilian surfing history. In the late 1960s, the Issa brothers identified the area as a viable wave zone despite the heavy vegetation then blocking access to Praia Grande. Their efforts led to the establishment of Brazil's first Surf Festival in 1972, legitimizing the region as a serious surfing destination. The beach continues to host major competitions, including the Ubatuba Pro Surf circuit which runs across multiple skill categories from youth through senior divisions. Praia Grande sits four kilometers from Ubatuba's town center and is readily accessible by foot or short taxi ride from downtown. The beach offers a long expanse of golden sand backed by numerous kiosks and facilities. Paid parking operates in a blue zone system shared with nearby beaches, making logistics straightforward for visiting surfers.

Praia Mole

Florianopolis, Brazil

Praia Mole is a 960-meter beach break on Florianópolis's eastern shore with structural variation across its length: quality left and right peaks form at the reef-lined northern end during smaller swells, while the center and southern stretches produce more standard beach peaks. The break responds best to southeast groundswells paired with offshore winds from the west-northwest, and works across all tidal states though medium tide produces the cleanest peaks. Winter, particularly June, delivers the most consistent and clean conditions. All skill levels find workable sections, though rip currents present the main hazard and the break can draw crowds when swell aligns with offshore winds. Praia Mole hosted Brazil's first professional surfing event after the COVID-19 pandemic when the Layback Pro returned to its calendar in November 2021, ending an 11-year gap in professional competition at the venue. The event, established by Olympic skateboarding medalist Pedro Barros, has since become a WSL Qualifying Series anchor for South America. Early editions saw strong performances from regional competitors—Cearán surfer Michael Rodrigues swept the 2022 men's title without losing a heat, while Peruvian Daniella Rosas established herself as a three-time South American champion with the highest women's competitive score on record at 9.33 in 2022. The event continues to close the continental season, most recently won by Lucas Silveira and Tainá Hinckel in 2024. The beach sits in the Lagoa da Conceição district, roughly 15 kilometers from downtown Florianópolis or a 10-minute drive from Lagoa da Conceição town via SC-406 highway. A short 2-3 minute trail connects the parking areas, which sit about 200 meters uphill from the sand. Paid parking lots near the beach charge roughly 20-30 reais daily, with free street parking available but often full during summer weekends; arriving early on busy days improves parking odds.

beginner · intermediate · shortboard

Praia Tucuns

Brazil

Praia Tucuns is a beach break with left and right peaks that becomes particularly active during the April-to-October window when Southern Hemisphere swells arrive. The spot is more exposed than its neighbor Praia de Geribá and produces consistent waves in the 3-6 foot range during good swell, though the break flattens significantly through the Brazilian summer. East swell combined with a north-northeast offshore wind creates the optimal conditions, with high tide generally offering the cleanest shape. The break attracts surfers across ability levels but has earned a reputation for strong rip currents and frequently dangerous crowding. The rough ocean conditions make it unsuitable for swimming. Beyond surfing, strong winds make the beach popular for kitesurfing and windsurfing. Located 7 kilometers south of Búzios town center, the beach stretches roughly 2.5 kilometers between Morro do Marisco and Ponta das Emerências as a natural extension of Praia de Geribá. Access is limited by a coastal resort development that runs the length of the beach, with minimal infrastructure beyond a few small bars. The white sand beach is backed by native vegetation and remains relatively quiet compared to more urban breaks.

Praia Vermelha do Norte

Sao Paulo, Brazil

Praia Vermelha do Norte is a heavy, powerful beach break that breaks fast and close to shore with a tendency toward hollow, barrel-prone waves—strictly for advanced surfers. It works best with east to east-southeast swell and offshore winds from the west-northwest, and performs well at all stages of the tide. Autumn and winter bring the most consistent conditions, though February offers reliable surfable waves during summer months. The beach sits 8 kilometers north of Ubatuba's center along the BR-101 highway, accessible via km 41 with roadside parking available. The 1.2-kilometer stretch of beach is known for its distinctive reddish sand and fronts one of the area's premier wave spots.

Prainha

Bahia Sul, Brazil

Prainha is an advanced point break near Itacaré in Bahia Sul, Brazil. The break accepts swell from both directions and works best with northeast and south swells. South winds provide the most favorable wind conditions.

beginner · intermediate

Prainha

Rio de Janeiro City, Brazil

Prainha is a beach break near Barra da Tijuca in Rio de Janeiro City that works across all tide levels. The break features a sand and rock bottom with intermediate difficulty, responding best to southern swell and northwest wind. Watch for rip currents, localism, and buoys; the spot also hosts the LayBack Pro Prainha WSL Qualifying Series.

beginner · intermediate · shortboard

Quatro Ilhas

Santa Catarina North, Brazil

Quatro Ilhas is a beginner-friendly point break in Santa Catarina North, Brazil, near the town of Bombinhas. The break produces right-hand waves on a bottom of sand and rock, and works best with southern swell and WNW winds during high tide. Watch for strong rips and currents in the water.

Regencia

Espirito Santo, Brazil

Regencia is an advanced river mouth break near Linhares in Espirito Santo, Brazil. Best conditions arrive with south swell and northeast wind, with waves peeling from both directions. The spot presents significant hazards including sharks, strong currents, and shallow fast-breaking waves, and hosted the Taça Brasil WS Regência Surf Pro in 2025.

Ribanceira

Santa Catarina, Brazil

Ribanceira is a sand beach break located near Imbituba in Santa Catarina, Brazil. The spot produces right-hand waves best with southern swell and southwest wind. Watch for rip currents and crowded conditions when the waves are working.

Rosa Norte

Santa Catarina, Brazil

Rosa Norte is a sand beach break near Imbituba in Santa Catarina, Brazil, suited for advanced surfers. The break accepts swell from north through southeast and works across all tide levels, with best conditions in westerly to northeasterly winds. Surfers should account for rips, undertow, and rocks.

Santinho

Florianopolis, Brazil

Santinho is a sand beach break near Florianópolis, Brazil offering southeast swell in northwest winds. Expect urchins, rocks, rips, crowds, and notably strong localism. The spot hosts WSL Qualifying Series action through the Layback Pro Costão Floripa and the Circuito Surf Talentos Oceano.

Sao Conrado

Rio de Janeiro City, Brazil

Sao Conrado is an advanced beach break in Rio de Janeiro with sand and reef bottom and waves in both directions. South swell and north wind deliver the best conditions; the spot hosted the 2024 CBSurf Dream Tour Rio championship final. Hazards include strong rips, undertow, localism, and pollution from sewage outfalls.

intermediate · advanced · shortboard

Sao Pedro

Sao Paulo North Coast, Brazil

Sao Pedro is an advanced beach break on the Sao Paulo North Coast near Bertioga that works in both directions with SE swell. Best conditions occur at low tide with WNW wind. The break features a sand and rock bottom with hazards including rip currents, a steep shore break, and rocks on the right side of the beach.

Serrambi

Pernambuco, Brazil

Serrambi is a reef break near Ipojuca, Pernambuco that sees sparse swell and only works reliably a few times per year, with both left and right-hand waves peeling across its shallow reef structure. Best suited for experienced surfers, it demands patience and solid technique when conditions align—primarily southeast groundswells combined with west-northwest offshore winds and mid-tide states, though even optimal window conditions can be blown out much of the time. Serrambi is recognized as one of the five most notable reef and beach breaks in Pernambuco alongside Cupe, Porto de Galinhas, Gaibu, and Maracaípe, placing it in a region with serious surfing credentials dating to the 1980s–90s when local athletes like Fabio Gouveia and Carlos Burle put Recife on the global professional circuit. Shark incidents increased throughout the Pernambuco coast in the early 1990s following major harbor construction at Boca de Suape and related coastal development, making them a legitimate hazard alongside the reef itself and occasional crowds when swell does appear.

Stella Maris

Bahia, Brazil

Stella Maris is a beginner-friendly beach break near Salvador in Bahia, Brazil. Best conditions arrive with southern swell, WNW wind, and high tide on the sandy bottom. Watch for strong rips and currents, heavy crowds, and closures at very low tide.

beginner · intermediate

Tiririca

Bahia, Brazil

Tiririca is a sandy beach break near Itacaré in Bahia, Brazil, suited for intermediate surfers with waves coming from both directions and best swell from the east. Mid tide is optimal, with southwest wind conditions preferred. Watch for rip currents and sharp rocks lining both sides of the beach, with crowds building when waves are smaller.

beginner · intermediate · shortboard

Titanzinho

Ceara, Brazil

Titanzinho is a reef break near Fortaleza, Brazil, with right-hand waves breaking over reef bottom. Best conditions occur on north swell, low tide, and southwesterly wind. The spot hosts the Desafio entre Escolas de Surf de Fortaleza and requires awareness of rocks, pollution, and crowds.

Tramandaí

Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Tramandaí is a beginner river mouth break near the town of Tramandaí in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, receiving swell from both directions with best results from south-southeast swells. Winds are most favorable from the west-northwest. Watch for strong rips and currents, fishing lines, and crowds in the water.