Brazil Surf Travel Guide
Brazil is the fifth biggest country in the world and has a coastline of nearly 7,500 km full of beach breaks, reefs and point breaks. Brazilian people are warm and friendly people, however known for being competitive in the water. This is the land of the Carnival with good, low-budget living, happy people, bikinis and great waves in an immense land rich with a vibrant and varied culture. Rio is a great place to start your journey, although April to October are the best time for waves, it’s worth getting to Brazil in February to experience the Carnival. Then head further south to the beautiful beaches of Florianopolis which has the most consistent surf on the Atlantic side of the country.
Quick Facts
Surfing hubs of Fernando do Noronha, Saquarema, Rio, Marais and Florionopolis
Home of World Champions Gabriel Medina and Adriano de Souza
Mix of crowded, city beaches and remote, untouched nature reserves
Mainly beachbreaks, with scattered pointbreaks and reefs.
Surf Regions
Fernando de Noronha is an archipelago made up of one 11-square-mile chunk of volcanic rock and 20 smaller islands, which of quality reefs and pointbreaks on the “big” island and a tonne of quality beach breaks, including a barrelling left at Cacimba Do Padre.
Located on São Paulo state’s northern coastline, Maresias, 160 kilometres north of the countries capital city, is a beautiful five kilometre stretch of beach that offers great waves, natural beauty and no small amount of sophisticated fun.
100 kilometres north of Rio, Saquarema hosts the annual CT surfing competition and is knowns as Brazil’s best big-wave location.
When to go
The north of Brazil including Fernando do Noronha picks up the northern swells which are most common from November to March. For the rest of the coast and southern Brazil, the best time surf is from April to October. The water temperatures remain warm all year around (around 26°) and with such a vast coastline, it’s always possible to surf uncrowded spots if you’re willing to explore.
Attractions
Brazil is the largest country in South America and as such, features an amazing variety of topside attractions. Visitors can get lost among fascinating creatures in the Amazon, hike to Rio’s well-known Christ the Redeemer statue or gape at the massive Iguaçu Falls in the south. Brazil boasts some of the world’s most famous beaches, Copacabana and Ipanema. An expedition up the mighty Amazon River could even yield an encounter with elusive pink dolphins or giant otters. If you have the chance, don’t miss the raucous Carnival festival with its colourful floats and vibrant costumes. It’s held every year around the end of February or beginning of March.
The Country
Think Brazil and colourful carnival costumes, revellers swaying to the samba, stunning white sand beaches and endless stretches of Amazon rainforest come to mind.
Brazil is South America’s largest country and the world’s fifth largest country, both by geographical area and population. To the east, Brazil enjoys over 4500 miles of Atlantic Ocean coastline. The rest of Brazil is bordered by every other South American country with the exceptions of Chile and Ecuador.
The official language is Portuguese being a former Portuguese colony, but Brazil has a highly diverse population, including indigenous Americans and the descendants of African slaves and European settlers. It is also South America’s most influential country, a rising economic power and one of the world’s biggest democracies. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the east, with a coastline that stretches for 7,491 kilometres and borders all other countries in South America except Ecuador and Chile. Its Amazon River basin includes a vast tropical forest, home to diverse wildlife, a variety of ecological systems, and extensive natural resources spanning numerous protected habitats. Between the Amazon, the Atlantic Coast and colorful cities, Brazil has plenty to offer to international tourists.
Getting There
International flights from almost every continent fly into Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG) in Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (CGH) in São Paulo.
Travel Information
Time Zone
UTC-03:00
Currency
BRL
Calling code
+55
Electric volt
127 V / 220 V
Nearby & Similar Destinations