Surf @Brazil!

October 2003 The Surf in Brazil Brazil has over 7000 kilometers of coastline. The best waves are found in Southern Brazil and the best time of year is between April and October when the coast catches east to south swells produced in the atlantic. Florianpolis (Southern Brazil) Probably the most famous of Brazil's surfing regions, it holds the WCT competition and is where the Padaratz brothers come from. Florianpolis is actually an offshore island, that has at least 20 quality breaks. The most famous quality right points, Praia do Campeche. Lagoinha do Leste is another right that actually holds a solid swell. The only catch is that it is a solid hour walk in. The upside is the beautiful scenery and the lack of crowds. Florianpolis also has a raging party scene, and this is where the female ratio is at its best. If you are going to Brazil to surf, Florianpolis should be your first stop. Parties Brazil has a reputation as one of the party places in the world. ... until you've had a night out in Brazil, you haven't lived!

SURFING IN BRAZIL The northern States have warm water and reefbreaks, but generally suffer from lack of swell. When the waves do come, they're insane - perfectly shaped 'ittle nuggets.

The exception up north 'is Fernando de Noronha - a tiny island chain that has some of the best waves, in the country. Out in the Atlantic, north swells produce short, powerful, spitting beachbreak barrels, During summer, 6-8-foot days are common, making this one of the prime surf destinations in Brazil. The southern States start getting good waves around autumn, when south swells and cold fronts blast the coast - bringing, cold water that requires a steamer. The surfing centres are Maresias, Ubatuba, Rio de Janeiro, Saquarema and Florianopolis. These towns have a strong surfing culture and consistent waves, and when the variables come together the waves are fun and often powerful - although rarely huge. It is the general experience that makes a trip to Brazil attractive. Your chin will hit the floor when you go out in a place like Florianopolis and realise that your high schools hottest chick does in fact look like a pig. You'll quickly learn that Oz has better waves .. as it does compared to most countries. You'll witness poverty and inequality that'll make you look up at skies and thank God for being born Down-Under. Yet you'll find there's much more to Brazil than the cliches. Brazilians are remarkably warrn and welcoming, and you'll come to love the place after being immersed in its rich and joyful culture. On top of that, you can still score some surprisingly fun waves, so what are you waiting for?
GETTING AROUND While you can travel by bus anywhere, for surfers it's still better to fly to the main cities then hire a car. There are three major domestic airlines and the competition has dropped ticket prices considerably. You'll need the freedom to drive up and down looking for waves - plus you don't wanna take that hottie you just pulled to a bus stop at 3am, do you? GEAR,GUIDES AND ACCOMMODATION. If you're in the big cities, there's every of accommodation and transport available. One thing to consider is that in the northern States very few people speak English, so if you haven't got a Brazzo buddy, language might be a problem. In the south, most people have a basic grasp. As for surf camps and the like, it's Brazil, not Java or Sumatra. While there are surf guides available in the southem region, you're better off on your own -- half the fun is getting there without help. DANGERS Brazil can be a dangerous place, but remember, violence is a consequence of poverty, not hatred. Nobody wants to hurt you because you're not down with the Taliban. They steal from you because they have mouths to feed and no money. If all you have is a pair of boardies and 20 bucks in your pocket, no-one will risk jail by robbing you. Away from the main centres, you hardly ever hear about anything other than petty theft. Just be careful where you leave your stuff. In the

water, forget all your preconceptions of Zillas. Most surfers are very welcoming, and in the few spots where localism is fierce you'll be able to tell the locals to avoid easily. If you do get yourself in an altercation, walk away. Leave your pride at home, ifs heaps safer. Another thing to keep in mind is to be sure a girl is single before chatting her up. Brazilians are very protective of their women and don't take advances lightl

http://waves.terra.com.br/

ANEIRO

1 LEME
. : Quality Wave quality > Standard wave Frequency > Regular Experience Required > All surfers . : Wave Type > Sand-bar Direction > Left Power > fast Bottom > Sand . : More Details Crowd during the Week > Empty Crowd on the Week-end > Empty Hazards > "Occasional locals" . : Infrastructure Accommodation >Hotels & Back Commerce > shops and restaurants Nightlife > Yeah, heaps! Health assistance > Hospital nearby . : Comments Works in good conditions very occasionally.

. : Swell and Wind Minimmun Swell Size > 0.5m | 1ft Maximmun Swell Size > 2.5m | 7 ft Swell Direction > E Wind Direction > E

2 COPACABANA
. : Quality Wave quality > Regional classic, don't miss it Frequency > Regular Experience Required > Experienced surfers . : Wave Type > Beach-break Direction > Right and left Power > Hollow, fast, powerful Bottom > Sand . : Swell and Wind Minimmun Swell Size > 1m | 3ft Maximmun Swell Size > 3 m | 10 ft Swell Direction > E, SE, S Wind Direction > SE . : More Details Crowd during the Week > Crowded Crowd on the Week-end > Crowded Hazards > the wave itself! . : Infrastructure Accommodation >Hotels & Back Commerce > shops and restaurants Nightlife > Yeah, heaps! Health assistance > Hospital nearby . : Comments It's a very powerfull wave when the big sweel comes, with a lot of local bodyboarders. A hard drop and search for the tube, because it's the only way out... When it's medium or small it offers a good tube, always with a radical drop. Generally the waves in Copacabana comes with a big swell( check out "baixio" and "posto 6" ). The best season is in the winter, but it can break everytime a big sweel comes.When it's really big, the outside posto 5 starts working and the waves there go up to 12 feet!!Look for "Baixio" Enjoy the tubes...

3 DIABO
. : Quality Wave quality > Regional classic, don't miss it Frequency > Very consistent (150 day/year) Experience Required > All surfers . : Wave Type > Beach-break Direction > Right and left Power > fast Bottom > Sand . : Swell and Wind Minimmun Swell Size > 1m | 3ft Maximmun Swell Size > 2m | 6 ft Swell Direction > E, SE, S Wind Direction > SE . : More Details Crowd during the Week > Crowded Crowd on the Week-end > Crowded Hazards > the wave itself!

. : Infrastructure Accommodation >Hotels & Back Commerce > shops and restaurants Nightlife > Yeah, heaps! Health assistance > Hospital nearby . : Comments There is a lot of bodyboards in Diabo, it is a quick wave, there are a lots of barrels. To the left side of Diabo there is the "Inferno" that many times is better than Diabo, but in Inferno is a militar area so you can't sit on the sand. When there is no waves in the city, check there it will probably have 1/2m waves. Diabo has 3 beaches. Be careful the first on the right it's ok, the second and the third are military areas you can reach these 2 only by paddling, the sand access can not be used. When there is no waves in the city it will be probably breaking in Diabo.

Power > Powerful & fun Bottom > Sand

4 ARPOADOR
. : Quality Wave quality > World class Frequency > Very consistent (150 day/year) Experience Required > All surfers . : Wave Type > Beach-break + Point break Direction > Right and left

. : Swell and Wind Minimmun Swell Size > 1m | 3ft Maximmun Swell Size > 5 m | 15 ft Swell Direction > E, SE, S Wind Direction > NE, E . : More Details Crowd during the Week > Crowded Crowd on the Week-end > Crowded Hazards > locals

. : Infrastructure Accommodation >Hotels & Back Commerce > shops and restaurants Nightlife > Yeah, heaps! Health assistance > Hospital nearby . : Comments When the swell is good it's by far the best spot in rio: powerfull waves long walls and barrels. However the crowd is nervous but you can scape from it some days (try very early or just before sun going down).

By the way, you can surf at night there!! Yep, the place has light!!

. : More Details 6 PONTAO DO LEBLON . : Quality Wave quality > Regional classic, don't miss it Frequency > Very consistent (150 day/year) Experience Required > Experienced surfers . : Wave Type > Point-break Direction > Right Power > Powerful, hollow, Bottom > Sand + rocks . : Swell and Wind Minimmun Swell Size > 1m | 3ft Maximmun Swell Size > 5 m | 16 ft Swell Direction > SW, S Wind Direction > NE, N, SW Crowd during the Week > Few people Crowd on the Week-end > Crowded Hazards > Rocks, locals, pollution, . : Infrastructure Accommodation >Hotels & Back Commerce > shops and restaurants Nightlife > Yeah, heaps! Health assistance > Hospital nearby . : Comments Pontao is a dangerous wave, with lots of power. There is a killer inside. Its a really good spot for big waves, and it has some really fun waves when its small.

7 SAO CONRADO
. : Quality Wave quality > Regional classic, don't miss it Frequency > Very consistent (150 day/year) Experience Required > Experienced surfers . : Wave Type > Beach-break Direction > Right and left Power > Powerful, fast & hollow Bottom > Sand . : Swell and Wind Minimmun Swell Size > 1m | 3ft Maximmun Swell Size > 2 m | 6 ft Swell Direction > E Wind Direction > NE,E . : More Details Crowd during the Week > Crowded Crowd on the Week-end > Crowded

Hazards > Rips, locals, pollution, . : Infrastructure Accommodation >Hotels & Back Commerce > shops and restaurants Nightlife > Yeah, heaps! Health assistance > Hospital nearby . : Comments This is the most popular bodyboarding break in Rio. Can get epic on its day, comparable to Pipeline and Puerto Escondido. As well as the professionals who surf here are the locals from the favela, Rocinha, who rip and are very friendly if you make the effort. Watch out for sewage outfalls after heavy rain. Excellent tube riding spot. The hollowest and most barreling wave in Rio city. Surfing this place in a sunny day is incredible, the background is surreal. Power > Short, fast & hollow Bottom > Sand

8 JOATINGA
. : Quality Wave quality > Regional classic, don't miss it Frequency > Very consistent (150 day/year) Experience Required > Experienced surfers . : Wave Type > Beach-break Direction > Right and left

. : Swell and Wind Minimmun Swell Size > 0.5m | 1ft Maximmun Swell Size > 2 m | 6 ft Swell Direction > E, NE Wind Direction > SE,E . : More Details Crowd during the Week > Few People Crowd on the Week-end > Crowded Hazards > locals

. : Infrastructure Accommodation >Hotels & Back Commerce > shops and restaurants Nightlife > Yeah, heaps! Health assistance > Hospital nearby . : Comments In the right corner some "triangles" (triangulos) are formed in the waves, it's perfect for bodyboarding tubes.

Joatinga is a spot that even no waves(flat), there will be some waves, always!! On week-ends you can see the beautiful brazilian womens.

9 QUEBRA-MAR
. : Quality Wave quality > Regional classic, don't miss it Frequency > Very consistent (150 day/year) Experience Required >All surfers . : Wave Type > Beach-break Direction > Right and left Power > Short, fast & hollow Bottom > Sand . : Swell and Wind Minimmun Swell Size > 0.5m | 1ft

Maximmun Swell Size > 3 m | 9 ft Swell Direction > SE, E Wind Direction > NE,E . : More Details Crowd during the Week > Few People Crowd on the Week-end > Crowded Hazards > locals . : Infrastructure Accommodation >Hotels & Back Commerce > shops and restaurants Nightlife > Yeah, heaps! Health assistance > Hospital nearby . : Comments Great option for hang out an get a few waves.

10 BARRA DA TIJUCA
. : Quality Wave quality > Regional classic, don't miss it Frequency > Very consistent (150 day/year) Experience Required >All surfers

. : More Details Crowd during the Week > Empty Crowd on the Week-end > Few people Hazards > none . : Infrastructure Accommodation >Hotels & Back Commerce > shops and restaurants Nightlife > Yeah, heaps! Health assistance > Hospital nearby . : Comments Pick your surfboard and go to the water, you dont need to know more than that. In a hot weekend the beach is crowded with beatiful people, after the surf and when its flat the night is very good, you cant get bored there. A fun wave for all surfes with rights and lefts.

. : Wave Type > Beach-break Direction > Right and left Power > Short, fast & hollow Bottom > Sand . : Swell and Wind Minimmun Swell Size > 0.5m | 1ft Maximmun Swell Size > 2 m | 6 ft Swell Direction > SE, SW, S Wind Direction > N

11 RESERVA DA BARRA
. : Quality Wave quality > Regional classic, don't miss it Frequency > Very consistent (150 day/year) Experience Required >All surfers . : Wave Type > Beach-break Direction > Right and left Power > Short, fast & hollow Bottom > Sand

. : Swell and Wind Minimmun Swell Size > 0.5m | 1ft Maximmun Swell Size > 2 m | 6 ft Swell Direction > SE, SW, S Wind Direction > N, W . : More Details Crowd during the Week > Empty Crowd on the Week-end > Few people Hazards > none . : Infrastructure Accommodation >Hotels & Back Commerce > shops and restaurants Nightlife > Yeah, heaps! Health assistance > Hospital nearby

. : Comments Really good spot to surf, longboarders, early in the morning is the best, getting the tide filling up, barrels, so beautiful beach, lots of fun

on this spot, respect for locals, and have a really good time. Always break, it's a place to have fun !!! Warm water and sunny days !!! Beautiful girls at the beach!!!

12 RECREIO
. : Quality Wave quality > World class Frequency > Very consistent (150 day/year) Experience Required >All surfers . : Wave Type > Beach-break Direction > Right and left Power > Short, fast & hollow Bottom > Sand . : Swell and Wind Minimmun Swell Size > 0.5m | 1ft Maximmun Swell Size > 2 m | 6 ft Swell Direction > SE, SW, S Wind Direction > N, W . : More Details Crowd during the Week > Few people Crowd on the Week-end > Crowded Hazards > none . : Infrastructure Accommodation >Hotels & Back Commerce > shops and restaurants Nightlife > Yeah, heaps! Health assistance > Hospital nearby

. : Comments Your average board is all you need at this spot, since it does not hold much size. A very shallow sandbar will make the better waves break top to bottom. On those days, better stand up FAST !!! On regular days it becomes an easy ride, with a forgiving take off, and a wall that will hold its size all the way to the inside. This is a break different from the many others in Rio, since it has few residents around, making localism almost non-existent. Still, on a good day you might find 20 guys out, on a spread of beach of 100 yards. Respect the surfers around, and you will have no problem catching several waves.

13 MACUMBA
. : Quality Wave quality > Standard wave Frequency > Regular Experience Required >All surfers . : Wave Type > Beach-break Direction > Right and left Power > Short, fast & hollow Bottom > Sand . : Swell and Wind Minimmun Swell Size > 0.5m | 1ft Maximmun Swell Size > 2 m | 6 ft Swell Direction > SE, SW, S Wind Direction > N, W

. : More Details Crowd during the Week > Few people Crowd on the Week-end > Crowded Hazards > none . : Infrastructure Accommodation >Hotels & Back Commerce > shops and restaurants Nightlife > Yeah, heaps! Health assistance > Hospital nearby . : Comments This is a break different from the many others in Rio, since it has few residents around, making localism almost non-existent. Still, on a good day you might find 20 guys out, on a spread of beach of 100 yards. Respect the surfers around, and you will have no problem catching several waves. . : More Details Crowd during the Week > Few people Crowd on the Week-end > Crowded Hazards > locals . : Infrastructure Accommodation >Hotels & Back Commerce > shops and restaurants Nightlife > Yeah, heaps! Health assistance > Hospital nearby . : Comments It's a paradise spot. It's a small beach with a virgin forest around. There's the Prainha municipal park. The first and unique beach park in Rio. Good parking, bathrooms, stores, snack bars. You can find all you need there!!!

14 PRAINHA
. : Quality Wave quality > Regional classic, don't miss it Frequency > Very consistent (150 day/year) Experience Required >All surfers . : Wave Type > Beach-break Direction > Right and left Power > Porwerful & fun Bottom > Sand . : Swell and Wind Minimmun Swell Size > 0.5m | 1ft Maximmun Swell Size > 3 m | 9 ft Swell Direction > SW, S Wind Direction > NW

Very nice place to stay all day long. Pretty ladies sun bathing on the sand, nice atmosphere. When you have a big southwest swell paddle by the rocks, and you'll get to the right place easily. 3 good spots there!!! The left spot: It's a powerful left with a barrel and a long

wall for manoeuvres. It breaks from 2 to 8 feet with E and SE Swell. Sometimes a short right close to the rocks breaks too !!.Right spot : It's a long and manoeuvrable right. It breaks with SE,S and SW swell. On big days you can ride a 10 feet clean and strong right. Middle : Fun surf. All size, all swell direction. Lefts and rights. . : Comments

15 GRUMARI
. : Quality Wave quality > Regional classic, don't miss it Frequency > Regular Experience Required >All surfers . : Wave Type > Beach-break Direction > Right and left Power > Porwerful & fast Bottom > Sand . : Swell and Wind Minimmun Swell Size > 0.5m | 1ft Maximmun Swell Size > 3 m | 9 ft Swell Direction > SW, S Wind Direction > SW . : More Details Crowd during the Week > Empty Crowd on the Week-end > Few people Hazards > locals . : Infrastructure Accommodation >Hotels & Back Commerce > shops and restaurants Nightlife > Yeah, heaps! Health assistance > Hospital nearby

Grumari is the best surfbeach in rio for surfers who hate a crowd... really cool place at the end of the beach you can easy paddle out