Intermediate: Pepino (Good, 1.8 m, cross-onshore around 09:00), Arpoador (Good, 1.8 m, onshore around 09:00), Recreio dos Bandeirantes (Good, 1.9 m, cross-onshore around 08:00)
Advanced: Arpoador (Good, 1.8 m, onshore around 09:00), Itaipu (Good, 1.5 m, cross-onshore around 09:00)
Forecast updated 20 Oct, 01:03 UTC.
The spots
Recreio dos Bandeirantes · beach break, intermediate, best on SSE/S/SSW swell with N/NNE/NE wind, all tides. Rio de Janeiro's Recreio dos Bandeirantes peaks both ways as a beach break, best with a south swell and a north northeast breeze. It works on any tide. Watch for rips…
Barra da Tijuca · beach break, intermediate, best on S/SE/SW swell with N/NE/NW wind, all tides. A long open beach in western Rio with many beach-break peaks and more space than Arpoador. Needs a south swell and offshore north wind.
Praia da Macumba · beach break, intermediate, best on S swell with N wind, all tides. Wide beach between Recreio and Prainha with several sandbar peaks on south swell and northerly offshore wind.
Prainha · beach break, intermediate, best on S swell with NW wind, all tides. Small cove beach in Rio's western zone inside a nature reserve; it is exposed to south swell and is among the city's best known surf beaches.
Pepino · beach break, intermediate, best on SE/SSE/S swell with NW/NNW/N wind, all tides. Pepino is a beach break in Rio de Janeiro that works on any tide and mostly peels left. Wait for south southeast swell and north northwest offshore wind. Expect a crowd…
Grumari · beach break, intermediate, best on S/SSW/SW swell with NW/NNW/N wind, all tides. A south southwest swell with north northwest wind is the combination to look for at Grumari; it is a beach break that peaks both ways and works on any tide. Rarely…
Arpoador · point break, intermediate, best on S/SSE/SE swell with N/NNW/NE wind, all tides. Rio's best-known urban surf, off the rock between Ipanema and Copacabana. Waves break on both sides of the rock and the lineup is usually packed.
Itaipu · reef break, advanced, best on SSW/SW/WSW swell with NNE/NE/ENE wind, all tides. Niterói's Itaipu peaks both ways as a reef break, best with a southwest swell and a northeast breeze. It works on any tide. Watch for rocks.
When to surf in Rio de Janeiro
Best months for intermediate surfers: April to July, September. For beginners: February, June to July. The water goes from about 21 °C in October (Springsuit 2 mm or vest) to 28 °C in February (Boardshorts / rash vest).
Days per month at the best third of the 8 spots for each level, from three years of wave and wind model data.
Questions
What are the best surf spots in Rio de Janeiro?
The best-known are Arpoador, Recreio dos Bandeirantes, Prainha, Pepino. In all, 8 spots lie within 36 km: 6 beach breaks, 1 reef break, 1 point break.
Where can beginners surf in Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro is mostly for intermediate and advanced surfers: reefs, points or powerful beach breaks. Beginners should take a lesson and stay on the smallest days.
When is the best time to surf in Rio de Janeiro?
For intermediate surfers April to July, September. For beginners February, June to July.
What wetsuit do I need to surf in Rio de Janeiro?
The sea goes from about 21 °C in October (Springsuit 2 mm or vest) to 28 °C in February (Boardshorts / rash vest).