Surfing in Brazil
SurfScanners covers 4 surf spots in Brazil, including spots in Rio de Janeiro state, São Paulo state, and Espírito Santo. Of those, 4 suit intermediates and 4 suit advanced surfers. Across them, the water averages ~22°C in August and ~27°C in February.
Surf spots in Brazil
Itacoatiara
Rio de Janeiro state
- Level:
- intermediate–advanced
- Best months:
- Intermediates: Jun, Nov–Apr · Advanced surfers: Apr–May, Jul–Nov
- Water in October:
- ~22°C
Saquarema (Itaúna)
Rio de Janeiro state
- Level:
- intermediate–advanced
- Best months:
- Intermediates: Jun, Nov–Apr · Advanced surfers: Apr–May, Jul–Nov
- Water in October:
- ~21°C
Maresias
São Paulo state
- Level:
- intermediate–advanced
- Best months:
- Intermediates: Jun, Oct–Mar · Advanced surfers: Apr–Oct
- Water in October:
- ~23°C
Jacaraípe
Espírito Santo
- Level:
- intermediate–advanced
- Best months:
- Intermediates: Jun, Nov–Apr · Advanced surfers: Apr–May, Jul–Nov
- Water in October:
- ~24°C
Brazil water temperature by month
Average across the spots above, with the coldest and warmest spot's in brackets.
January
~26°C (24–28°C): boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed
February
~27°C (25–29°C): boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed
March
~26°C (25–28°C): boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed
April
~26°C (24–27°C): boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed
May
~25°C (23–26°C): boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed
June
~23°C (23–24°C): a 2mm spring suit / shorty
July
~22°C (22–23°C): a 2mm spring suit / shorty
August
~22°C (21–23°C): a 2mm spring suit / shorty
September
~23°C (22–24°C): a 2mm spring suit / shorty
October
~23°C (21–24°C): a 2mm spring suit / shorty
November
~24°C (22–25°C): boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed
December
~25°C (23–27°C): boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed
Surfing in Brazil: FAQ
When is the best time to surf in Brazil?
For intermediates: Jun, Nov–Apr. For advanced surfers: Apr–May, Jul–Nov. Across the country, waves are biggest in September, averaging 4.9 ft (1.5 m), and smallest in February, at 3.2 ft (1.0 m).
What is the water temperature in Brazil?
Averaged across our 4 spots, it ranges from ~22°C in August to ~27°C in February. The spots differ: Maresias drops to ~21°C in August, while Maresias reaches ~29°C in February.
What wetsuit do I need to surf in Brazil?
It depends on the spot: in August, Maresias (~21°C) calls for a 2mm spring suit / shorty, while in February, Maresias (~29°C) needs boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed.
Is Brazil good for beginner surfers?
Not really: the spots we cover in Brazil are better suited to intermediate and advanced surfers.
Where are the best surf spots in Brazil?
We cover 4 spots in Brazil. Intermediate and up: Itacoatiara, Saquarema (Itaúna), Maresias, and Jacaraípe.