The breaks, Serra to Itacaré

The hotel's backyard. Rip channel to paddle out, take off and come back. Dawn session before the NE fills in.

Wave

Lefts and rights; peaks hollower than Pé de Serra; left along the rocks at the point

Size

2–6 ft (est.)

Swell · wind · tide

E / SE · W/NW offshore early; suffers with the NE onshore · n/a — try mid tide

Season

Winter (S/SE); works year-round

Crowd

Empty — surf alone

Watch out

Constant rip channels: they help you paddle out, but they pull. Rocks at the points

Access

Car, 5 min from the hotel. The best-serviced beach in Serra Grande

The headland left is the wave of Serra Grande. No crowd, no localism.

Wave

Rock left at the point plus several sand peaks along the beach; fatter, fuller wave than Itacaré

Size

2–6 ft (est.)

Swell · wind · tide

E / SE · W/NW offshore early; beach open to the NE · n/a

Season

Aug–Sep on S swell; September to March cited by locals

Crowd

Empty even in high season

Watch out

Headland on the left; rip current

Access

Car via BA-001, short dirt road; parking on the sand

The hotel's secret spot. Big winter swell or clean offshore: walk down the trail, no one in the water. Watch the rivermouth.

Wave

Strong waves; it comes in on big swell or offshore — always something. Turns on with swell over 1.5 m

Size

From 1.5 m of swell up

Swell · wind · tide

E / SE (big) · W/NW offshore — with offshore there is always something · Most tides (locals)

Season

Big swell: winter (May–Sep)

Crowd

Deserted

Watch out

Rip current at the mouth of the Rio Tijuípe; no lifeguards, no facilities

Access

Steep 20-min trail through the forest, 2 km from the square towards Barra do Tijuípe; parallel lookout over the rivermouth

Ten kilometers of open beach break to pick your sandbar. Early, before the wind. Pedra Preta only with someone who knows it.

Wave

Lefts and rights from mellow to very heavy and barrelling, depending on the swell; Pedra Preta = rock-bottom wave, near perfect in summer (sources disagree whether left or right)

Size

<3 to 8+ ft; holds big swell

Swell · wind · tide

ESE; slabs best on summer E/NE · W/NW; very exposed — gone with onshore · Incoming tide

Season

Consistent (~150 days/year); April ~38% clean days

Crowd

Empty midweek, few out on weekends

Watch out

Strong rip channels and currents; rocks at Pedra Preta

Access

BA-001, 15 min from the hotel; parking R$5; best peaks south of the restaurant; Pedra Preta = long walk down the sand

A slab that turns on with S. If Engenhoca is mellow and Havaizinho is breaking, it is on.

Wave

Vertical drops, fast walls; inconsistent, but good when it comes in

Size

n/a

Swell · wind · tide

SE–S / ESE · W · n/a

Season

Inconsistent; autumn (April ~37% clean)

Crowd

Rarely crowded

Watch out

Rocks and rip current

Access

Same parking as Engenhoca (BA-001 km 12) + 15 min on the trail

Itacaré's rare beginner wave. Longboard, single fin, onshore day: Engenhoca.

Wave

Mostly lefts; full, long, mellow — the longboard and first-wave spot

Size

<3 ft; channel works up to ~2 m

Swell · wind · tide

E / SE · W; very sheltered — the spot for onshore days · n/a

Season

Very consistent; best in summer, when it blows

Crowd

Empty midweek; surf schools arrive at 6am; crowd in summer

Watch out

Almost no rip current; the Burundanga river on the right

Access

BA-001 km 12, parking R$10 + 15–20 min on the forest trail

The winter spot. Cold front in, S wind: Jeribucaçu holds the wind and the right gets heavy.

Wave

Short, heavy right; longer left; easy channel on the right

Size

Needs 3–4 ft to turn on; holds 2.5 m

Swell · wind · tide

S / SE · Sheltered from the wind in winter · Any; incoming better

Season

Winter — one of the best options from May to September

Crowd

Empty

Watch out

Rip current, rocks

Access

Car to Vila Marambaia + 15–30 min trail with steep sections

Prainha's neighbor, no trail and no people. Access through the day use.

Wave

Lefts and rights

Size

n/a

Swell · wind · tide

ESE · W–NW · n/a

Season

Consistent; April ~38% clean

Crowd

Few out — restricted access

Watch out

Strong rip current

Access

Only through the Vilas de São José development (day use)

Barrel school. NE summer = postcard left; winter = a right that punishes. Go with a guide.

Wave

Perfect barrelling left in summer (NE); heavy, gnarly right in winter (S wind). Shallow, heavy barrel — the most spectacular wave in the region

Size

<3 ft; ideal 3–6 ft

Swell · wind · tide

NE (summer) / S–SE (winter) · W offshore; sheltered between hills · n/a

Season

Summer for the left, winter for the right

Crowd

Empty midweek; the escape from the Tiririca crowd

Watch out

Rocks; long trail with forks — do not go alone

Access

30–60 min trail from Ribeira (guide R$70–120) or day use through the São José development

The postcard and the crowd. First light, head down, respect for the locals. Over 5 ft, only those who know how to get out.

Wave

Short, fast, hollow, barrelling lefts and rights; closes out often; <50 m

Size

1 to 8+ ft; ideal 2–5; over 5 experienced only

Swell · wind · tide

SE / E / NE — best on E · NW / W / SW; semi-sheltered bay · Mid tide, incoming or outgoing

Season

Almost 365 days a year; barrels from May to September

Crowd

Heavy midweek, extreme on weekends. Organized lineup — locals have priority

Watch out

Sharp rocks on both sides; cross rip pushes onto the rocks; no channel

Access

Walk from town (5–15 min); poor parking

Tiririca packed? Walk 200 m. Same swell, half the crowd.

Wave

Easy lefts and rights on small days; dangerous on big swell

Size

<3 ft works; 2–8

Swell · wind · tide

n/a · W/NW (est.) · n/a

Season

Consistent (~150 days/year)

Crowd

Few out — Tiririca's release valve

Watch out

Rip current on big swell

Access

5 min walk from Caminho das Praias

First paddle, first drop. Safe whitewater and warm water.

Wave

Small to medium, mellow

Size

1–3 ft

Swell · wind · tide

n/a · Sheltered · n/a

Season

Year-round

Crowd

Low

Watch out

Few hazards

Access

2 km from town; parking

A serious spot. Big east, dead low, offshore: once a season, and worth it.

Wave

Long, perfect barrels both ways, only overhead

Size

Only with 6+ ft

Swell · wind · tide

Clean, solid E · Offshore in the morning · Low / dead low

Season

Rare; autumn–winter

Crowd

Few out — only when it breaks

Watch out

Sharp rock, no channel in or out

Access

On foot, behind the Concha lighthouse

The long right of the region. Big SE swell, incoming tide, and a paddle that sorts out who wants it.

Wave

Long, powerful right, 150–300 m; up to 1–2 km on an epic day

Size

3–5 ft works; holds 12+

Swell · wind · tide

SE / E · W / SW · Low to mid, incoming

Season

Winter, on big swell

Crowd

Empty, friendly

Watch out

Violent river current; outgoing tide with big swell is dangerous; 20–30 min paddle

Access

On foot or paddling from Concha

Across the river, no one. Dry barrel and shallow sand: know what you are doing or do not go.

Wave

Dry barrels on the outside; shallow bank on the inside — heavy shorebreak

Size

<3 to 8+ ft

Swell · wind · tide

E / SE (est.) · W (est.) · Low to mid

Season

Winter (May–Sep)

Crowd

Practically deserted

Watch out

Dangerous currents, no channel

Access

Canoe/boat or paddle across the river