Famous worldwide for hosting the Championship Tour and WSL Challenger Series, Saquarema has drawn attention in the surfing world. While the waves don’t compare to other notable surf destinations, the surf in Saquarema and the laid-back lifestyle combine to create an excellent surf destination.
If you’re looking for a peaceful beach town to relax and surf fun, punchy beach break waves, Saquarema has precisely that. I was super intrigued by the town, so I booked a bus ticket from Rio and went to find out. Here’s everything you need to know for surfing in Saquarema.
Overview
- Powerful beachbreak
- Left wedges and right barrels
- Relaxed beach town
- Crowds
- Backwash
Table of Contents
Where is Saquarema?
Saquarema is located 1.5-2 hours outside of Rio. It’s a pretty sleepy town that evokes the true Brazilian beach/surf lifestyle.
Getting To Saquarema?
By Plane
you can’t fly directly to Saquarema (It’s a super small town). But Rio is only 1 hour away, so fly into Rio then hire a car or take a bus. Check flights to Rio on Kayak Flights.
By Bus
Getting to Saquarema is a short bus ride from Rio De Janeiro. Finding when and where to get the bus in Rio can be tricky, So I use BusBud, which makes things easy to find!
By Car
You can easily pick up a rental car at either one of Rio’s two main airports, then make the 1-hour drive to Saquarema.
Where To Surf In Saquarema?
Ituana
The main bulk of surfing happens at Ituana. A beautiful stretch of golden white sands, divided into two main surf spots. Ituana at the northern end, where you see the classic wedgy left-hander.
Barrinha
Barrinha is a powerful slabbing right that, when the swell and banks line up, turns into a mutant! If you haven’t seen the potential of the place, check out the video below.
Where to Stay?
Around town, there’s an abundance of places to stay, from hotels to awesome AirBnB apartments. There are also a handful of hostels, especially further away from the main part of town. While you won’t find as many budget options as Rio, check out Hostelworld and Booking.com to find rooms for less than $ 30 USD per night.
I stayed at a wicked Airbnb in Saquarema, just a bike ride away from Ituana. Wth a private pool and desk space are perfect if you’re a surfing digital nomad. Check the place out here.
What Else To Do In Town?
There isn’t much else to do than surfing in Saquarema. A pure surf town laid back and a little sleepy. And with Rio as a neighbor, the place serves as a welcome break from the craziness of the big city. You don’t come to Saquarema for anything other than soaking up the relaxed beach vibes and surf culture.
Final Words
In Saquarema, you’ll surf consistent beach break peaks, but the waves are generally nothing special. While the beach does experience its share of pumping and stand-out days with thumping barrels and wedges, it’s a town largely overlooked by many traveling surfers.
However, Saquarema is an excellent place to unwind while enjoying fun, consistent beach break peaks if you’re in Brazil or traveling through Latin America. Just mind the backwash. If you want to learn more about the place and surfing in Rio, check out my other blog post and my YouTube channel.
