The best waves in Rio happen in the winter. Ipanema Beach is no exception to the rule. This is quite convenient, as at the peak of summer the sea can be so crowded that surfers would have to zigzag their way through.

While Prainha in Barra consistently has the best waves, Arpoador is the birthplace of surfing in Rio. When the proper Southwest wind blows, there's good surfing all the way from Ipanema to Leblon. The sequences of photos on this page were shot in Ipanema.

The video is vintage rescued from antique super-8 footage. As the original soundtrack by Mutantes was censored by youtube, we picked out a disco song way back from the late 70's. It is part of the soundtrack of classical movie Looking for Mr. Goodbar. If bothersome advertising start showing just click on the x button and they should go away. Hang loose!

Surfing Bus and Lessons

There is a surfing bus that picks you up on the South Side of Rio and take you all the way to the West-Side beaches at and off-Barra. As the schedules are flexible, please consult your hotel concierge for more details. This is in case you brought along a board. If you your best chances of renting one are at the mall Galeria River at Rua Francisco Otaviano, Arpoador.
Some tour operators offer surfing lessons, usually at Barra da Tijuca. Boards and surfing gear are provided, and you may go back home with a new skill. There are private lessons, or group lessons if you are staying longer.

About our photo gallery

For full-sized images click on individual photos, use the front and back control or the play button. We have included 60 photos from our original collection on this essay. Photos by Silviano for www.ipanema.com. All rights reserved. If you need higher-resolution photos please contact us.

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