Prainha:
Prainha (“Little Beach”) is the center of serious surfing in Rio de Janeiro. At the far end of Barra and around two headlands the road will drop you into a small cove-like beach surrounded by high hills covered in tropical jungle. It’s a beautiful beach and it picks up the most swell of anywhere around. Even on the flattest days you can find decent surf at Prainha, and it can be good to epic on various swells. The downside is that it is a 45-minute to an hour drive from Ipanema — worse if it’s a hot weekend.
There are several peaks along the beach, all having their day. The paddle out can be a bit tough, as the waves break on outer sandbars and reform. The crowd can be tough but not always, and the surroundings are picturesque. The most consistent spot on the coast, and a great place to surf and hang out.
Praia da Macumba:
Driving west along Barra Beach you will come to a small island almost connected to the coast at low tide. In the lee of the island’s east side is a surf spot called Canto do Recreio. It’s a shifty sand-bottom break that works best on big swells from the south or southeast, at low tide. There’s a cluster of buildings there and a restaurant or two, and it is an easy place to check.
The west side of the island is Praia da Macumba. It breaks on the same swells but can be good at low tide when its small as well. When it’s big Macumba can handle it, breaking outside and rolling in. It can be one of the best spots for longboarding; the crowd is usually spread out over many peaks and the vibe is more friendly and about having fun.