Saquarema does not appear on the standard Rio de Janeiro itinerary. The tourist map of Rio de Janeiro state runs east from the city — Niterói, then the Região dos Lagos coast toward Búzios and Arraial do Cabo — and Saquarema sits between those anchors, a small fishing-turned-surf town of around 80,000 people with a lagoon on one side and the Atlantic on the other. Most visitors pass through without stopping.
The reason to stop — and the reason the WSL has placed its Brazil Championship Tour event here for well over a decade — is Praia de Itaúna. A right-hand beachbreak at the rocky point where the Itaúna lagoon meets the Atlantic, producing waves that combine Southern Ocean swell power with a sandbar geometry that, in optimal conditions, creates some of the most hollow and sustained barrels on the Brazilian coast.
Reading the Break
Praia de Itaúna works best with a swell from the south to south-southwest — the Southern Ocean ground swell that arrives along the Brazilian coast from June through August, generated by frontal systems tracking across the South Atlantic well south of the continent. When that swell lines up with the prevailing offshore easterly or southeast trade winds that characterise the Brazilian winter, Itaúna produces long right-handers that pitch and barrel from takeoff to the inside section.
The sandbars shift. This is the defining characteristic of beachbreak surfing and the reason local knowledge matters so much at Itaúna. A bank that produced perfect tubes last week may have moved 20 metres north and now closes out. The section that looked flat at high tide opens up as the tide drops. Watching the lineup from the shore before paddling out — 15 minutes of observation — will show you where the sets are breaking and where the local surfers have positioned themselves.
Best conditions: South to south-southwest swell, 1.5–3m face; southeast or easterly offshore wind; mid to low tide on the drop. Months: June, July, August are peak season.
Conditions to avoid: North or northeast swell closes Itaúna out quickly. Northwest wind blows directly onshore and ruins the face. Above 4m face the break becomes expert-only territory with serious rip currents and a punishing paddle-out.
During the VIVO Rio Pro
The event window runs June 19–27, 2026. During active competition days, the competition zone at Itaúna is roped off for the Championship Tour. For visitors:
- Spectator beach (free): The northern side of the competition area is open to all. The break is compact enough that you can read individual waves and follow tube sections from the sand with no elevation required.
- Grandstand (ticketed): An elevated viewing area adjacent to the judges' tower with shade, a better sight line, and event catering access.
- Surfing during the event: Peaks north and south of the competition zone remain open during event periods; the main competition peak is restricted during heat windows. Local surfers and groms typically shift to Praia de Saquarema — the town beach 2km west, smaller and more sheltered — during event week.
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Join ZealZagFollow us on InstagramGetting There From Rio
Saquarema is approximately 100 kilometres east of Rio de Janeiro's city centre.
By car (90–100 minutes). From Rio, cross to Niterói via the Ponte Rio-Niterói toll bridge or the Barca ferry from Praça XV, then drive east on RJ-104 through Maricá and RJ-106 into Saquarema. A car is the most practical option with surfboards — bus racks accommodate shortboards but not travel bags. Friday afternoon traffic on the Rio–coast corridor adds 45 minutes or more; aim for early morning departures or post-5pm if timing flexibility allows.
By bus (2–3 hours). 1001 and Auto Viação 1001 operate services from the Novo Rio bus terminal (Terminal Rodoviário Novo Rio) to Saquarema. Air-conditioned, reliable, frequent — but slow for anyone travelling with a board bag. Works well for spectators without equipment.
From GIG / Galeão International Airport. The airport sits on Ilha do Governador, north of the city. Add the city crossing time to the Saquarema journey: expect 2.5–3.5 hours depending on routing and traffic. Midweek morning arrivals avoid the worst of the Rio congestion.
Accommodation
In Saquarema near Itaúna. A handful of pousadas (small guesthouses) operate within walking distance of the break, most catering directly to the surf market: board rinse racks, secure storage, early breakfast before the morning session. Book two to three months ahead during the VIVO Rio Pro window. Accommodation within 1km of the competition zone sells out well before the event opens.
In Araruama (20km west) or Cabo Frio (35km east). More accommodation options at varying price points. Araruama is calmer and cheaper, a lake town on the country's largest saltwater lagoon; Cabo Frio is a larger tourist centre with more restaurants, nightlife, and infrastructure, but accommodation prices reflect that during peak winter season. Both work as bases with a car.
Beyond Itaúna: The Região dos Lagos Coast
The coastline east of Saquarema runs through some of the best-varied surf and beach scenery in Rio de Janeiro state.
Arraial do Cabo (30km east of Saquarema). Brazil's clearest water — the Falkland Current keeps ocean temperatures down and visibility exceptional, producing diving conditions that don't appear elsewhere on the southeast coast. The surf here is smaller and more sheltered than Itaúna; this is a beach and snorkel day rather than a power surf session, but the landscape of white sand and electric-blue water is genuinely extraordinary.
Cabo Frio (35km east). A larger town with a protected bay, consistent wind for kitesurfing and windsurf, and a reef-influenced point break north of town that offers more predictable if smaller surf than Itaúna. Cabo Frio's evening strip is a functioning nightlife destination — worth knowing if you're spending multiple nights in the region.
Búzios (50km northeast from Arraial do Cabo). The peninsula Brigitte Bardot visited in 1964 and made famous in the Brazilian press as "the Saint-Tropez of Brazil." Upmarket pousadas, cobblestone Rua das Pedras, a dozen beaches facing different directions offering surf from beginner to advanced depending on which side of the peninsula the swell is hitting. The nightlife runs late. The morning surf in any week that isn't school holidays is uncrowded.
Local Context
Saquarema's surf culture runs deep enough that the town has produced CT-calibre surfers across multiple generations. The local surf school scene is developed — pousadas near the break can arrange lessons at the calmer town beach rather than sending beginners into the same power surf the CT competes in. Equipment rental is available in town; bring wax for water temperatures that run 22–25°C in the June–August window (a light 2mm or rash guard, not a winter suit).
During the VIVO Rio Pro, Brazilian surf culture at Itaúna is at its most concentrated and energetic. Flags, horns, the drumming support of local groups when a Brazilian surfer advances a heat — the vibe does not translate from a livestream. Being there for it is the reason to time a Rio de Janeiro state surf trip to the event window rather than any other week.
For coverage of the 2026 VIVO Rio Pro opening rounds, see our WSL Saquarema field report.
