Guide Rio De Janeiro Brazil

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Surfing Rio 2011

In Zona Sul, the southern part of Rio and the place you’ll want to hang, there are some great waves that are a walk or a short bike ride away, and for the others, there are buses that can get you there. You’ll want to stay in the south area, my personal pick is Leblon, the swell always seems to be a bit bigger there and the crowds are friendlier than at Arpoador. However, if the swell is macking you definitely want to paddle out at Arpoador, that left gets sick when the conditions are right.

Top Picks For ‘Epic’ Rio Surf

Prainha is the spot of Rio, powerful lefts and rights with an amazing backdrop. Prainha can hold up to 12-15ft, show respect to the locals as in any other situation. On a big day paddle out next to the rocks on the south end of the beach, really fun left. Prainha is a 45 minute drive from downtown Rio and worth the trek. There is a fun wave in the middle section when the tide is right. Don’t miss this wave!

Arpoador is beside the big rock at the northern end of Ipanema has one of the best lefts around, but also one of the biggest and most aggressive crowds. f you want to fight for position you got to paddle in at the base of the rock while the sets roll in, it can be daunting as you navigate the take-off zone. If you can get one up top it’s a blast—get down the line fast. Super fun wave.

Leblon is at the south end of the Leblon/Ipanema beach has a wicked right hander off the canal outlet and also a nice bowl in the same area on smaller days. It has the best vibe in Rio. Even when it’s small you can catch some decent waves here. Right next to a sewage treatment plant, can get very dirty.

Top Pick for ‘Uncrowded’ Surf

Barra is an 18 km long beach with many different breaks, there are tons of sand bars and many good waves to be had along this stretch. Barra also tends to be protected from some of the nastier winds that plague the city and it is usually blowing off shore at the north end of the beach—which is where you kite boarders want to go. If you want to escape the crowds you’ll find some deserted beach break here, its about a 30 minute drive from Ipanema. It’s one of the cleanest beaches in Rio.

Most ‘Adventurous’ Surf Spot in Rio

Grumari is where scenes from Cidade de Deus were filmed. It is a nice beach with a sandy bottom and easy left and rights. It’s about one hour from the city center and it wild and rustic. I had one of my best all time days here on a big swell. It is a beautiful spot and worth checking out.

Good Breaks in Rio

Copacabana/Leme are a few breaks along this stretch. In front of Posto 5 and 6 have the better breaks. Takes a bigger swell to get in here but when it does it can be really going off. I’ve also seen some really good waves along the fort at the north end of the beach, there are several takeoff points as the swell get bigger, better for a longer board.

Ipanema has various breaks scattered along its stretch, it is also a hive of activity and a great place to hang. Arpoador is at the north end of the beach and Leblon is at the south end—you could walk the distance in about 30 minutes and you won’t be disappointed by the view.

Macumba is one of the more pleasant beaches of Rio, various left and right peaks with an offshore bank that works on the bigger swells.

Any Day in The Water is A Good Day in Rio

Praia do Diabo is on the other side of the big rock is this little break, easy rights and sharper lefts. Good fun and better suited for a bodyboard.

Praia do Pepe is at one end of Barra de Tijuca, for wind-surfers and kite-surfers (possible to hire).

Recreio is over the hill from Macumba, good on the large south west swells.

Sao Conrado break is at the bottom of the favela Roçinha. Conrado is an intense, short wave, but be aware here due to the proximity of Roçinha, cleanliness of water is also an issue.

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Top Three Ingredients to Looking Good in Rio

We all want to look good and looking good comes at a cost—eating right, exercise, or cosmetic surgery—they all require an investment of both time and money. Eating healthy is more a life-style than anything else, it takes diligence and food knowledge and it calls for a consistent observation of what we put in to our bodies combined with awareness of how eating a particular item will influence our living organism. Eating well is easy in Rio, you just need to skip those french fries and stay away from all those sweats—educate yourself about empty calories and incorporate lots of fruits and vegetables into your diet.

Speaking of diets, I got news for you, diets don’t really work, a temporary behavioral change will not magically produce a new body, you got to change the way you live, it is as simple and as complex as that. Nonetheless, exercise is at the core of any healthy body, you need to move your booty if you want to shape your booty. Get out there and do something, go for a walk, play some tennis, ride your bike to work, join a gym—it doesn’t matter much what you do but you got to do it and make it part of your life.

You eat well and exercise but you just can’t stop thinking about your flat chest. No worries mate, Rio is the mecca of cosmetic surgery and a great place to hang while you are recuperating. I’ll be doing an extensive article on cosmetic vacations in a later post but I had to recognize it as one of the top three ingredients to looking good in Rio. If you do elect for cosmetic surgery, Rio is a excellent option.

Some people choose augmentation to improve their body, society likes to dictate to us what ‘it defines’ as beautiful—what do YOU feel is beautiful? I must admit that some stereotypes do strike a common cord and when it comes to beauty we tend to lean towards a collective definition. The other day I was chatting about Rio while surfing Leblon and this local says to me right before I paddle for a wave

“Hey gringo you like Rio? You know our women have the best asses in the world. No lie gringo, they are the best, I know.”

It was hard for me to disagree and after seeing the video below it left me wondering about what it took to put that junk in the trunk.

Happy new year, may your new year be full of surprises!

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Surf Gloria School in Rio

We love what this film represents, the opportunity to give back to society and the next generation through surfing. Much gratitude goes out to Jean Carlos of the Surf Gloria Surf School and the people that support this surf school and its mission of giving the youth of Rio an alternative to violence and drugs.

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Surf Guide Rio Zona Sul

In Zona Sul, the southern part of Rio and the place you’ll want to hang,

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