Wing foil in Brazil

Book a lesson at Cumbuco's Cauípe lagoon or at Paracuru on a low tide, where the water is flat and shallow close to shore. Taiba and Jericoacoara's waves are not the place to start.

Cumbuco and Paracuru give flat water to build hours on before the open sea or a reef wave adds swell, and the September to January wind window arrives most afternoons.

Taiba's incoming-tide waves and Icaraizinho and Jericoacoara's point breaks give room to move from flat water into swell, with strong, steady afternoon wind through the main season.

Jericoacoara's 25 to 35 knot afternoons and point wave have hosted the wingfoil world championship's final stage three times, most recently in December 2024, and Taiba's bigger swell days suit confident wave riders.

Ibiraquera in Santa Catarina runs on its own September to March window with cooler water than Ceará, reached through Florianópolis rather than Fortaleza, so plan it as a separate trip.

Getting to Brazil

Most international flights land at São Paulo-Guarulhos (GRU) or Rio de Janeiro-Galeão (GIG), both with frequent connections onward within Brazil. Salvador (SSA), Florianópolis (FLN) and Recife or Natal, the gateway cities for Fernando de Noronha, are mainly reached on a domestic leg after that first international flight, so a multi-region surf trip is usually planned as separate legs rather than one continuous road trip.

Airports

Rio de Janeiro-Galeão International Airport (GIG): for brazil/rio-de-janeiro. Also the usual airport for Saquarema, about 100 km up the coast. São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport (GRU). Nearest major airport for Maresias, roughly 150-160 km and about 2.5-3 hours by road. Florianópolis-Hercílio Luz International Airport (FLN). On Santa Catarina Island itself, close to Joaquina and Guarda do Embaú. Salvador-Deputado Luís Eduardo Magalhães International Airport (SSA). Gateway for Itacaré, about 250 km and roughly 5 hours by road, or a shorter transfer via Ilhéus airport. Fernando de Noronha Airport (FEN). The island's only airport, reached by a roughly one-hour flight from Recife or a less frequent service from Natal; no other way in.

Between the spots

Within the southeast, Saquarema is about 100 km from central Rio de Janeiro by road. Between regions, Brazil's size makes a domestic flight the normal choice rather than driving: Rio to Florianópolis or Rio to Salvador are each separate one- to two-hour flights, and Fernando de Noronha is reached only by plane from Recife or Natal, never by road or ferry. Expect each region of a multi-stop trip to be its own flight, not a highway link.

Entry and visa

Citizens of the United States, Canada and Australia need an e-Visa before flying, applied for only through the official portal linked from Brazil's gov.br consular pages; third-party sites that charge extra fees are not the official channel. UK and EU passport holders can visit for tourism for up to 90 days without a visa, and UK government advice asks for a passport valid at least 6 months after arrival. Rules vary by nationality and change at short notice, so confirm on the official Brazilian government visa portal or your nearest consulate before booking.

Money and costs

The currency is the Brazilian real (BRL, symbol R$), subdivided into 100 centavos and issued by the Central Bank of Brazil. Cards and phone payments are widely accepted in cities and surf towns, but carrying some cash still helps for small vendors, buses and transfers. Numbeo's crowd-sourced price data lists a meal at an inexpensive restaurant at around R$35 and a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant at around R$170, though prices vary a lot by city; Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo have risen over the past decade and are no longer the bargain they once were.

Climate and water

Brazil spans the equator to well south of the Tropic of Capricorn, so its climate runs from tropical in the north to temperate in the south, according to Wikipedia's overview of Brazil's climate. The northeast stays warmest: surf-forecast.com's own satellite readings put the sea at 26.8°C at Itacarezinho near Itacaré and 27.4°C at Fernando de Noronha's Cacimba do Padre. Further south the sea runs cooler and swings more by season: the same site measured Joaquina in Florianópolis at 20.1°C in late October, with Saquarema and Maresias in the southeast in between at 24.0°C and 22.7°C. Pack a spring suit or shorty for a winter trip south of Rio and boardshorts for the northeast at any time of year.

Safety

UK government travel advice warns that criminals have used dating apps to target foreign visitors in Brazil, leading to drink spiking and theft from bank accounts, and separately flags email scams that try to recruit travellers to carry packages, sometimes containing drugs, through airports. Petty theft on beaches and in cities is common enough that most local guides recommend leaving valuables and jewellery at your accommodation rather than bringing them to the sand. The same advice asks travellers to avoid political rallies and large crowds, including around carnival. Surf-specific hazards vary sharply by break, from Saquarema's rarely-crowded beach break to Itacoatiara's busy, locally dominated lineup near Rio, so check the entry for each spot before paddling out.