This is one of the most known areas in Rio, very close to the large lagoon (lagoa) the access is very easy. Just follow the signs. Easy to find... ask anybody...
Not the best spot but one of my favourite... Especially around posto 9... Small boards work best... I constantly use a 6´0...anything around that is OK... Any board is good. great tubes break.
Overview
Atmosphere
Really friendly in the middle of the beach...mostly a tourist zone...the thing about ipanema is that the waves change a lot...one day you´ll get the best barrels of your life...the other you´ll regret waking up early...
General
the best advice I can give to tourists is that if you're white and don´t surf that well don´t got to the end of the beaches (arpoador & pontão do leblon) to surf...localism there is usually related to vice...so your best option is to stay around the middle of the beach....
awesome
Im from the north shore of Oahu and visited Rio for 2 weeks in August. I stayed in Ipanema and to my amazement the best place to be was across the street from my hotel. for a week straight consistent 10-14'' sets and almost perect shore break. I was told that was an exceptional week and the summer months can be slow with crowded surf.lets just say i was more interested in the ladies this week however!
comment by anonymous, 2005-05-10 14:36:40
not so good
I spent a fortnight hanging around Ipanema and Leblon. The waves never held up particularly well and because it's a bit of a shorey the rides were invariably short. One day with the correct swell (direct southerly?) a good right began to form on the west end of the bay near Leblon. Whenever the waves got even half decent about 5 million kids invaded the water. Millions of people in the water also but less so on bigger days. Arpoador is much better wave but has the crowds also...
comment by SNOWMONKEY, 2005-03-24 19:01:31
good barrels and hot tan tight girls
Surfed here alot, the points are very crowded when its on, but if youlook around you can get a good wave or two. Swimmers are all over the place when its hot. Speaking of hot, girls are all over the place as well! 7-1 m-f ratio!!!and they love American surfers! Go now.more Brazil-Rio photos @ www.strapsurfing.com
comment by Nelson Gutochi, 2005-12-05 22:20:59