All activities / Surfing / Florianopolis
Surfing in FlorianopolisBR
An island city in Santa Catarina with more than forty beaches, the home turf of Brazil's competitive surf culture and its most consistent waves.
Why here
Florianopolis packs more than forty beaches onto one island, which is why Brazilian surf culture concentrated here and why the generation that took over the world tour grew up on its beach breaks. Joaquina has hosted world-championship events, Praia Mole turns on with the winter groundswells, and Barra da Lagoa's long soft bay is one of the best learn-to-surf beaches in South America. In the April to October swell season the holiday crowds are gone and cold fronts deliver waves in the three-to-eight-foot band with rare consistency, all within a forty-minute drive of the Lagoa.
Best months
Southern-hemisphere winter, April through October, is the season: cold-front groundswells, offshore mornings, thin crowds, and a 3/2 wetsuit by midwinter. Summer brings warm water, small waves, and holiday crowds, which suits first lessons and little else.
Getting there & around
Fly to Florianopolis (FLN); rent a car or use local buses to the east-coast beaches. Walk-in lessons are routine at Barra da Lagoa; book surf-camp weeks two to four weeks ahead.
Skill levels: beginner, intermediate, advanced
Schools & guides (1)
Nexus Surf School
SchoolTeaching at Barra da Lagoa since 2000 under founder Ernesto Hecker, with lessons in English, Portuguese, and Spanish and week-long surf camp programs.