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Surfing in Florianopolis
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 (2)
Floripa Surf Club
SchoolFloripa Surf Club teaches from Rua Aconchego do Mar in Barra da Lagoa, on the eastern side of Florianopolis, and appears in the Santa Catarina surf-school register published by FECEESS / ACES-SC under CNPJ 11938176000105. The register names Rogerio Ergasto Burzlaff Souto Mayor as the responsible professional, carrying physical-education council registration Cref 12032 P-SC. The school's own site dates it to 1990 and describes personalised lessons for all ages and fitness levels, with boards, wetsuits and rash guards provided. The same register lists the incumbent Nexus Surf Escola under the Barra da Lagoa heading.
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.
Also good for surfing in September:
Torn between Florianopolis and Canggu for September?
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