Surf spot

Itacoatiara

Forecast conditions and map view for Itacoatiara in Brazil, Rio de Janeiro City. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: Brazil, Rio de Janeiro City
Coordinates: -22.9726, -43.0334

Metric
Metric	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00
Wave height (m)	1	1	1.1	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.1	1	1	0.9	0.9	0.8	0.8	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	1	1.2	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.2	1	1.1	1.1	1.1	1.1	1.2	1.2	1.4	1.5	1.7	1.7	1.6	1.4	1.4	1.3	1.2	1	0.8	0.8	1.1	1.4	1.9	1.9	1.9	1.9	1.9	2.1	2.2	2.2	2.2
Wave direction	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	SE	E	E	E	E	E	E	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	S	S	SSE	S	S	S	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	S	SSW	SSW	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
Wave period (s)	9.9	10.3	10.8	11	10.9	10.7	10.4	10.3	10.1	9.7	9.6	9.4	7.8	6.3	6.8	6.5	6.5	6.5	6.7	5.7	6.3	6.2	6	5.8	5.7	5.7	6	6.2	6.5	6.5	6.5	6.5	6.6	7.2	7.4	7.2	7.2	7.3	7.3	7.3	7.5	7.8	7.3	7.3	10.2	5.8	5.6	6.8	7	7.1	7.3	7.4	8.6	8.9	9	9.2
Wave energy (kJ)	206	232	300	337	342	327	304	273	221	179	161	137	83	49	48	42	42	36	39	62	113	120	118	116	106	95	66	96	104	106	110	112	125	197	260	300	286	256	224	206	187	185	111	72	125	83	123	320	374	372	401	395	677	767	798	781
Wind speed (km/h)	7.7	4	4.1	4	4.5	5.4	7.1	4.3	6.4	8.7	22.4	5.2	7.7	18.6	8.7	11.2	8.8	6.8	3.8	2.4	10.7	9.9	14.5	4.5	2.9	3	1.5	1.9	4.6	3.6	6.4	17.1	1.8	8.7	7.1	6.9	4.4	13	8.8	5.4	6.7	7.9	4.3	3.3	6.8	11.2	7.9	11.5	11.6	10.6	8.5	5.2	6.3	10.6	11.2	11.6
Wind direction	NNEOffshore	ENEGlassy	NNEGlassy	WGlassy	SSEGlassy	ECross-off	ESECross	NNEGlassy	NNEOffshore	NOffshore	WSWCross-on	NWCross	SSWOnshore	SSWOnshore	SWOnshore	SOnshore	SCross-on	SOnshore	SEGlassy	ESEGlassy	SSECross-on	SECross-on	ESECross	ESEGlassy	EGlassy	ENEGlassy	SEGlassy	ESEGlassy	SWGlassy	WGlassy	ENECross-off	SWCross-on	NGlassy	SWOnshore	NNEOffshore	NWCross-off	NWGlassy	SOnshore	SOnshore	SOnshore	SWOnshore	WSWCross-on	NWGlassy	WGlassy	SOnshore	SOnshore	SSECross-on	SECross-on	ESECross	ESECross	ESECross	ESECross	ESECross	ECross	ECross-off	ECross-off

Itacoatiara is one of the most famous surf spots in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro state—just across the bay from Rio de Janeiro City, not actually inside Rio proper. It’s a classic beachbreak set against a dramatic, scenic backdrop, and it has a strong reputation for being powerful, hollow, and often heavy.

Quick description

Location: Itacoatiara Beach, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Type of wave: Mostly beachbreak
Best for: Intermediate to advanced surfers; can be very challenging on bigger days
Wave character: Fast, punchy, hollow, and sometimes intense
Beach: Beautiful crescent-shaped beach with a wild, natural feel

Surf conditions

Itacoatiara typically works best with solid swell and favorable winds, and it can produce excellent barrels when the sandbanks line up. Because the beach faces open ocean, it can pick up plenty of swell, making it consistent but also powerful and sometimes unforgiving. The wave can get shallow and heavy, so timing and local knowledge matter a lot.

Vibe and setting

The spot is known for its stunning scenery—lush mountains, granite hills, and a more rugged atmosphere than many city beaches. It feels more like a surf destination than an urban break. The beach is also popular with locals for swimming, sunbathing, and beach sports, but when the surf is up it becomes a serious session spot.

Things to know

Can be dangerous for beginners when surf is large
Strong currents and shallow sections are common
Best approached with caution and respect
Local surf etiquette is important, as the spot can get crowded on good days

Overall

Itacoatiara is a high-energy, world-class beachbreak with a raw and powerful personality. If you like exciting surf in a beautiful natural setting, it’s one of the standout spots in the Rio/Niterói area.