Surf spot

Joatinga

Forecast conditions and map view for Joatinga 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: -23.0152, -43.2911

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	0.8	0.8	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.6	1.1	1.2	1.2	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.1	1	1.1	1.1	1.1	1.1	1.1	1.1	1.3	1.5	1.6	1.6	1.5	1.4	1.3	1.2	1.2	1	0.8	0.8	1.1	1.4	1.8	1.9	1.9	1.9	1.9	2.1	2.1	2.2	2.1
Wave direction	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	E	SSE	SSE	SE	E	E	E	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	S	S	S	SSE	S	S	S	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	S	SSW	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
Wave period (s)	9.9	10.5	10.8	11.1	10.9	10.8	10.6	10.3	10.2	10	9.8	9.7	6.5	7.8	7.8	8	6.8	6.8	6.8	5.9	6.3	6.1	6	5.6	5.5	5.9	6	6.2	6.3	6.4	6.4	6.3	6.5	7.2	7.5	7.3	7.3	7.3	7.3	7.3	7.5	7.7	7.3	7.5	9.6	5.7	5.6	6.9	7	7.2	7.3	7.5	8.7	8.9	9.1	9.3
Wave energy (kJ)	188	229	295	329	345	333	302	273	223	184	156	131	55	62	52	55	38	38	35	78	111	114	114	106	99	87	66	93	98	96	99	101	108	173	240	283	262	246	212	188	175	165	101	77	112	84	119	322	359	361	390	384	660	726	764	755
Wind speed (km/h)	7.8	4.6	4.4	3	2.3	10.8	6.5	4.6	5.6	9.2	17.6	2.3	8.3	15.5	8.5	9	7.2	5.2	3.1	3.3	7.6	7.1	8.7	5.2	3.5	4.7	4.7	2.5	3.3	1.4	9	10.6	1.1	10.2	5.1	4.2	2.9	9.3	6.5	4.7	6.2	7.1	3.6	3.7	6.9	8.1	5.8	6.5	8.4	9.5	8.2	6.2	5.5	8.3	9.1	9.4
Wind direction	NNECross	NNEGlassy	NWGlassy	WSWGlassy	NEGlassy	EOnshore	SEOnshore	NEGlassy	NNWCross-off	NNWCross-off	WSWCross-off	NWGlassy	SCross-on	SSWCross	SSWCross	SCross-on	SCross-on	SSWCross	SEGlassy	SEGlassy	SSECross-on	SEOnshore	ESEOnshore	ESEOnshore	ESEGlassy	ENEGlassy	EGlassy	EGlassy	SSWGlassy	EGlassy	ENECross-on	SSECross-on	WSWGlassy	EOnshore	NCross-off	NNWGlassy	SGlassy	SSWCross	SCross-on	SGlassy	SWCross	WSWCross-off	WGlassy	SSWGlassy	SCross-on	SSWCross-on	SCross-on	SEOnshore	SEOnshore	ESEOnshore	ESEOnshore	EOnshore	ESEOnshore	ESEOnshore	EOnshore	ECross-on

Joatinga, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Joatinga is a scenic, relatively secluded surf spot on the western side of Rio de Janeiro’s coastline, tucked between the neighborhoods of São Conrado and Barra da Tijuca. It’s known for its beautiful setting, rocky headlands, and powerful waves that can offer fun, punchy surf when conditions align.

What it’s like

Wave type: Beach break with occasional reef influence depending on the exact section
Best conditions: Typically works best with a south or southwest swell and favorable offshore winds
Wave character: Can be fast, hollow, and responsive, especially on larger swells
Crowd: Usually less crowded than Rio’s more famous beaches, but locals can be protective when it’s good

Environment

Joatinga is a small, picturesque beach accessible via a gated residential area and a short path down to the sand. The surrounding cliffs and rocks make it one of the most beautiful surf locations in the city, but they also mean the surf zone can be somewhat confined and the access more limited than at open beaches.

Things to know

Conditions can change quickly with tide and swell direction.
Rocks and uneven takeoff zones mean caution is needed, especially at higher surf.
It’s a spot better suited to surfers comfortable with variable conditions and a bit of local knowledge.

Overall

Joatinga is a hidden gem in Rio: not always the most consistent, but when it’s working, it can deliver quality waves in a stunning natural setting.