Surf: Barra da Tijuca stretches for 14km so there are many local names for different sandbars, often named after the lifeguard post numbers. Furthest west is Recreio which always has a decent sandbar and a crowd to match. The undeveloped foreshore of Reserva in the middle up to Barramares can hold some serious tubes in S swells. Pepe's near the rivermouth shapes some rapid lefts, but pollution is a big worry. Environment: When it's small, Barra da Tijuca is fairly gentle and user-friendly for all abilities. The main peaks will be crowded but you can walk up or down to another peak. Once overhead, the waves get fast, often closing-out with guillotine lips and few regular channels. Rips, jellyfish and severe sewage pollution add to the risks. Surf: General: Barra da Tijuca -- known to locals simply as Barra - is Rio's version of Huntington Beach. It is a 10-mile-long stretch of sand and Rio's most consistent surf area, with miles of shifting peaks in crystal-clear water. A few main areas seem to be consistently better than the rest of the beach -- notably the Pier and the area in front of Barramares. When Ipanema is flat you can still be surfing fun waves at Barra. Tides: Usually best from medium to high tide, but too high gets a backwash. For smaller swells can work also with a lower tide. Size: Best around the head high, but you can find fun surfing from waist high up to a few feets overhead. Closes out if too big. Wind: Calm or offshore from the NW to NE. Moderate winds from the ESE to SSE are the worst. Swell: SSW to SE, but it has a very open swell window. Bottom: Sand. Paddling: Depends on size and consistency. Can be a lot of paddling on bigger days, with no channel and strong rip currents. Spot Rating: Very consistent and lots of variety. Can get really good at chest-overhead surf with offshore wind (usually in the early morning). Access: Cakewalk. Crowds: Crowd Factor: Weekends can be packed; weekdays are not so bad. You can always find a less crowded sand bank. Local Vibe: With the exception of a few more concentrated spots, the crowd generally is not so bad. Environment: Fairly clean for the most part. In general the water worsens after heavy rains, especially near the east corner ("Quebra-Mar"). Hazards: Avoid the left corner (called Quebra-Mar), where you can find strong localism and sewage outlet after rain. Season: Fall and winter are best with swells coming more consistently and better sandy bottoms, but breaks year-round.