Surf: Take the 14km (9mi) Niteroi bridge to cross the Bahia de Guanabara (which has a few waves in storm swells) and reach Itacoatiara. This is one of the heavier, hollower beachbreaks in Brazil, sucking in S swells and exploding them on shallow, challenging bars. West end Pampo can have good rights on SW, Meio lurches hard in the middle while Costão will turn out E-SE lefts. Any N wind and a pushing tide is usually the go. There's an urchin-covered, righthand reef on the southern headland that the lids dominate. Environment: It's not always perfect by any means, but when it picks up, only experienced, fleet-footed surfers should take on the air-drops. Beginners will have more chance at Praias Piratininga and Camboinhas, which has a a good wave at the canal and Laje de Itaipu.