Surf: The easiest place to begin searching for waves are the Santos beaches, the nearest to the city centre and beside Brazil’s main harbour. The Santos beaches need SE-S swells which are bigger at Praia do Itaraé while Embaré will be offshore in E winds. Beside the jetty at Quebra Mar is usually the best with long rights into Canal 1 and shorter sucky left walls. Can be small and mushy for beginners or overhead and barreling for the huge local population. The western side of Ilha Porchat has a a reef peak breaking into the estuary at Porta do Sol in E-SE swells but the currents and crowd are strong. Environment: Brown polluted water, insane crowds, difficult parking, petty crime and some localism.