SURFERS BEACH: PRAINHA IN RIO DE JANEIRO
A place of exuberant beauty, with a small strip of sand and hills covered by the Atlantic Forest. It’s almost a paradise. Surfers are passionate about this place. Know a little more and fall in love too!
PRAINHA IN RIO DE JANEIRO
Prainha is located at the end of Recreio Beach, in Barra da Tijuca. It’s about 50 km from the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro. Access is by car only, through Avenida Estado de Guanabara. There are no buses or subways in this area. There is a restriction regarding parking in Prainha. This is due to the APA of Grumari, which is an area of environmental protection.
Prainha has 150 meters of sand and 700 meters long. It is surrounded and protected by hills and stones that have typical vegetation of native Atlantic Forest. This beach has a unique beauty. With clear sand, crystal clear water, in addition to a spring of freshwater and fantastic waves.
See here the 5 best beaches in Rio de Janeiro.
DETAIL
Prainha is considered the best surfing beach in Rio de Janeiro. Even here, national and international surf tournaments are held.
WHEN TO VISIT?
Do you like to enjoy the beach without many people? Prefer to visit Prainha on weekdays! The beach will be practically deserted, unlike the weekend which is FULL!
Another tip is to arrive early to park your car in a nice and closer place and enjoy the sun more. If you have time, wait until sunset at that location. It’s undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in the city.
Discover other places to enjoy the Sunset in Rio de Janeiro
HOW TO GET TO PRAINHA?
At the beginning of the text, we had commented on the issue of accessibility to Prainha. We have two options for you, check it out!
FIRST OPTION
There is only one access road, which is Avenida Estado de Guanabara, passing by the beach. You need to arrive at Barra da Tijuca and follow Recreio to Praia da Macumba.
SECOND OPTION: SURF BUS
There is a bus called Surf Bus. This bus has been operating since 1998 and always takes surfers and locals to enjoy a day in Prainha.
DEPARTURE: The bus leaves Largo do Machado and passes through the entire border of Botafogo, Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, São Conrado, Barra da Tijuca, Reserva, Recreio, Macumba to Prainha.
This transport accommodates up to 30 passengers, has space to take surfboards, stand-up, bodyboards and is well equipped with a minibar and entertainment system. During the tour, there is a trilingual guide who can help visitors with questions and tips about the region.
UPDATE: The surf bus is temporarily out of order.
DO YOU LIKE THIS OPTION?
If you choose this option to visit the beach, you have at least 4 hours for leisure in Prainha, between the arrival in Prainha and the return of the bus to the south area of the city.
To book, just contact the company by phone or wait for the bus to pass by the beach in front of a stop and sign with your hands.
INFORMATION
Telephones: (21) 2527-0891 ou (21) 98515-2289
Departure time:
LARGO DO MACHADO: Every day at 07 am, 10 am, 1 pm e 5 pm.
PRAINHA: Every day at 8h30 am, 11h30 am, 2h30 pm e 5h30 pm.
Journey duration: around 1h30.
Site: http://www.surfbus.com.br/
SERVICES
Like other beaches in the state, in Prainha there are kiosks along the beach. These kiosks offer drinks and food, lunch and snacks for those who will spend the day enjoying the region. There is even a super famous restaurant that is MIRANTE DA PRAINHA.
See the reviews about MIRANTE DA PRAINHA
TIP
Did you really like Prainha and decided to spend more than a day there? Search for inns and hotels located in Recreio dos Bandeirantes. There are options for Surf Houses, which is for people looking for savings. In these Surf Houses, the daily rates are usually less than half the price you would pay in a hotel.
ACCOMODATION IN RECREIO DOS BANDEIRANTES
DO YOU LIKE ADVENTURE?
If you like trails, Prainha has more fun for you! The Prainha Trail is level 2, considered light and takes you to Pico do Caeté, with an altitude of 130 meters. The trail lasts about 30 minutes. 
This trail starts at the Prainha Municipal Natural Park which continues inside the Atlantic Forest to the summit of the lookout. The park is right in front of the beach and it’s very easy to find. The viewpoint offers an incredible view of the entire region of Barra da Tijuca, Tijuca Massive, Recreio dos Bandeirantes, Pontal Beach and even Pedra da Gávea.
PARK OPENING HOURS
The trail is located inside the park, so you need to be aware of the times. The park is open from 8 am to 5 pm.
DETAIL
This is a circular trail, with a path on the left and right. Both lead to the same point and the route is well signposted. 🙂
What did you think of Prainha? Leave your comments!