Praia da Vila Imbituba Surf Guide

Praia da Vila Imbituba Surf Guide

If you've seen photos of surfers charging big rights with a rocky headland in the back and thought to yourself, "Damn, that looks like a pretty good wave for Brazil," well, most likely it was a shot of Praia da Vila. Most of the sand-bottom beaches in this region of Brazil tend to closeout when the surf gets bigger. Floripa's Joaquina is an exception, as is the pointbreak of Silveira. Praia da Vila is another of the premier big-wave spots in the region, and probably the most consistent big-wave spot in the country, handling double-overhead surf and holding shape, and bigger days are not unheard of.

A long stretch of beach with two small islands offshore, the sandbars build up into peaks offering rights and lefts that can be hollow and pack a punch. The beach draws in swells and can hold big surf.

There are three general surf areas: In summer there can be a long left off the north island, working from 3 to 6-plus feet. Between the two islands there can be rights and lefts on the hard sand-bottom bars, working from 2 to 8 feet. But when the big winter swells come from the south, the Sunset-like outside peak is the place to be.