Litoral Norte

Maresias is a powerful, hollow beach break on Sao Paulo's north coast, famous for producing heavy barrels over sand bottom along a 5km stretch of beach. A deep offshore canyon focuses south and southeast swells into thick A-frame peaks that barrel for up to 100 metres, with the Canto do Moreira section delivering expert-only shallow tubes near the rocks. Best with south to southeast swells and north winds, the wave gets good from waist-high to double overhead and handles the 4-8ft range that arrives regularly from April through September when South Atlantic storms fire. Crowds are a constant given this is Gabriel Medina's home break and one of Brazil's premier beach breaks. Watch for strong currents and shifting sandbars after heavy rain.