Ubatuba has a special place in the São Paulo surfer’s heart.Located only a few hours from the capital, surfers have been exploring this region ever since the national road was built along the coast in the 1970s.Toninhas beach is situated next to Praia Grande, one of the most consistent surf beaches in the state.

Toninhas beach has waves suited to both beginner and advanced surfers.Towards the right hand side, the waves are smaller and good for learning to surf.Hook up with Marcinho, who has over 20 years of surf instructor experience and knows the beach like the back of his hand.

On the left half of the beach, the surf is generally bigger and more challenging.Be careful of strong rip currents which can suck you out quickly and pay attention to lifeguards’ instructions.

Toninhas beach will have waves on any swell larger than 1.5m.The wave is generally a fast close-out, but offers up a few turn sections.When the swell comes from the east, Toninhas really turns on the goods.The beach delivers powerful, peaking hollow waves and Ubatuba’s best surfers will be seen in action on days like this.

Praia Grande is just to the north of Toninhas and picks up more swell. Praia Grande often has better shape than Toninhas, offering long, open left-handers with large cutback sections and a fast inside.There can be a long paddle on the big days.

Vermelha do Centro is two beaches to the north of Praia Grande and offers tubing shorebreak waves, suited to bodyboarding.Vermelha do Norte is 7km north of Ubatuba and offers fast, hollow peaks breaking close to shore on east swells.

Itamambuca is the fabled Ubatuba surf beach, 14km to the north of the city.There you will find quality right-hand waves breaking away from the rivermouth.Itamambuca is a swell magnet and has waves almost all year.Praia do Felix is the next beach north of Itamambuca and delivers hollow left-hand wedges bouncing off the rocks in the north corner.