Barra Posto 4.

Posto 4 sits in the middle stretch of Barra da Tijuca, opposite the Barramares towers, where a channel cut into the sandbar shapes a peak breaking both left and right. High tide throws long, walled-up rides for developing surfers; drop the tide and the same bank turns faster, with short barrel sections over the shallower sand. It works on east to south swells with north or light east wind holding the face up, and stays rideable across the tide. Rico Surf, one of Rio's original surf schools, has taught out of this channel for decades, so the takeoff zone is friendly but often busy with lessons in the morning. Away from the marquee peaks further along the 14km beach, Posto 4 carries a calmer, more residential feel than the crowded posts nearby. Entry is straightforward off Avenida Lucio Costa, with bus stops at the block. Currents strengthen along this open stretch once swell builds, so less experienced surfers should stay near the channel they paddled out through.

A channel-cut peak off Barramares that walls up long at high tide and hollows out over its own sandbar at low.