Figueira

Figueira Beach sits between Praia Seca and Arraial do Cabo, in Rio de Janeiro, inside the Massambaba Environmental Protection Area, and is considered the wildest stretch of this surf route in the Região dos Lagos. The bottom is sand and rock, and a small bump in the seabed forms a powerful peak, helped by an almost total lack of crowd, which guarantees relaxed sessions even on good days.

There are no kiosks or facilities of any kind on the beach, so visitors need to bring their own water and food, and pay extra attention to children because of the strong current. The region is under pressure from land grabbing in the dunes that make up the Restinga de Massambaba, so respecting the natural environment is part of the visit. The best plan is to stay in Arraial do Cabo and explore Figueira as part of a longer tour of the region's beaches, always checking the current before going in the water.