Location
Prainha Beach is a rather small isolated beach southewest from Rio. It is a surprisingly secluded tropical getaway still within the city's limits. Especially during the weekdays you can enjoy the calm athmosphere with no crowds. In the weekend it gan get more crowded but not unbearably so. Prainha is popular among surfers but as the under current is strong here and the beach is bordered on each side by rocks and high cliffs, it is not the perfect place for a beginners. The sands here are clean, water is clear and the beach is surrounded by rainforest covered slopes, making it a pristine place away from the hubbub.
During weekends and holidays, the surf bus is a good way to get to Prainha. The bus is running on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. It leaves Largo do Machado at 7 a.m., 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and the Prainha lookout point (Mirante da Prainha) at 8:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 4 p.m. Outside the bus running times, taxi is the best way to get there.
Free access. Surf bus is R$ 5 each way.