Sao Marcos is a surf spot that might not be the best option for everyone. It's located near a river mouth and has some unique features that you should know about. The area attracts a mix of surfers, but don’t expect to find epic waves here too often. The surroundings can be a bit busy with tankers coming through, so keep that in mind when planning your session.

The surf at Sao Marcos works best with a NorthEast swell, but it can also pick up waves from the North and East. It handles swell sizes around 2ft (about 0.6 meters) well, breaking over sandy bottoms. You’ll find both left and right waves here, which can be fun, especially for beginners. The best conditions usually come with a South wind, and it’s recommended to surf during mid to high tides.

If you’re looking for variety, Ponta da Areia is just around the point to the west. It’s deeper in the river mouth and might have better days, although it doesn’t break that often. Expect more surfers to show up there when the waves are decent. If you decide to stick to Sao Marcos, it can be a nice chill spot for beginner surfers to practice without too much competition.