Surf Lesson at Arpoador Beach with Mandala Rio Surf School

Recommended by 93% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

1 hour 20 minutes (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

What's Included

All equipment like board and lycra is already included

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Bike Itaú
35 - Pedra do Arpoador - Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, Brazil
We will meet at Arpoador beach, it is very easy to find as the meeting point is signposted with a green tent, and we will make contact via WhatsApp where I will send a photo of the place and the location on Googlemaps in real time!

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Arranged start time

Confirm time with the local provider in advance of your experience.

05/01/2020 - 06/07/2027
Monday - Sunday : 6:00 AM - 4:00 PM

What To Expect

Praia do Arpoador

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Not recommended for travelers with back problems

Not recommended for pregnant travelers
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 50 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Rosa_d

My son-18, had an amazing time with this surfing experience booked through Viator! The instructors were patient, encouraging, and made the lesson both fun and safe from start to finish. He was up on the board faster than we expected and left the beach smiling from ear to ear. 🏄‍♂️ and really motivated to surf! Everything was well organized and beginner-friendly, and the team did a great job building confidence while keeping the vibe relaxed and enjoyable. This ended up being one of the highlights of our trip. Highly recommend for kids or first-time surfers—such a memorable experience!

Reviews

4.8

based on 15 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

not great

C_T, May 2026

i went yesterday and we had two people to an instructor, and i was obviously not the favorite. we would spend time waiting for waves (normal), and it started with him boosting us forward one at a time in order. however towards the end he kept on moving the other girl forward instead of me and even boosted someone who wasn’t in our group at all before me. the beach was packed but that’s to be expected.

Response from Host, May 2026

Good evening! We would like to clarify that during the lesson, the instructor chooses the waves according to each student’s level and safety. Every wave has different characteristics, and more beginner students need to practice on smaller and more controlled waves so the experience can happen safely and in the correct way. Students with more development are able to enjoy faster and more demanding waves. In your case, the instructor chose the waves that were most appropriate for your level at that moment. This does not mean favoring one student over another, but rather respecting each person’s individual learning and progression process within surfing. Additionally, the other student was already taking consecutive lessons with us, which allowed her to handle different conditions in the water. In group lessons, especially on crowded beach days, not every wave is suitable for every student at the same time, and the school’s priority will always be safety, technique, and responsible progression. We hope that, with this clarification, you can better understand the dynamics of the lesson and the way we work within surfing. If you see it from this perspective, we believe it would be fair to reconsider your review, since every decision made by the instructor was focused exclusively on your safety and on providing the best possible experience for your level at that moment. We wish you all the best in your surfing journey 🤙

My son-18, had an...

Rosa_d, Mar 2026

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Thank you so much for your kind words! 🤙 We’re truly happy to hear your son had such an amazing time with us — seeing students leave the beach smiling and motivated to keep surfing is the best reward we could ask for! Our goal is always to create a safe, fun, and confidence-building experience, especially for first-time surfers, so it means a lot to know that this became one of the highlights of your trip. We hope to see you both back in the water with us soon for more great moments and waves! 🌊

Had an awesome time...

Zachary_C, Feb 2026

Had an awesome time learning to surf, a straight to the point primer on what to expect and then straight to the waves to get tons of tries with feedback on what to fix. In my first ever time surfing I was able to stay standing up at least 5 or 6 times with the help of the instructors!

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Congratulations my bro! You were a very dedicated student in your first lesson and we had a wonderful session. We're looking forward to seeing you in next time. Aloha!

A Great Time

Seychelle_x, Jan 2026

Great instructor, who was knowledgable, personable and helped us catch so many waves. Was also very flexible with us timing wise. Highly recommend !

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Really Thank Seychelle, i hope see you soon again, aloha!

Fun to watch my daughter succeed and ride a wave!

Robert_E, Mar 2024

The guide was so personable and my daughter trusted his guidance in the lesson, ultimately leading to her riding the first wave! Incredible experience in the most beautiful location. All surf workers were so helpful.