Thrilling Waves and Bodysurfing Rush at Praia Dos Açores

If Matadeiro is Feng’s favourite beach on Santa Catarina Island, my own happy place is probably Praia dos Açores.

This pretty remote spot at the very south of the island offers everything I love—a long stretch of sand to explore, a picturesque fishing village at the northern end, and great waves for bodysurfing.

I love bodysurfing. It’s a game of patience and persistence where timing is everything. The key is to build speed and catch the wave when it’s still forming—easier said than done but when the stars align and if you read the ocean correctly, it’s an exhilarating ride all the way to the shore.

This is the only kind of travelling at high speed I enjoy. I’m one of these drivers who go by the posted speed limits and I found my one-and-only experience on a motorbike absolutely terrifying. But for some reason, I feel just fine submerged in the ocean and the waves, go figure.

Okay, these are not monster waves, I know (and admire Feng’s skills, who went into the water with my DSLR to take these pictures!).

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