Surf Lesson at Arpoador Beach with Mandala Rio Surf School
4.8(17)Rio de Janeiro1h 20min
VIATOR4.6(7)TRIPADVISOR5.0(10)
+14 photos
At a glance
Duration
1h 20min
Price from
$41 / person
Location
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rating
4.8 / 5 · 17 reviews
Languages
PT, EN, ES
Group
Small group, up to 50
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Confirmation
Instant
Ticket
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Operator
Mandala Rio Surf School
Meeting point
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!
Description
Arpoador beach is the birthplace of Surf in Rio de Janeiro, one of the most beautiful places in the world, its waves are perfect for beginners, for all ages, composed of a stone corner where there is a channel that makes the waves perfect for beginners and the magical experience!
Schedule & prices
Runs
Every day
Next available
Wed, Oct 14
Adult (ages 18–59)
$41
Senior (ages 60–65)
$41
Youth (ages 14–17)
$41
Child (ages 5–13)
$41
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 13.
Tour Options
Surf Lesson at Arpoador Beach with Mandala Rio Surf School
What's included
Included
All equipment like board and lycra is already included
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.8
17 reviews
5
16
4
0
3
0
2
1
1
0
How it compares in Rio de Janeiro
Starting price $41 is 49% below the typical $81 for tours of similar length in Rio de Janeiro
Excurgo comparison of 1,666 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Surf Lesson at Arpoador Beach with Mandala Rio Surf School take?
Surf Lesson at Arpoador Beach with Mandala Rio Surf School lasts about 1h 20min.
How much does Surf Lesson at Arpoador Beach with Mandala Rio Surf School cost?
Prices start at $41 per person for this Rio de Janeiro experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Surf Lesson at Arpoador Beach with Mandala Rio Surf School run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day.
How much does Surf Lesson at Arpoador Beach with Mandala Rio Surf School cost for children?
Children aged 5–13 pay from $41, adults from $41.
Can I cancel Surf Lesson at Arpoador Beach with Mandala Rio Surf School for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is 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! Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Surf Lesson at Arpoador Beach with Mandala Rio Surf School offered in?
The experience is available in PT, EN, ES.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 50 participants.
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Surf Lesson at Arpoador Beach with Mandala Rio Surf School worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.8 out of 5 across 17 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Mandala Rio Surf School.
Reviews(17)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
K
k_mihel
August 15, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Most amazing surfing school!!!
Best experience ever !!! Best instructors ,
Professional full experience and best vibe ! Real
People , great knowledge and the best experience
I highly recommend !!
Operator response
Thank you so much for your amazing words! 🤙🏄♂️ It was an absolute pleasure having you with us at Arpoador!
We’re so happy you enjoyed the experience, the instructors, the vibe, and, of course, the waves! 🌊 Your energy made the experience even better.
Hope to see you back in the water with us soon! 🌴🤙❤️
J
Jen_B
June 4, 2026 · via Viator
Great surfing for kids
Our three boys ages 7-14 had a fantastic lesson with Gabriel! He ensured we chose a day with safe conditions, gave them tips before the lesson to build confidence, and they popped right up and looked great. They had a great time!
Operator response
Thank you so much for your wonderful review!
It was a pleasure surfing with your boys and seeing their excitement in the water. They all did an amazing job, and I was impressed by how quickly they gained confidence and started catching waves. Choosing the right conditions is an important part of creating a safe and enjoyable experience, so I'm very happy that everything came together perfectly for your lesson.
Thank you for trusting us with your family's surf experience in Rio. We hope to welcome all of you back to the beach for more waves and great memories in the future!
Aloha and see you next time! 🤙🏄♂️
Mandala Rio Surf School
C
C_T
May 10, 2026 · via Viator
not great
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.
Operator response
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 🤙
S
saraaA7476XJ
April 10, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Amazing experience, would recommend!
We were paired with Anderson and he was great! He helped us catch every wave and it was nice to be with a professional as Rio waves can be strong and a little unpredictable! The location is great and it is a very fun experience! They have different boards for different levels of difficulty. If you love the water I would recommend this experience to everyone!
Operator response
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re very happy to hear that you had such a great experience with Anderson. He truly loves helping people enjoy the ocean safely while having fun and catching waves. Rio’s waves can definitely be unpredictable at times, so we’re glad you felt comfortable and supported throughout the session.
It’s also great to hear that you enjoyed the location and appreciated having different board options for each skill level. Thank you again for recommending us — we hope to see you back in the water with us again soon!
R
Rosa_d
March 21, 2026 · via Viator
My son-18, had an...
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!
Operator response
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! 🌊
D
dylankA8174OK
March 16, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
I learned the basics of surfing while staying safe
Overall great experience. I learned a lot while staying safe, highly recommend!
Operator response
Thank you so much for your review! 🤙
We’re really happy to hear you had a great experience and felt safe while learning — that’s exactly what we aim for in every lesson.
It means a lot to us that you recommend it, and we hope to see you back in the water with us soon for more waves! 🌊
Z
Zachary_C
February 10, 2026 · via Viator
Had an awesome time...
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!
Operator response
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!
R
Relax64710566235
February 2, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Super!!
Had the best experience with mandala surf school! The team Paulinho and Gabriel are the best teachers and giving an unforgettable experience!! Totally recommended!
Operator response
Thank you so much! We had some amazing surf sessions and you did great! We're looking forward to seeing you again soon! Aloha
3
360johannesb
January 23, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Gabriel.
Gabriel was a really good guide ☺️ We learned to surf easily and well
Operator response
Really Thank You Bro, i hope see you soon again! aloha!
S
Seychelle_x
January 7, 2026 · via Viator
A Great Time
Great instructor, who was knowledgable, personable and helped us catch so many waves. Was also very flexible with us timing wise. Highly recommend !
Operator response
Really Thank Seychelle, i hope see you soon again, aloha!
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Surf Lesson at Arpoador Beach with Mandala Rio Surf School
