The surfing instructor will encourage students to speak Portuguese while catching waves, providing an opportunity to practice the language in a unique context. Each week, you will attend 20 hours of Portuguese group classes from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, Monday through Friday, along with 3 hours of surfing classes, which consist of one hour of surf instruction three times a week.
Why Learn Portuguese & Surf in Rio de Janeiro?
Maximize your experience in Rio de Janeiro by studying Portuguese with Caminhos while also learning how to surf! We’ll take you to Arpoador, one of the best surf spots in Brazil, where you can learn to surf or enhance your existing skills.
Arpoador (which literally means the harpoon thrower) is famous to surf enthusiasts because of the WSL championship competition that is held there every year. It is also a popular local hangout spot for surfing Cariocas.
At Caminhos, we want to make sure you start your course at the right level. Take yourOnline Level Test here if you already speak some Portuguese and would like to join a group course.
Joining private classes? Please fill out our Questionnaire here so we can tailor your lessons to your goals and experience.
Are you a native speaker of a Latin language (such as Spanish or Italian)? Let us know – we have a special learning path designed for you.
Complete beginner (A1.1 or L). You don’t need to take a test.
WHEN CAN I START?
You can start your course at Caminhos on any Monday of the year. However, we highly recommend beginning during one of the new sublevel cycles to get the most out of your group experience. Check our calendar to see when the next new sublevel begins. Click here to learn more.
Each sublevel in our Group Courses runs for 2 weeks, and every two weeks, we start fresh from the beginning of each sublevel.
Complete beginner? You should always start at the beginning of sublevel A1.1 or L. If you’re joining in the second week of a sublevel, we strongly recommend booking 5 hours of (online)private lessons beforehand to catch up on the missed content
For private lessons, you can schedule your first class right after payment – fully flexible and adapted to your schedule.
4 hours of Portuguese group classes per day, Monday to Friday (20 hours per week)
3 sessions of surfing instruction (the days depend on the waves and weather conditions, 1 hour sessions)
Make friends with people from across the globe
Free after-class activities every day
Accommodation packages
Your fee supports Mais Caminhos – our social program helping Brazilian kids in need
All of our teachers are native Brazilian speakers and university graduates
À wonderful learning experience - The experience with Caminhos was fantastic. The staff is competent, friendly and always available. The program of the school is a lot of fun. The extra activity allow to meet... read more new people and explore the city with many interesting activity. The accommodation provided it was great for what I needed.
Thanks a lot for the wonderful experience.
Highly recommended!
Simone M March 18, 2025
Muito obrigado // best language school // lo mejores de bresil - Excellent center for study . Very good teachers ( special thanks to Damian my teacher ) . All the staff was perfect and very helpful . Being there was very... read more important to understand the brazilian culture .
A lot of activity and excursion .
Merci infinement pour votre service . Meilleurs Salutations . Bonne Année 2025
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شكرا جزيلا على كل الخدمات و الاستقبال الراقي . . اتمنى لكم كل التوفيق .سنة سعيدة ٢٠٢٥
Thank you so much for everythings . Wish you the best and happy new years 2025.
Gracias de corazon para todo el staff de escuela caminhos . Feliz año nuevo 2025
Obrigado do fundo do coração a todos os funcionários da Escola Caminhos. Desejo-lhes um feliz ano novo de 2025.
Ich danke allen Mitarbeitern der Caminhos-Schule von ganzem Herzen und wünsche Ihnen ein frohes neues Jahr 2025.
Kefli M December 16, 2024
This place became my home - Joining the language course here was easily the best decision I could have made. The staff and teachers were so helpful and more than qualified for the job. The course... read more pacing was perfect, and the activities provided really helped me get to know Rio de Janeiro on a much more local level. After 3 months here, the people became my family.
Petra U September 24, 2024
Want to learn Portuguese? Choose Caminhos! - Caminhos offers a variety of courses for learning Portuguese, practically tailored to every possible need. Group classes, individual lessons, all levels.
The teachers are all competent, enthusiastic; they... read more and other staff are ready to help you in every way. The results are remarkable: Even after only one week of combined group and 1:1 lessons I could tell how my Portuguese improved - or rather skyrocketed.
If you're new to the city and don't know anyone, don't be afraid: Caminhos offers loads of activities on every day of the week. With those you will not only meet new people (and quickly grow your own community away from home) but also learn about Rio, Brasil, Brasilians, their culture, and so on.
All in all: an incredible experience! Five stars.
Tony K August 6, 2024
Fantastic Portuguese Language School in Rio - I would highly recommend this school for anyone wanting to learn the Portuguese language regardless of their previous experience. The teachers are very proficient and take a personal interest in... read more insuring that the student is able to master the language at some level while doing so in an entertaining way was that makes it fun. Whether your goal is to become completely fluent or to be able to simply get the basics, this school is ideal.
James R May 1, 2024
The best way to experience Rio! - Can't recommend enough! All of the staff are super helpful and friendly, not only with school things but also general advice for living in Rio. As a first time solo... read more traveller from the UK having a community to lean on was invaluable. I did the group intensive classes (Mon-Fri, 9:00-13:00) for 6 weeks and enjoyed every day! Lessons are very interactive and fun, incorporating games, music, and lots of Brazilian history and culture. The teaching is fast paced and focused on speaking which is perfect for getting the basics you need to communicate with locals. Outside of class they run loads of great afternoon and weekend activities (my favourite was beach volleyball on mondays! 🏐) many of which are included in the course fees. I also choose the homestay option and was blessed to stay with the lovely Nila who was an angel 😇 If that's not enough reason to sign up then know that part of your money goes to providing financial support and education for under privileged children in Rio.
Thomas A March 17, 2024
After trying multiple different language schools and teachers, I finally landed upon Caminhos and my teacher Bruno Cuoto and it has been the best learning experience of my life! ... read more
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I have now taken at least 50+ hours with Bruno and it is one of the most fun and enjoyable experiences of my life. I look forward to our classes together, it isn't a chore but something fun I get to do. We spend our hour or 2 together laughing and having so much fun!
He is patient and such a great teacher, we review material, he has the funniest expressions when I forget things, he has the best stories about his Grandmother, and he always pauses to share relative pieces of pop culture that include movies, shows, and songs that he recommends me listen to.
I have learned so much Portuguese, so quickly, because the class is so enjoyable and entertaining. Sometimes learning a language doesn't feel very exciting, but classes with Bruno are so fun, it's like spending an hour or 2 with a friend where you learn, laugh, ask questions, and really get to enjoy our time together. I am always sad when our time is done because I have such a fun time learning with him.
I can't recommend this school and specifically Bruno Cuoto enough!!! If you are looking to learn Portuguese, look no further than right here!
Lance1robinson May 10, 2022
Everything about Caminhos was absolutely awesome. The location in Ipanema was great, it was a pleasure interacting with Natalia and the rest of the staff everyday, the teachers were great,... read more the outside of class activities were tremendous, and I made some lifelong friendships with the fellow students. My experience in Rio would not have been anything close to what it was without Caminhos being a part of it, and I always felt that everybody at the school was genuinely committed to making my experience in Rio, and learning Portuguese, as good as possible — any help I EVER needed with ANYTHING in my 5 weeks there they were more than willing to give me.
matheusluis727 April 29, 2022
The Caminhos school and all of the team is amazing. I am very happy with the quality of the teaching (I did group plus private classes) and find all of... read more the teachers very passionate about their teachings. They usually change the group teachers every week which gives the students the opportunity to learn with many different teachers.
Learning material is very well structured and the organisation works perfectly. Everyone is 100% reliable and super organised.
Beside the classes they offer may different guided daily activities for free and some for payment. This is great to connect with all other students and also with the community.
The school is located in Ipanema, a very beautiful and safe area.
Some students come for a short period to learn the basics and some do more than 6 months. It's all possible and learning curve is great.
PepitaMel April 21, 2022
It was a jugar experience cause everyone I know there were overseas people although I met a lot of people from my country, that was great because if u don't... read more handle another language it could be useful. Also the workers and teachers from Caminhos speak different language so don't worry about it.
Other great thing is that all the activities that the school offers are amazing, it's a great way to know the city and of course new people.
Love the place.
À wonderful learning experience - The experience with Caminhos was fantastic. The staff is competent, friendly and always available. The program of the school is a lot of fun. The extra activity allow to meet... read more 
