The Lagoa de Cauipe is a freshwater lagoon about 6 kilometres downwind from Cumbuco beach, reachable on a kite in about 45 minutes or by hired buggy in around 20. The lagoon is protected from ocean swell, making it ideal for beginner kitesurfers who want flat water to practise on, and for families who want to swim in fresh, calm water without ocean currents.
The surrounding area has beach bars and hammock restaurants serving grilled fish, cold beer, and acai. Several tour operators in Cumbuco run combined buggy-and-lagoon trips that take in the dune landscape between the coast and the lagoon — the terrain here is dramatic, with shifting white sand dunes rising 10–20 metres above the scrubland. The lagoon is calm and shallow, especially at the northeast end, and the local fishermen who operate dugout canoes will take you for a paddle for a small fee.