Itacaré is fundamentally a beach destination. About fifteen beaches sit along a 15 km stretch of coast north of town, separated by forested headlands; another handful lie south, reached only on foot. The closest beaches to town — Concha, Resende, Tiririca — are walkable and good for an afternoon swim. The wilder beaches further out — Itacarezinho, Engenhoca, Havaizinho — need transport but reward the effort with empty sand and clean surf.
The surf is consistent year-round, with a clear right-hander at Tiririca, bigger waves at Engenhoca, and gentler beach breaks at Jeribucaçu and Itacarezinho. Several surf schools in town run lessons for all levels; board rental is straightforward and cheap.