praia do pontal is easy to reach via bus from ipanema or copacabana, as the bus line 332 (taquara x castelo via barra da tijuca) rides along avenida vieira souto in ipanema and goes by praia do recreio towards pedra do pontal. the ride is about 60 to 80 minutes long, depending on traffic conditions, and the walk from praia do recreio to praia do pontal takes only a few minutes.

alternatively, the surf bus, a special private bus taking visitors from zona sul to all the main surf beaches in rio, stops on praia da macumba, which is the beach next to praia do pontal, on the other side of the pedra de itapuã. the surf bus leaves from largo do machado every day at 7 am, 10 am,1 pm, and 4 pm - more details are posted on their webpage.