Guarda do Embaú is a beach located on the border between the municipalities of Palhoça and Paulo Lopes in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, 46 km south of Florianópolis. Guarda is the ninth World Surfing Reserve and the first in Brazil.

To access its beach, it is necessary to cross Orio da Madre, a geographical boundary between the municipalities of Paulo Lopes and Palhoça. Despite being associated with Palhoça, the beach itself, being south of the Madre river, is located in Paulo Lopes, while the town of Guarda, a small urban complex adjacent to the beach, is in fact in the territory of Palhoça, north of the River. The resort is located in the Serra do Tabuleiro State Park and has approximately 1000 residents, including merchants, artisans, fishermen and surfers.

In addition to surfing and tourism as sources of economy, the traditional artisanal mullet fishing between the months of May and July is another source of income.