Aloha Spirit 2026 — Saquarema

Swimmers gather on the wide beach to challenge the open waters of the South Atlantic in a setting known across the country for its powerful surf and natural beauty. The swimming marathon offers two primary distances of 2.5 km and 5.0 km right off the sandy shoreline. The 5.0 km race gets underway early, with the 2.5 km wave following shortly after. Navigating through the shoreline break requires timing and focus before settling into a long stroke along the coastal buoys. At the finish line back on the sand, awards honor the top five overall male and female finishers, as well as the top three swimmers across various age brackets and athletes with disabilities.

The Aloha Spirit festival was founded by João Castro following a 2008 Hawaiian canoe crossing between Santos and Paraty, launching its very first gathering in Ilhabela in 2009 with sixty competitors. Organizers chose the name to reflect the warm, welcoming atmosphere of Polynesian paddle culture, grounding the competition in the five virtues of the word ALOHA: Akahai for kindness, Lokahi for unity, Olu'olu for pleasantness, Ha'aha'a for humility, and Ahonui for patience. That community philosophy remains central to how the festival welcomes visiting swimmers. In past editions, the Saquarema festival has taken advantage of two contrasting natural environments: the open ocean of Praia de Itaúna and the tranquil inland waters of Lagoa de Saquarema.

Beyond the swimming heats, the shores stay lively from dawn until night with sunrise yoga sessions, live music, and evening screenings of open-air beach cinema on the sand. Community-focused programs like Aloha Para Todos involve local schools and institutions directly in the water-sports lifestyle, blending visiting athletes seamlessly into town life.

Praia de Itaúna and Lagoa de Saquarema: swell and shelter

Praia de Itaúna is renowned as one of Brazil’s premier surfing destinations, where consistent ocean swells regularly generate waves reaching up to three meters in height. While open water swimmers face heavy surf, the beach offers natural relief near the rocky headlands, where wave action drops considerably during low tide. By working with the tide and keeping clear of the main break, swimmers find structured corridors through the swell, turning the Atlantic rollers into an exhilarating swim rather than an overwhelming barrier. The rock formations bordering the beach also shelter calm pockets frequented by local divers and fishermen. Green sea turtles inhabit these nearshore coastal waters, and the local municipality coordinates educational conservation efforts here, releasing rehabilitated turtles back into the sea right from Praia de Itaúna. Further to the north, the sand stretches away into a far more secluded shoreline backed by an Atlantic Forest nature reserve, offering a pristine, wild escape just beyond the competitive race zone.

Morro de Saquarema: colonial anchorages and the headland church

The coastline around Saquarema holds deep maritime and colonial roots, originally inhabited by the indigenous Tamoio nation. On March 17, 1531, the Portuguese naval expedition of Martim Afonso de Sousa dropped anchor directly in front of Morro de Saquarema to scout the coast. Around 1660, settlers built the first small chapel on the heights of Morro de Saquarema, which was later demolished to construct the Church of Nossa Senhora de Nazareth in 1675.

The sands of Itaúna: surf shacks, viewpoints, and beachside dining

Down on the sand, Praia de Itaúna features a remarkably wide beachfront that provides plenty of space for setting up team tents, umbrellas, and deck chairs. The surrounding neighborhood preserves an easygoing, retro surf culture where life revolves naturally around board sports and ocean swimming. Surf schools and equipment rental kiosks operate directly on the beach, making it easy for athletes and their travel companions to rent gear or take to the waves once the race is over. When the morning races conclude, athletes gather and settle into Casa da Praia, a popular beach restaurant situated directly on Itaúna. It is a spot to order lunch, watch board riders navigate the surf competitions, and unwind as the afternoon light falls across the ocean.