Buzios Swim & Adventure by OWA

Praia da Ferradura curves into an almost fully enclosed bay on the Búzios peninsula, keeping its waters free of ocean swell and currents like a vast, natural open-water arena. This sheltered coastal basin hosts the Buzios Swim & Adventure, an open water swimming race organized by OWA at Praia Ferradura in Armação dos Búzios, within the state of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Athletes compete across distances of 500, 1,500, 3,000, and 5,000 meters inside a horseshoe-shaped natural pool where the water is clear and blue, with virtually no waves to disrupt a swimmer's stroke. Held in October, the event offers swimmers the chance to challenge themselves over open water and explore the coastline both from the sea and along the shore.

Antarctic currents and coastal upwelling along the Búzios peninsula

The marine environment around Búzios is sustained by cold ocean currents that sweep northward from Antarctica, drawing rich nutrients to the coast and fueling an abundant ecosystem of fish and sea life. While these brisk oceanic flows stir the surrounding headlands, the deep crescent of Praia da Ferradura insulates the course from heavy winds and strong tidal currents. The water may feel brisk as you push off from the sand, but the surface remains calm and clear, offering pure glide without the buffeting of open swell.

Whaling stations and corsairs across Armação and Praia dos Ossos

The peninsula's seagoing heritage is woven into its geography, as the name Armação dos Búzios comes from the armações, historical coastal trap structures once set up to capture fish. Colonial regulations tightly policed these fishing grounds, as seen in 1679 when a man named João Fernandes was condemned to whipping for fishing along the shore without permission. In 1740, an entrepreneur named Brás de Pina established a whaling station that operated for fifty years, leaving discarded whale bones buried along the shore of what became known as Praia dos Ossos.

Praia Azeda, Azedinha, and the Rio Una coastal wetlands

Praia Azeda rests inside a dedicated Environmental Protection Area, bordered by calm, crystalline shallows. A narrow ledge of rock is all that separates the beach from Praia da Azedinha, a wild cove entirely free of buildings where swimmers look directly out upon pristine Atlantic forest from the water. A short distance inland, the Una River winds through the lowlands before meeting the Atlantic, having served during colonial times to transport agricultural goods toward Rio de Janeiro. During seasonal dry periods, portions of this river estuary reach hypersaline levels that surpass the Atlantic Ocean itself, sheltering 48 species of fish as well as native uçá, guaiamum, and aratu crabs.

The sheltered seafront of Praia da Ferradura and Praia dos Ossos

On the beachfront at Praia da Ferradura, quiet coastal residences and native vegetation frame the surrounding hills, while the livelier left side of the cove gathers beachside kiosks, bars, and restaurants. Because the enclosed bay remains protected from winds and ocean rollers, the glassy surface invites post-race outings on stand-up paddleboards and kayaks, while surrounding trails lead up to vantage points overlooking the bays. Across the peninsula at Praia dos Ossos, restored fishermen's houses now sit alongside the Armação de Búzios Yacht Club, preserving the traditional maritime rhythm that has defined the coast for generations. Gliding across Ferradura's sheltered basin after the race, the clear water feels like a tranquil natural pool suspended at the edge of the Atlantic.