Circuito Mares 2026 — Caraguatatuba (fevereiro)

Framed directly beneath the steep jungle ridges of the Serra do Mar, Caraguatatuba spreads across seventeen distinct beaches along the northern coast of São Paulo. Among these lively shores, the Circuito Mares hosts an open water swimming event in the ocean at Praia Martim de Sá every February. Swimmers gather on the wide sand at dawn, adjusting goggles and sizing up the bay before heading out into the Atlantic swells. The event offers four open water distances—500 meters, 1,000 meters, 2,500 meters, and 5,000 meters—giving both sprint specialists and marathon swimmers a focused ocean course. The swimming races are part of a vibrant multisport weekend organized by Circuito Mares, combining open water competitions with running, aquathlon, stand-up paddleboarding, and paddleboard races.

The festival welcomes everyone from novices and seasoned endurance athletes to children and swimmers with disabilities. The circuit has deep roots along this shore: it was created by Fabricio Vieira, a sports event manager with a background in Paralympic swimming, who launched the very first edition back on August 31, 2014, across the bay at Praia da Mococa.

Praia Martim de Sá and the granite bluffs of Prainha

Praia Martim de Sá sits just two and a half kilometers from the bustling center of Caraguatatuba, wedged between the sheltered cove of Prainha to the south and the wild headlands of Praia Brava to the north. The beach is an energetic stretch of coastline, though swimmers need to read the water carefully on race morning, as weather shifts can generate rip currents near the shore. Prainha borders both Martim de Sá and the quiet cove of Pedra da Freira. A footpath traces the edge of the hillside, allowing swimmers and visitors to hike up onto the Pedra do Jacaré.

Praia Brava: the Atlantic Forest cove

On the northern flank of Martim de Sá, the landscape turns dramatic at Praia Brava. Curving in the shape of a giant sea shell, this isolated cove is cradled by steep hillsides blanketed in lush Atlantic Forest. Reaching its secluded sands requires a twenty-minute walk along a forest trail that cuts through a pristine stretch of protected native jungle. The trek rewards adventurers with complete solitude, as the shore has no kiosks, beach bars, or houses. Instead, it offers raw nature where the seabed drops off sharply and powerful currents sweep along the entire length of the beach. It is an exhilarating spot to explore after the race, experiencing the untamed, primeval side of Caraguatatuba's coastline.

Massaguaçu and Cocanha: artisan canoes and marine mussel farming

Heading further up the coast, Caraguatatuba's dramatic shoreline showcases its immense variety. At Praia do Massaguaçu, the ocean floor plunges steeply right off the sand, bringing strong marine currents close to the water's edge. Massaguaçu flows directly into Praia da Cocanha, where the ocean abruptly settles down. Cocanha features crystalline, tranquil waters ideal for casual snorkeling, spearfishing, and swimming. A small islet sits just offshore, drawing marine life and divers into its rocky clearings. The sheltered shallows are also the productive heart of São Paulo state's largest mussel farming industry, harvesting around 8,000 tons of mussels every year from the clean coastal waters.

Praia da Mococa and Ponta Aguda: islands and natural pools

Further along, at the mouth of the Mococa River between Cocanha and Tabatinga, sits Praia da Mococa—the original birthplace of Circuito Mares. The beach is protected by coastal mangroves and restinga vegetation under permanent conservation, featuring monazitic sands and gentle waves that rarely kick up rough chop. The sheltered zone where the river empties into the sea offers an easy spot for shallow dives, and the beach serves as the primary launch pad for boat trips heading out to Tamanduá Island. Eighteen kilometers from downtown Caraguatatuba, Praia da Tabatinga marks the northern boundary before the coast crosses into Ubatuba. Here, the bay is so calm that waves are virtually nonexistent.

A line of buoys anchored fifteen meters offshore cleanly separates the designated swimming corridor from passing motorized watercraft, creating a safe aquatic haven. Right on the municipal border, the wild headland of Ponta Aguda looks out across the open sea toward the silhouette of Ilhabela. At one corner of the beach, the ocean has carved out a tranquil natural swimming pool between the granite boulders. A clear freshwater stream empties right into the tide, and two natural fresh drinking spouts trickle from the rocks, letting swimmers rinse away the sea salt after a long session in the bay.