Desafio Costa Esmeralda 30K

Thirty kilometres wrap around Bombinhas, connecting to the open sea and the passage past Ilha de Porto Belo. The Desafio Costa Esmeralda 30K is an open water sea marathon in the waters of Bombinhas, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Setting off from Praia de Zimbros, the marathon course charts a 30,000-metre circumnavigation around the entire municipality of Bombinhas, running along the open coastline before sweeping past Ilha de Porto Belo to conclude at Praia Central de Porto Belo. Unlike traditional mass-start events, this marathon operates by appointment, allowing each swimmer to select a preferred date and confirm availability directly with the organizer, Travessias Bombinhas. Swimmers can take on the full challenge as solo athletes, swim in pairs, or divide the distance within relay teams.

Costa Esmeralda: the emerald sea along Santa Catarina

The regional coastline where the route unfolds is celebrated as the Costa Esmeralda that defines this scenic stretch of Santa Catarina. The remarkable ocean landscape and clean maritime scenery create an evocative backdrop for a day-long journey in the sea, where swimmers spend hours immersed in the Atlantic. Swimming across this expanse means reading the water surface, adjusting stroke tempo against the tides, and watching the seabed shift in tone under changing light as the coastline unfolds. Local open water specialist Travessias Bombinhas mapped this 30-kilometre circumnavigation to showcase the varied marine topography surrounding the municipality.

From Praia de Zimbros to Ilha de Porto Belo

The swim gets underway in Praia de Zimbros before the course heads out along the outer promontory of Bombinhas. The long haul along the outer headlands demands steady pacing and mental resilience as nautical miles accumulate stroke after stroke. After rounding the outer bends of the coastline, the course aligns toward the island channel framed by Ilha de Porto Belo. This prominent island landmark sits in the passage leading toward the bay and is well known in regional open-water swimming, hosting events such as the Volta da Ilha de Porto Belo. Gliding through the channel near the island gives swimmers a familiar geographic beacon as the final phase of the crossing approaches.

Praia Central de Porto Belo at the course finish

Emerging from the channel past Ilha de Porto Belo, the final stretch carries swimmers straight onto the sands of Praia Central de Porto Belo. The final strokes in the shallows bring relief as feet touch bottom after countless hours in the open Atlantic. Stepping out of the sea onto the bustling sands of Porto Belo, finishers celebrate the completion of one of Santa Catarina's sternest endurance tests. Whether swum solo against the ocean or shared stroke for stroke with teammates, reaching the beach marks a memorable personal triumph over thirty demanding kilometres of open sea.