Enseada São Francisco do Sul

Praia da Enseada curves along a three-kilometer natural bay on the northern oceanfront of Ilha de São Francisco. Enseada São Francisco do Sul is an open water swimming race held in the sea at Praia da Enseada, in the municipality of São Francisco do Sul in Santa Catarina, Brazil. The sheltered embayment provides a broad arc of calm, tranquil water that naturally accommodates long swimming courses along the shore. Organized by Correr e Nadar as one of the six stages of the Mandala circuit, the competition offers four distinct course options: 200 meters, 600 meters, 1.5 kilometers, and 3 kilometers. Swimmers must adhere to traditional open-water standards, as neoprene wetsuits and inflatable arm floats are strictly prohibited.

Every participant is required to wear the official event swim cap, though personal safety life vests are permitted on the course for anyone seeking extra security. All finishers who complete their chosen distance receive an event medal and contend for placement trophies across categories. Because the course is set in the open sea, race mornings reflect real marine conditions. Once you settle into your rhythm, the sweeping coastline provides clear natural landmarks that keep you oriented from the opening stroke to the final buoy.

Racing at Enseada: sheltered corner, podiums and past temperatures

The race is based in the sheltered area at the right-hand corner of Praia da Enseada, with a partner inn and a restaurant right in front of the race site. The organiser calls this stage well suited to teams and coaching groups, who can put their training into practice in competition. The event page records water temperatures of 21 °C (70 °F) on 30 August 2026, 29 °C (84 °F) on 9 March 2025 and 24 °C (3677-75 °F) on 27 April 2024. Earlier readings were 25 °C (77 °F) on 28 April 2023 and 24 °C (3673-75 °F) on 30 April 2022. Trophies go to the top five overall, men and women, in the 3 km, 1.5 km, 600 m and 200 m, and to the top three in each age category. Swimmers who bring their own kayak or SUP escort must register that person with the organisation, whatever the distance. Timing runs on an electronic bracelet that swimmers hand back at the end of the race in exchange for the stage medal.

Baía da Babitonga: the maritime entrance of 1503

The municipality of São Francisco do Sul occupies the northern tip of São Francisco island, positioned right where the open Atlantic meets the sheltered mouth of Babitonga Bay. European seafaring history here stretches back more than five centuries to 1503, when the French navigator Jean Binot Paulmier de Gonneville sailed into the bay. Following periods of heavy rainfall, runoff carries natural plant sediment and displaced organic matter into the sea, which can temporarily tint the seawater near Praia da Enseada a darker hue. The darker tone is purely vegetative in origin, leaving the bay's sheltered waters completely tranquil and safe for long-distance training and competition.

Farol da Ilha da Paz and the Graças archipelago

Ilha da Paz is located about six kilometers from the race area. Rising from the island's rocky crest stands the Farol da Ilha da Paz, a 16-meter masonry lighthouse built from local stones that began operating in 1905. Perched at a focal height of 84 meters above sea level, its lantern projects a beam spanning 23 nautical miles to guide vessels approaching the bay. The island's shoreline bears the marks of early maritime labor, including a small cove created in 1918 when blocks were quarried to construct a shelter for service boats. A concrete docking bridge added in 1970 at Porto do Penixe allows boats drawing up to two meters to moor securely even at low tide. Ilha da Paz also holds two natural freshwater springs, Fonte do Cafeeiro and Saco do Venâncio, while the rocky shallows encircling the Graças islands remain rich fishing grounds populated by lobsters, groupers, and dusky groupers.

Parque Estadual do Acaraí and the Tamboretes islands

The hydrographic network of Parque Estadual do Acaraí links the freshwater marshes of the Capivaru Lagoon with the headwaters of the Perequê River and the meandering flow of the Acaraí River. This interconnected ecosystem supports extensive wildlife, sheltering 337 recorded bird species, 38 native fish species within the Acaraí River, and 35 reptile species, including five distinct types of sea turtles that feed along the shore. Just off the park's coast lies the Tamboretes archipelago, a cluster of four islands that serves as a vital sanctuary and breeding colony for marine birds. To preserve nesting colonies, visitors may not land on the islands, and fishing or underwater spearfishing is strictly prohibited within a 50-meter perimeter surrounding the rocks.

Praia da Enseada seafront and Morro da Esperança

Back at the race site, Praia da Enseada retains the relaxed atmosphere of a traditional fishing village while offering the most complete beachfront infrastructure in the municipality. Along the fine sand, beach kiosks hire out stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, and pedal boats for exploring the calm shoreline outside race hours. During the summer season, the beachfront turns into a lively gathering spot for open-air sports, hosting organized tournaments of beach tennis, beach soccer, and futsal. At the far edge of the beach, a steep stairway known as the Escadaria da Petrobrás climbs up through the coastal foliage of Morro da Esperança.