Mega do Ita 2026

Twenty-one kilometers along the Rio Itapanhaú carry marathon swimmers through the estuary of the largest ocean-bound river in São Paulo state. Known as the Mega do Ita, this demanding open water swimming ultramarathon takes place in Bertioga, along the coastal waters of São Paulo in Brazil. Competitors take on a continuous freshwater and estuarine course, settling into a grueling stroke rate as the wide river winds down toward the sea. Organized by Associação 14 Bis, the 21-kilometer race stands as a defining pillar of the 'Tríplice Coroa paulista das ultramaratonas aquáticas'. Completing this endurance test places swimmers in an elite circuit alongside two other regional milestones, the Ultra do Ita and the venerable Travessia 14 Bis. For open water distance specialists, navigating this expansive coastal river demands mental stamina, balanced pacing, and constant awareness of the moving channel.

Forte de São João guarding the Bertioga channel

About two kilometers from the race area, the mouth of the Bertioga channel is guarded by Forte de São João, established in 1547 as the oldest fortress in Brazil. Positioned on the channel bar directly facing the island of Santo Amaro, the bastion was strategically built to control access into the Rio Bertioga canal and offers an commanding scenic overlook across the waterway. Its original sixteenth-century architecture consisted of a sturdy stone bastion fitted with angular sentry boxes turned toward the open current. Colonial life at this strategic crossing was precarious from the start; in 1551, an early palisaded outpost raised by Diogo de Braga and his sons was overrun and destroyed by the Tupinambá people.

A few years later, in 1563, Jesuit priests Manuel da Nóbrega and José de Anchieta stopped at the fortification to celebrate mass before setting out on their journey toward Iperoig. In 1710, the fort was rebuilt in durable stone and lime masonry, armed with eleven artillery pieces to secure the coast. Throughout the eighteenth century, it took on an essential maritime role as the official checkpoint registering and clearing ships entering the port of Santos.

Restinga de Bertioga along the Atlantic coast

The Restinga de Bertioga State Park was created in 2010 to safeguard a delicate mosaic of ecosystems where the municipality meets the Atlantic Ocean to the south. The park preserves dense mangrove wetlands, coastal restinga shrubland, and Atlantic rainforest. Historically, the sheltered estuarine channel served as an indispensable spawning ground.

Praia do Perequê and the Mar Casado tombolo

Further down the neighboring coastline lies Praia do Perequê, a wide beach stretching for 2,400 meters that supports the largest fishing colony in Guarujá. A small freshwater river empties directly across the sand here, drawing crabs and fish inland during high tide and flushing them back out into the surf on the ebb. This tidal stream provides a home for otters, capybaras, and diverse waterbirds, while a freshwater waterfall tumbles down on the beach's left flank. The sandy bottom offshore faces regular ocean waves running between half a meter and one meter, occasionally lifting to a meter and a half. Continuing along the shoreline, the 1,800-meter stretch of Praia de Pernambuco connects to the distinctive promontory of Morro do Mar Casado.

The hill is linked to the mainland by a tombolo, a rare geological sand bridge along the coast of São Paulo state. At high tide, the waters of Pernambuco and Mar Casado meet and wash over the sandbar, turning the steep, erosion-prone headland—whose slopes exceed forty-five percent—into an isolated island protected under state cultural heritage resolution 40/85. Tucked away on Morro do Sorocotuba between Praia da Enseada and Praia de Pernambuco is Praia do Éden, an intimate cove with a sandy strip barely 100 meters long. Swimmers reach the secluded cove by descending a steep forest stairway of 110 irregular stone steps through thick vegetation. The descent is rewarded with calm, clear, greenish waters that reach depths of up to ten meters, offering exceptional conditions for a post-race snorkeling session.

Praia da Enseada and coastal seafood traditions

Back along Bertioga's main waterfront, the center of coastal life is Praia da Enseada, an expansive 12-kilometer sweep of sand connecting several neighborhoods. It serves as the primary meeting ground for swimmers, runners, and beachgoers enjoying the Atlantic shore. After a grueling day in the river, Bertioga's dining traditions highlight the ocean's bounty with hearty dishes like grilled fish, seafood moqueca, and whole roasted pumpkin stuffed with shrimp. A celebrated local tradition since the 1980s is the 'Pastel do Trevo', a gargantuan 30-centimeter deep-fried pastry that has become a culinary landmark of the town, offering swimmers a quintessential Brazilian indulgence right by the water.