Rei e Rainha do Mar — Etapa Arraial do Cabo

Cooled by deep ocean currents sweeping up from the South Atlantic, the turquoise waters of Arraial do Cabo provide an astonishing degree of natural transparency rarely found along tropical coasts. Rei e Rainha do Mar — Etapa Arraial do Cabo is an open water swimming race held in the Atlantic waters off Praia dos Anjos, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Swimmers plunge into crystalline sea conditions that feel worlds away from ordinary beach racing, surrounded by dramatic headlands.

The race: Sprint, Classic, and Challenge off Praia dos Anjos

Organized by Effect Sport as part of a wider multisport festival that combines swimming, running, and biathlon events, the open water program centers on the sheltering bay of Praia dos Anjos. Swimmers can take on three distinct distances tailored to different levels: the Sprint over one kilometer, the Classic over two kilometers, and the Challenge spanning 3.5 kilometers. Standing along the shoreline waiting for the starting signal, the calm expanse stretches outward with exceptional visibility through the shallows. The festival's pedigree dates back to 2008, when marathon swimmer Luiz Lima crossed the 35 kilometers between Leme and Pontal along the coast of Rio de Janeiro and was hailed as the original "Rei do Mar".

The inaugural competitive edition followed in 2009 along Copacabana Beach, won by Australian distance swimmer Trent Grimsey. The series adopted the full title of Rei e Rainha do Mar in 2010 to formally welcome women into the fold, taking lasting inspiration from Tim Maia's famous coastal anthem Do Leme ao Pontal. Those venturing further along that same coastline encounter Praia do Foguete, known for its deep, crystalline, and notably cool water that mirrors the open ocean environment of the region.

Ressurgência: the Antarctic upwelling that clears the bay

What sets this stretch of coast apart from the rest of Brazil is a powerful oceanographic phenomenon called ressurgência. Deep, nutrient-laden currents carried up from the polar region by the Malvinas Current rise directly toward the surface along the continental shelf. Because the water rises straight from the ocean depths, temperatures in Arraial do Cabo typically range between 14°C (57 °F) and 24°C (75 °F) rather than tropical highs. The sudden coolness of the water feels brisk and invigorating upon diving into the sea, but the hyper-transparent conditions quickly reward swimmers with sharp sightlines across the course.

From Vespucci's 1503 landfall to the shipwrecks of Cabo Frio

That luminous water washes ashore on ground woven into early maritime navigation. The settlement here was founded in 1503 by Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci, whose expedition established a trading post directly on the sands of Praia dos Anjos, marking one of the earliest recorded European landing sites in the region. Walking along the beach today connects swimmers directly to the earliest days of Atlantic voyages. Between 1503 and the nineteenth century, the treacherous waters for sailing vessels resulted in numerous shipwrecks over the centuries. There are approximately thirty dive sites scattered throughout the surrounding area, including popular spots near Ilha dos Porcos, Ilha do Farol, and Cardeiro. Hidden between Ponta do Peró and Morro do Farolete, Praia Brava spans a total length of 400 meters and is framed by steep sea cliffs rising approximately twenty meters high. Reaching this secluded beach requires hiking down a stone trail, where visitors encounter clear and very rough surf looking directly across to Ilha dos Papagaios.

The Arraial do Cabo Marine Extractive Reserve and Ilha do Cabo Frio

The race is set within the Arraial do Cabo Marine Extractive Reserve, a vast coastal sanctuary established in 1997. Covering 56,769 hectares, the protected territory embraces the town of Arraial do Cabo itself, sections of the ocean to the south and east, and the long bar of land between the Araruama Lagoon and the open sea. The surrounding coastal landscape unfolds across shifting sand dunes, rocky headlands, offshore islands, and the extensive Restinga da Massambaba sandbank. The cold, nutrient-rich upwelling feeds an extraordinarily diverse ecosystem within the reserve. The protected area serves as home to notable wildlife and marine organisms, including the Barber goby, sea urchins, sea ginger, royal terns, branching gorgonians, and passing sperm whales.

To protect local resources alongside traditional livelihoods, sustainable squid fishing standards were officially established for the reserve on January 29, 2014. About four kilometers off the coast of Arraial do Cabo lies the Ilha do Cabo Frio Biological Reserve, an Atlantic island sanctuary rimmed by beaches of fine white sand. Managed by the local municipality, the island is recognized by international conservation organizations as a center for plant diversity and forms part of the broader Atlantic Forest Biosphere Reserve designated by UNESCO.

Praia dos Anjos: fishing boats, piers, and seafood kiosks

Back on the mainland shore, Praia dos Anjos remains the historical and tourist heart of Arraial do Cabo. The waterfront retains the authentic atmosphere of a traditional fishing community, where artisanal skiffs and colorful wooden vessels mingle with modern dive boats along the water's edge. A busy pier on the left side of the beach serves as the primary departure point for diving excursions and boat trips out to the neighboring islands. That calm shore is filled with fishing boats, where shallow waters are well suited for catching shrimp and crabs, and the banks are strewn with large quantities of sea shells. The area is lined with rustic kiosks and casual restaurants specializing in freshly caught seafood.

The nearby shoreline of Praia das Palmeiras similarly features kiosks and stalls serving local fish directly to visitors. As evening settles, the waterfront offers an ideal vantage point to unwind and watch the sun dip below the horizon over the resting fleet of boats.