Swim Alcatrazes

In 1591, Brianda Pereira orchestrated a desperate defense of the local bay, leading a group of women to release bulls and cattle against Spanish invaders. This unconventional tactic forced the enemy to retreat, securing the island's independence for another two years. Centuries later, the same waters that witnessed this struggle host the Swim Alcatrazes, an event that grants participants rare access to a highly protected marine environment.

The marine environment

Swimming the 7 km ultra distance involves a full circumnavigation of the largest island in the Alcatrazes archipelago, a site often compared to the Galápagos due to its biological isolation. As you stroke through the water, you are moving through a habitat shaped by Pleistocene sea-level shifts, which led to the evolution of unique endemic species like the Alcatrazes lancehead and the local tree frog. The ecosystem is so pristine that it received the gold-level Blue Park award in 2023 for its conservation standards. Navigation for the 3.8 km long course relies on natural landmarks, keeping swimmers within the most sheltered sectors of the bay where depths rarely exceed five metres.

Race logistics

Access to these waters is strictly regulated by the Brazilian Navy and the ICMBio, which limits the event to 50 participants for the 3.8 km distance and 60 for the 7 km ultra. This cap is necessary to comply with environmental protocols and the limited availability of authorized transport to the archipelago. During the swim, you will pass the 1928 São Sebastião Lighthouse, which stands 14 metres tall and provides a guiding light across 12 nautical miles. Because the archipelago remains a protected wildlife refuge, logistical arrangements for the event are centered on minimizing human impact while providing a secure path for athletes, who must present a recent medical examination at the kit collection to confirm their fitness for the crossing.