Travessia Areia Preta × Peracanga

Dark streaks of mineral-heavy sand meet calm green ocean water along the urban curve of Praia de Areia Preta in Guarapari. The Travessia Areia Preta × Peracanga is an open water swimming event held in the Atlantic Ocean along this scenic shoreline in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. Organized by Vibe Positiva Sports, the gathering brings swimmers together during the height of the southern summer in January. The competition offers a broad spectrum of distances tailored to all levels, starting from short 100-meter, 300-meter, and 500-meter sprints to intermediate routes of 1,000, 1,500, 2,000, and 3,000 meters, culminating in an 8,000-meter endurance marathon. Swimming in these sheltered coastal waters means navigating a mild and tranquil sea that transitions from emerald shades along the urban bay to crystal-clear water around Peracanga, where wave action is virtually absent.

Praia de Areia Preta: monazite sands and coastal life

Praia de Areia Preta sits right in the bustling heart of Guarapari, combining an energetic beachfront with sheltered green waters that are ideal for open water swimming. Its shoreline features an intriguing contrast where golden sand borders distinctive dark bands enriched with natural monazite minerals. The sea here remains remarkably calm, allowing swimmers to stroke smoothly. These dark sands originate from coastal mountains rich in monazite, a phosphate mineral containing thorium and uranium that ocean waves have slowly eroded over countless ages. The dark sand has long drawn visitors rather than deterred them, renowned for its reputed therapeutic benefits. The small, vibrant beach attracts health seekers taking traditional sand baths as well as lively crowds that fill the shoreline bars and kiosks during the summer season.

Namorados, Castanheiras and Meio: neighbouring shores in Guarapari

Praia dos Namorados, Praia das Castanheiras and Praia do Meio form one group of beaches that is among the best-known views of Guarapari. On these beaches enormous rocks alternate with reefs to form natural pools, and at low tide children can watch the fish that stay in them. The water there is transparent and calm, and at the tip of Praia do Meio, on the rock called pedra da Paquera, stands the Clube Siribeira. Visitors stroll along the wide promenade shaded by chestnut trees.

Praia de Peracanga: the calm village cove

Further down the coast, Praia de Peracanga reveals a completely different character, tucked away in an inviting village setting far from the high-rise pace of the center. The beach is celebrated for its crystal-clear water, soft golden sand, and an exceptionally placid ocean with almost no breaking waves. Its protected shallows make it a favorite destination for both visiting families and ecotourism enthusiasts who come to appreciate the pristine marine setting. This coastline shares a deep maritime heritage linked to the settlement of the wider region. At the close of the nineteenth century, European immigrants, primarily from Italy, arrived through this coastal corridor by sailing into the nearby Benevente River.

Bay of Guarapari and Concha d'Ostra mangroves

About three kilometres away from the swimming course, the Concha d'Ostra Sustainable Development Reserve shelters 953.5 hectares of estuarine wildland nestled within the Bay of Guarapari. This quiet sanctuary was created specifically to protect the bay's vital mangrove ecosystems, which nourish the surrounding marine environment. Originally set aside as an ecological station in 2003, the area was formally reclassified as a sustainable development reserve by state law in 2007. To safeguard this delicate tidal wetland from urban sprawl, environmental authorities began installing physical barriers and elevated walkways in 2012 to stop unauthorized building.

Paulo César Vinha State Park: dunes, lagoons, and restinga

About thirteen kilometres from the race venue, the Paulo César Vinha State Park preserves 1,500 hectares of dunes, coastal lagoons, and marshes along an undeveloped stretch of shoreline. The reserve was established to protect the delicate restinga, a unique coastal sand-dune ecosystem that stands among the most threatened habitats within the Atlantic Forest biome. Here, undisturbed sands and coastal vegetation provide crucial shelter for sea turtles and diverse resident bird species. Within the park boundaries lie the secluded beaches of Sol and Caraís, where visitors discover a wild coastal wilderness. Behind the sand ridges, the Caraís Lagoon catches the eye with its unusual reddish water, stained a deep amber hue by the tannins leaching from restinga plant roots.

The surrounding landscape is enveloped by the Setiba Environmental Protection Area, which extends offshore to safeguard the pristine marine habitats around the Três Ilhas Archipelago. The park received its current name in 1994 to honor the courageous biologist Paulo César Vinha, who lost his life in 1993 after resisting destructive sand mining in the area.