Anchieta: Culture, Mangroves and Nature

Anchieta brings together cultural heritage, river and mangrove landscapes, and opportunities for active exploration. The Santuário Nacional de São José de Anchieta preserves the history of the Jesuits and the colonization of the region. At the same time, nature trails lead through scenic landscapes, and you can experience nature by kayaking on the Rio Benevente. This gives you different options for making history, nature or outdoor activities a focus of your trip.

Culture and History in Anchieta

The Santuário Nacional de São José de Anchieta is a point of interest for anyone interested in the history of the region. Its significance lies in preserving the history of the Jesuits and colonization. The Brandarinos dance group keeps another cultural tradition alive by preserving Portuguese folk dances. Both offer insight into different aspects of Anchieta’s cultural heritage without needing to be combined into a single experience.

The Ruínas do Rio Salinas also preserve traces of the past. Visitors can walk among the ruins while taking in the history and landscape. Those interested in historic sites will find a different perspective here than at the Santuário: the focus is on the ruins and the opportunity to experience them on foot in their scenic surroundings.

Rio Benevente, Mangroves and Nature Trails

The Rio Benevente is home to one of the best-preserved mangrove areas in the state of Espírito Santo. Kayaking is possible on the river, offering direct contact with nature among the river and sea. Anchieta thus combines a distinctive landscape with a specific activity on the water. If you are looking for nature experiences, you can include this focus in your trip planning alongside cultural visits.

Another destination for nature lovers is the Parque Natural RDS Papagaios, the Reserva de Desenvolvimento Sustentável de Papagaios. Trails there pass through native vegetation, and the area is also known for its diverse flora and fauna. Nature trails wind through the landscape at Monte Urubu. Hang gliding is also possible there. These offerings have different emphases: trails through vegetation and scenery, as well as the opportunity to go hang gliding.

Rural Experiences and Trails

Within the municipality, Comunidade Belo Horizonte offers community-based tourism. Visitors can learn about the daily life, traditions, history and way of life of a community of Portuguese descent. Those interested in community and local ways of life can gain a different perspective on Anchieta here than they would from nature trails or historic ruins.

Vale Viver Corindiba offers another rural perspective. This route connects local production, farms and agricultural processing businesses. The traditional Passos de Anchieta walking trail is about 100 kilometres long, connects Vitória with the municipality of Anchieta and follows the paths taken by the saint. Its length and route distinguish it from the nature trails at Monte Urubu.

The Instituto de Pesquisa e Conservação Marinha is also part of the marine environment. It carries out monitoring, environmental education and species protection in the marine environment. This adds work in observation, education and species conservation to the area’s nature-related attractions.

Getting There and Choosing a Focus for Your Holiday

The main road connection to Anchieta is the BR-101 highway. The Rodovia do Sol (ES-060) offers a scenic coastal route that passes beaches and seaside resorts. When choosing a holiday rental in Anchieta, you can start by asking which aspects of the place you want to shape your trip: culture and history, mangroves and river, nature trails or rural experiences. The themes described here offer different starting points for deciding.

You can also consider other destinations in this hierarchy as you plan your trip: Ibatiba, Vila Velha, Vargem Alta, Viana, Guarapari, Rio Bananal, Alfredo Chaves and Tirol.

For the broader travel overview: Espírito Santo.