Maresias: Beach, Waves and Rainforest

Maresias brings together a long beach, powerful waves and trails through the Atlantic Rainforest. It also has an open-air gallery for urban art and places offering a range of activities. When planning your trip, it is therefore worth first considering whether the beach and water sports, a trail through the rainforest, or both will shape your holiday.

Beach and Water in Maresias

Maresias beach is about 5 km long. It slopes steeply and is known for its powerful waves. Praia de Maresias also offers opportunities for stand-up paddleboarding and other beach sports. This means there are different kinds of beach activities, although the wave conditions are not the same for everyone.

The Rio Maresias flows into the sea at the left-hand side of Maresias. There, it forms a freshwater area where you can cool off after swimming in the sea. When planning a day at the beach, you can therefore consider this river-shaped area as well as the sea.

Surfing and Active Days

Canto do Moreira, at the right-hand end of Maresias, is a classic surf spot. National and international surfing competitions have been held there, including stages of the global surfing circuit. The spot therefore has a competition history that goes beyond everyday surfing. Surf schools at Canto do Moreira offer lessons and surfboard rentals.

If surfing is one of your interests, you will find both a well-known surf spot and lessons and board rentals here. Praia de Maresias also offers stand-up paddleboarding and other beach sports. These options offer different ways to plan your day: you can focus on one activity or consider including various beach activities in your plans.

Trails through the Atlantic Rainforest

You can experience another side of Maresias on the trail to Cachoeira das Sete Quedas. It runs for 1.8 km through the Atlantic Rainforest. The last two waterfalls along the trail offer easy access to swim in clear pools. This means the described route combines a walk through the rainforest with waterfalls and swimming pools.

The Trilha Maresias-Paúba also offers a hiking option; it runs through Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar. Its trailhead is at the right-hand end of Maresias, beyond the river bridge. When looking for a holiday rental, these specific starting points may be relevant if you would like to include trails and nature experiences in your holiday plans.

Urban Art and Squares

Beco da Mulher Maravilha serves as an open-air gallery for urban art. This cultural spot complements the beach and nature experiences in Maresias. If you do not want your holiday to revolve exclusively around water and trails, you can also consider this gallery as a separate point of interest.

Praça do Surf has a skate park and a playground. The Centro de Informações Turísticas is also located there. If you are travelling with children, you can take the playground into account when considering possible activities; the skate park adds another option. Maresias is accessible via the BR-101 (Rio–Santos). When choosing a holiday rental, you can therefore first weigh up which of the described sides of the area matters most for your stay: the beach and surfing, rainforest trails, or urban art and Praça do Surf.

For the broader travel overview: São Sebastião.