Guarapari - Espírito Santo

The city of Guarapari is located on the coast of the state of Espírito Santo, at only 55km (34.18 mi.) from Vitória, the Capixaba* capital. It was founded in 1585, by Father José de Anchieta**. The self-called “Health City”, Guarapari has one beach of monazitic sands: the Beach of the Black Sand, the most famous and most visited beach of the city. It is believed that such sands offer medicinal qualities, with most notable effects in cases of rheumatism, arthritis and gout.



To complete the feeling of well being of those who go to the beach, there are bars, kiosks and restaurants all over the border of the beach.

Besides having beautiful beaches, such as the Castanheiras and Morro beaches, the city is greatly sought by the sportsmen who are into diving. The area offers great places for the practice of that activity. There are many accredited diving schools and professionals that offer tours and courses for the visitors who want to learn how to dive.

* Adj. related to the State of Espírito Santo.
**José de Anchieta (1534-1597) was a Spanish Jesuit missionary in Brazil, South America, in the second half of the 16th century. A highly influential figure in Brazil's history in the first century after its discovery on April 21, 1500 by a Portuguese fleet commanded by Pedro Álvares Cabral, Anchieta was one of the founders of São Paulo, in 1554, and Rio de Janeiro, in 1565. He was a writer and poet, and is considered the first Brazilian writer.

Attractions
Beaches
Setiba Pina
It is formed by a large area of preservation area, with lagoons, dunes and wild chestnut tress.

Três Praias (Three Beaches)
Those are three small beaches, which are separate by rocks. Access is gained through a private property. It has a barbecue area, bathrooms, and child’s playground.

Dos Adventistas (Adventist’s Beach)
Divided by rock formations, access is gained on foot, from the Três Paias beach.

Da Aldeia (Beach of the Settlement)
It can be reached through the rocks, coming for the Dos Adventistas beach, or by car, through a private condominium that is located between the road and the beach.

Do Morro (Hill’s Beach)
One of the most urban beaches from Guarapari, it has a large sidewalk near the beach and lots of activities around the clock.

Do Meio (Siribeira) (Middle’s Beach)
Its shallow waters form pleasant natural swimming pools among the rocks, perfect for the practice of the snorkeling and for the enjoyment of the children.

Areia Preta (Black Sand)
It is a quite busy urban beach during the summer. It has the famous monazitc sands.

Enseada Azul (Blue Lagoon Beach)
It is formed by the Guaibura, Peracanga, and Bacutia beaches. Its waters are clear, being protected by the hills. It also has good natural swimming pools.

Dos Padres (Priests’ Beach)
It is a small and beautiful beach, surrounded by rocks, woods, and wild chestnut trees. Access is gained on foot, after a short hike on the trail that starts at the Enseada Verde (Green Bay).

Meaípe
Rocks, white sands, and a fishermen’s village form that beach, which is quite busy in the summer.

Sports
Diving
From December to May, the visibility of the waters is 15 meters (49.21 ft.), which makes Guarapari a perfect area for the practice of diving. The diversity of colorful species of fish, rays, dolphins, and turtles attract sportsmen from all over the world. At less than 1 hour from the wharf it is possible to explore islands, shipwrecks, and reefs.

Other attractions
Old Mother Church
Built by Father Anchieta in 1585, the old Mother Church of Guarapari has its doors outlined with seashells, quite an original work.

Paulo César Vinha State Park (Setiba)
The Park comprises an area of 1,500 hectares (3,706.58 acres) from the place called Ponta da Fruta, in the town of Vila Velha, to Guarapari. It has beaches, lagoon vegetation, dunes, and ponds.

Expo Mar (Expo Sea)
It is a large aquarium with more than 100 species of sea animals. There are guided tour, taken with the guidance of accredited guides. It is located in the Gaivotas Island (Seagulls Island), next to the bridge that serves as access to the Morro beach.

More on Brazil:
Aparecida do Norte - Sao Paulo
Petropolis - Rio de Janeiro
Balneario Camboriu - Santa Catarina
Sao Francisco do Sul - Santa Catarina
Elis Regina - Brazilian Music
Brazilian Ecotourism - Atlantic Forest and Mountain Regions
Angra dos Reis - Rio de Janeiro

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