From Coquille, we can access some beaches on foot, in addition to our beloved Praia Grande. The hotel is located at the end of a dead-end street, 250 meters from PG. Our street is right in front of the Firefighters’ Lifeguard Post, which is situated on the beach sands, and we will use it as the starting point in our guide.
Go early in the morning, preferably, to avoid the hot sun. There will be 4 walking options of up to 9 km, considering the round trip, so prepare yourself according to the chosen distance:
Wear comfortable clothes and shoes
Bring water
Use sunscreen
Praia das Toninhas
Let's start with Praia das Toninhas, the only beach in our guide that is located to the right of Praia Grande. From the firefighters' post, heading to the right of the beach, it's about 1.1 km, or roughly a 15-minute walk. When you reach the last kiosk on the sand – the Quiosque Cantão – you'll see a small trail along the highway, going uphill from the end of the street parallel to the kiosks. As you climb the hill, right ahead is the Quiosque do Mirante, at a high point from which you can see both Praia Grande and Praia das Toninhas. It's worth stopping here for a little while to enjoy the beautiful views. On the right side of the kiosk, there is a staircase that descends towards the sands of Praia das Toninhas.
In its 1,300-meter stretch, Praia das Toninhas attracts both families with children on its right side and surfers on its left side. It features kiosks and is a very good beach for walks.
Praia do Tenório
Our second option is Praia do Tenório. This time, we head to the left side of Praia Grande. From the Firefighters’ Post, it's 1.6 km, or a 20-minute walk. On the way, walking on the sand, you will once again experience the beauty of Praia Grande. In front of you, on the right, is Ponta Grossa – a strip of land that extends towards the Ocean between Praia Grande and Itaguá. On the left side of the beach is Baguari, an area frequented by surfers. Incidentally, there is a Municipal Surf School located there. When you reach the end of the beach, there is a street. Follow that street and turn left at the first intersection. You will go around a hill and soon ahead you will see the entrance to the Tenório condominium. The pedestrian crossing is free; only vehicles are restricted. At the guard post, you can get information on how to reach the beach, but simply follow the winding street in front of the guard post to the sea.
Praia do Tenório features a tree-lined seafront and some kiosks. It has about 500 meters of stretch. Since it is located within the Tenório Condominium, vehicle access is restricted, but pedestrian access is free. It is very popular among swimmers as well as surfers. The beach can be dangerous on days with rough seas.
Praia Vermelha do Centro
Another option, Praia Vermelha do Centro or Vermelhinha, is located just after Praia do Tenório. To get there, you can simply continue along the street straight from the guardhouse (there is a roundabout in front of the guardhouse; for those coming from Praia Grande, you continue straight along Av. Franklin de Toledo Piza), or you can also follow the sands of Praia do Tenório and, at its end, on the left side, climb a ramp behind the Quiosque Areia Sereia. Coming from the Firefighters' Post to Vermelhinha, without entering Praia do Tenório, is 2.4 km, or about a 35-minute walk. There is a short but slightly steep hill between Praia do Tenório and Vermelhinha. Access is via the same street from the roundabout, Av. Franklin de Toledo Piza. This beach has several houses built facing the sand and only two public accesses. As you descend the hill, you'll find a first access on the right—a narrow alleyway; the other access is at the end, on its left corner, next to a small stream. Be careful when walking on the stones!
Vermelhinha is a "tombo" beach, meaning it has an abrupt drop in the sand as soon as you enter the water. This is due to the characteristics of the strong waves that form there and the undertow currents. It is not a beach to bring children. That said, know that it is a beach of rare beauty and is very popular with surfers. It stretches about 700 meters, but it has soft sand on its flat area and is sloped in the region closest to the sea, so it is not good for walking.
Praia do Cedro ou Praia do Cedrinho
We now move on to our last beach, Praia do Cedro or Cedrinho. Our biggest challenge. From the Firefighters’ Post, it is about 4.2 km or a 1-hour walk. This time we have a more difficult route. The section between Praia Vermelha do Centro and Cedro features hills with more challenging climbs. It is a narrow road, with some sections unpaved and others paved. There is quite a bit of uphill, and at the end, there is a steeper descent on a wide trail, beneath dense foliage, down to the beach. But it is well worth the effort!
Praia do Cedro or Cedrinho is a gem nestled in the forest. It is small and isolated, stretching about 100 meters. Its waters are calm, and it is entirely surrounded by native vegetation. Despite the greater difficulty in getting there, it is highly sought after by tourists. It has a single kiosk, the Bar do Cedro.
Ubatuba is amazing. There are over 100 beaches, each in its own way. Stay with us and enjoy the best facilities to explore them all.
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