Volta da Ilha de Porto Belo

Legend has it that the early Azorean settlers, who founded the Vila de Nova Ericeira in 1817, were guided to these shores by the promise of calm, protected waters—a legacy that still defines the experience for modern swimmers. Today, that same coastline serves as the stage for the Volta da Ilha de Porto Belo, a 7,000-meter test of endurance that demands respect for the maritime history embedded in its currents. Before the starting gun fires at the Ponta de Porto Belo, one can almost feel the presence of those first mariners who mapped these inlets, long before the region became a sanctuary for marine life.

The water and the route

Swimming the perimeter of the island is not merely a distance challenge; it is a movement through a protected marine corridor. The route takes you behind the Ilha de Porto Belo, where the water’s character shifts from the open sea to the sheltered, temperate conditions that characterize the region. This is the heart of the Biological Marine Reserve, a massive 17,104-hectare ecosystem where human activity is strictly controlled to ensure the vitality of the local biodiversity. As you navigate the 7km course, you are passing through a sanctuary that has been shielded from industrial encroachment for over three decades. For those who find this distance a natural progression, the season in Santa Catarina is dense with opportunity; swimmers often look to the coastal circuits nearby, such as the Bombinhas Summer Crossing held in January, to maintain their pacing in these same, distinct Atlantic waters.

A landscape in motion

While you focus on your stroke, the rugged geography of the Bombinhas peninsula provides a constant, dramatic backdrop. The abrupt escarpments and hidden coves you see from the water are the result of the same geological forces that made this area the Capital of Ecological Diving in 2013, a title reflecting the exceptional clarity that allows you to maintain visual contact with the seabed even at depth. The coastline remains remarkably authentic, with native restinga vegetation still framing the horizon, uninterrupted by the high-rise development found elsewhere. The race, organized by PDA Esportes, typically takes place in mid-January, when the water temperature is at its most inviting for a long-distance effort. As you push toward the finish line at Praia Central, the connection between the town’s maritime identity—documented in local institutions like the House of the Man of the Sea—and the ocean itself becomes visceral, closing the gap between the modern athlete and the history of the port.