Anchieta Route - Lake Region

Along the Anchieta Route: Coastal Camping from Rio to Guarapari

The Lakes Region, also known as the Costa do Sol Region, is a region of Rio de Janeiro.

It is considered one of the most beautiful regions of the Rio de Janeiro coast, marked by tourism and the salt industry.

Its importance to the city of Rio de Janeiro is comparable to that of the Baixada Santista to the city of São Paulo.

How to get there

Access is mainly via the BR-101 highway. The road conditions have improved לאורך most of the route, although some bridges still show maintenance issues.

During summer and high season, the region offers a wide range of attractions:

• Beaches
• Salt flats
• Boat trips
• Local music gatherings
• Traditional drinks
• Trails and great spots to set up your tent
  
  
  
  

What Makes This Region Special?

The northern coast of the State of Rio de Janeiro is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the region and in Brazil, especially during the summer months.

Featuring Saquarema, Cabo Frio, and Armação dos Búzios, with landscapes that offer a variety of attractions, especially camping, beaches, sun, and much more.

The artisanal fishing net seine at Praia Grande, in Arraial do Cabo, and the viewpoint at Praia João Fernandes.

The Three Fishermen - artwork by a visual artist - in Búzios

The routes to reach the lakes region

The tour begins by crossing the Rio-Niterói bridge (there are also ferries and hovercraft, but they don't carry cars or buses). Upon leaving the bridge, the signage indicates the Amaral Peixoto highway; at kilometer 27, turn right towards the coast.

After kilometer 40, you will find Maricá.

You will pass through a mountainous stretch before reaching Bacaxá; on the right, the junction for Saquarema, 5 kilometers ahead.

Further ahead is the access to Araruama, which is 9 kilometers to the left.

Ahead there is a junction, the road to the left leads to Rio das Ostras and Macaé.

Continuing straight ahead are São Pedro da Aldeia, Cabo Frio and Arraial do Cabo.

Cabo Frio is 168 kilometers from Rio de Janeiro and from its vicinity the road that leads to Armação dos Búzios, 23 km away, begins.

Lakes Region - On the Paths of Anchieta (Father José de Anchieta) - part of Rio de Janeiro, and goes to Guarapari (ES).

Maricá

Beaches with steep drops-off, in open sea, with coarse sand, good only for fishing.

It has extensive lagoons where water sports are practiced. It still suffers from a lack of water, electricity and basic sanitation.

Highlighting Itaipuaçu beach, one of the largest in the state (35 km), very dangerous, with strong waves, trenches and currents.

The best swimming spots are Recanto and the point on the border with Niterói.

The Fazenda Maricá Camping is located on the Amaral Peixoto Sul highway, km 25, and on the same highway (to the north) at km 41, you will find the Jaconé Camping.

For camping on the beaches in the region, it is advisable to ask for information and authorization from the Maricá Police Station.

Saquarema

Located between the sea and the Saquarema lagoon, the city's heat is tempered by the cool sea breezes, and people seek out the waves of Itaúna beach, where there is a campsite and where the Surf Festival is held, usually between May and June, when thousands of surfers and tourists flock to the city (on this occasion, enthusiasts should bring binoculars, as the waves start far from the beach).

With its beautiful white sand, Itaúna is a dangerous beach for swimming, so it's preferable to use the beaches in the city center and those south of the city.

The other great attraction of Saquarema is the lagoon of the same name: 16 kilometers long, separated from the sea by a narrow sandbar.

It is excellent for yachting and skiing, and very poetic.

Our Lady of Nazareth Church - Saquarema

Highlighting Massambaba beach, deserted, located next to the sandbar that extends for 35 km to Arraial do Cabo. Access is by dirt road, precarious, has strong waves and a strip of white, loose sand, good for surfing, trekking and setting up tents.

In Saquarema there are two organized campsites and an area authorized by the City Hall for wild camping: at Rua dos Tatuís, 999, on the way to Itaúna Beach, is Camping Itaúna's, and in the center, near the lagoon, is Camping do Cambrás.

To camp on Itaúna Beach, authorized by the City Hall without payment of any fee, it is good and necessary to identify yourself at the Saquarema Police Station (center) in order to obtain the necessary authorization.

Jô's Camping Headquarters – Jardim – Saquarema

Araruama

Home to one of the largest lagoons in Brazil:

• Calm, shallow waters
• Great for water sports
• Year-round sunshine

Special feature:

Medicinal mud at Pontinha Beach

Several organized campgrounds are available in the region.

Camping CCB RJ-03 Araruama

São Pedro da Aldeia

The main attraction is still the Araruama lagoon, on whose banks the city is located, in a region of gentle relief, bathed in sunshine all year round. The lakeside beach of Iguaba Grande, 14 km from the city, is very popular, but the most popular is Sudoeste.

It has fine, dark sand, transparent, calm, warm, and very salty waters. It is the deepest and best for swimming.

There are two campsites: Praia da Teresa, on the Amaral Peixoto highway, 111, in Praia da Teresa, and Iguaba Vital, on the same highway, km 98 (district of Iguaba Grande).

Praia da Teresa – São Pedro da Aldeia

Dunas do Peró Chalé Camping - Estrada do Guriri - Bosque do Peró, Cabo Frio: area for tents, trailers, bathrooms with hot water, power points, swimming pool / bar, canteen and restaurant, soccer field, volleyball.

Cabo Frio

One of the busiest destinations in the region.

Among the best attractions is Praia do Forte, in the center, with fine white sand contrasting with the transparent green of the sea.

It is quite long, but insufficient for the number of bathers who flock there on weekends and in the summer.

The resort, with very clean and cold waters all year round, has beaches with large dunes, especially Dama Branca on Praia das Dunas.

Swimwear of various types and models can be found on Rua do Biquíni (Bikini Street).

Praia Brava, with difficult access, includes a 300m walk down a hill.

With yellowish sands, the waves are good for surfing, and it is occasionally used by nudists.

Foguete Beach is one of the best stretches of this part of the coast, still sparsely populated, and has some vacation homes. The waves are strong. Surfing championships take place here, and the location is also good for line fishing.

In Cabo Frio, in addition to Camping Dunas do Peró, there are organized campsites: on Estrada dos Passageiros, km 500 and km 700, Cambrás and CCB-1, respectively; on the road to Búzios, km 8, is Aldeia Emaús; and on the road to São Pedro da Aldeia, km 135, is CCB-7.

Bosque Clube Camping - Rua Wilson Mendes - Porto Carro, Cabo Frio: area with swimming pool, sauna, bar, restaurant, volleyball court.

Armação dos Búzios

A small district of Cabo Frio, like Arraial do Cabo, Armação dos Búzios experienced rapid growth due to the advent of tourism, becoming independent in 1995. 

Armação dos Búzios is one of the most famous coastal destinations in Brazil.

Beaches include:

• Geribá
• Ferradura
• João Fernandes
• Azeda

It combines:

• Fishing village roots
• Luxury homes
• International tourism

Camping das Acerolas Búzios - Rua José Gonçalves - Bairro José Gonçalves, area 3,000 m², communal kitchens, barbecues, accommodates motorhomes and trailers.

There is another organized one: Camping Praia de Geribá, on Rua Âncora, s/n (Manguinhos); another can be found on Praia da Ferradura, but it is wild.

Camping Búzios – Alto de Búzios

Wild camping on Praia da Ferradura

Arraial do Cabo

A paradise for diving lovers.

Top attractions:

• Crystal-clear waters
• Boat trips to islands
• Unique blue cave formations

Beaches:

• Praia do Forno (boat access)
• Praia Grande (dunes)
• Prainha (calm waters)

There is at least one organized campground in town: CCB-RJ-05, on Praia dos Anjos (center).

Rio das Ostras

The construction of the Amaral Peixoto Highway, the tourist expansion of the Lakes Region due to the installation of Petrobras in Macaé, were extremely important for the growth and development of Rio das Ostras, which became independent from the municipality of Casimiro de Abreu in 1992.

With 230 km² of total area, the city has in its geography a map of wonderful paths for the enchantment and stimulation of those who revere Mother Nature. Along the coastal strip that extends along the Amaral Peixoto Highway, there are many open sea beaches, dangerous for swimming.

At the southern tip is Costa Azul beach, whose rocks form natural pools.

There is the Coca-Cola Lagoon, which received this name because of the dark color of its iodized waters (the waters are brackish because they are in contact with the sea, but are good for swimming).

There used to be the Mar do Norte Camping, but it was closed, its current situation is unknown.

On Costa Azul beach, Av. Heleno Nunes, there is the Costazul Camping.

Johnny B Good - Camping & Hostel - Rua Alexandre Barbosa, Costa Azul, sustainable camping, 600 m from the beach.

Tayra Eco-Park Camping - Recreio Neighborhood: 80,000 m² area surrounded by nature, close to the beach, electricity points, men's/women's bathrooms with showers.

North Sea Beach – Rio das Ostras

Entering Espírito Santo

Marataízes - ES

Now, arriving on the coast of Espírito Santo, for those who want peace and quiet, the beaches to the south are almost deserted villages. Access is by dirt road and becomes complicated during the rainy season.

Highlight for Cruz beach, with a narrow strip of fine, packed sand and weak waves.

The cross that gives the beach its name is on the rocks at the northern point.

It is almost deserted, with only a few fishermen's houses.

Another beach is Cações, a deserted cove in front of Ilha das Andorinhas, surrounded by cliffs, with weak waves and fine, light sand.

To the south is Lagoa dos Cações, good for fishing.

In Marataízes we find three campsites: at Praia do Siri, 8 km away, Camping Marataízes; at the end of Av. Atlântica, 2 km away, is Camping Xodó; and CCB-2, at Praia das Neves, 36 km away.

There is also Camping do Siri, the most popular, sought after and newest.

Anchieta

Among its 17 beaches, some have preserved forest and access only by sea. Others, such as Castelhanos and Anchieta, are urban and very popular in the summer.

Highlights include: Mãe-Bá beach, deserted, good for fishing; Coconut Tree, Swing and Sea Village, coves with rocks at the ends, weak waves, rocky shores and rocks in the sea.

Camping is only allowed on Santa Helena beach (Balneário Iriri) from December to March.

Guarapari

Jagged coastline, with beaches of varied shapes and monazite sands, separated by hills and rocks. The coastline is almost entirely urbanized.

There are schooner trips that depart from the pier or Praia do Morro.

Highlights include Praia dos Padres, surrounded by forest and almond trees, green waters, brownish and packed sand, rocky shores at the end.

Access is via a trail (5' walk) from the highway, where there is a parking lot; the Três Praias beach, separated by groups of rocks.

The left side is sought after by surfers, the right side has no waves (good spot for spearfishing).

Blue marlin is declared the symbol fish of Espírito Santo, commonly found off the coast of Guarapari and holding two international records - Monument on Praia do Morro.

Praia do Sol is a good option for wild camping, deserted, with light, loose sand and strong waves.

Access, 1 km by dirt road, is precarious.

Setiba, protected by hills, has golden, loose sand.

To the right is Prainha, where waves coming from two directions form a mini tidal bore.

In Guarapari, there are the following campsites: Camping de Ialta (Cambrás), Jones Santos Neves highway (connecting Guarapari to BR-101); CCB-01, Sepetiba Beach, 10.5 km; and Camping das Mangueiras, Jones Santos Neves highway (connecting Guarapari to BR-101), and a Pousada Camping Porto Grande.

It's worth taking a look at other important sections:

Where to camp in the mountain region

And also see:

Where to camp on the Rio-Santos highway

Here we covered the stretch traveled by Father Anchieta.

For this reason; so that you can perceive the immensity, diversity and alternatives of campsites and beaches in this vast region, some important places may not have been included.

With all due respect to the other states, they are in no way inferior in beauty and diversity.

As I mentioned before, I cannot guarantee that all of these campsites exist or are still operating, or if there are even new ones being built.

Note: The Camping Natural blog is not responsible for changes made by the establishments (infrastructure, itinerary, etc.) after the closing of this post.

Read this article in Portuguese.. Região dos Lagos - RJ