Ubatuba is mainly known as a surfer’s destination in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. But there is more to do than just surfing. There are several nice beaches in the area, including the 7 beaches along the Trilha das 7 praias just a short bus ride away from Ubatuba’s center. Don’t get put off by the many tour agencies offering this hike, it’s easy to hike the Trilha das 7 praias without a tour or guide. Just follow this article.
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Table of Contents - How to hike the Trilha das 7 praias without a tour or guide
What is the Trilha das 7 praias
Trilha das 7 praias translates to “7 beaches trail,” which is exactly what this is: a beautiful hike leading past 7 equally stunning Brazilian beaches. The trail is about 10 km long and goes from Lagoinha to Fortaleza (or the other way around). The trail leads through the typical “Mata Atlanta” (Atlantic forest in English) of the southern Brazilian coast, past beaches, and along viewpoints. It is a must for any hiker who visits Ubatuba.
What is the best time to hike the Trilha das 7 praias in Ubatuba?
Weather
The best time of year to hike the Trilha das 7 praias is more or less from April to November. In summer it gets very hot, humid, and muggy. Winter is much more pleasant for hiking. We had amazing weather at the end of June for example.
Summer is also the peak season with local Brazilian tourists, mainly from São Paulo, and it gets super busy and expensive, which is another reason to avoid the summer in Ubatuba.
Tide
Try hiking the Trilha das 7 praias during low tide. It’s not impossible with a higher tide, but at low tide, it’s just a lot easier to pass the beaches, and the beaches are bigger and, in my opinion, more beautiful.
The tidal height and times change per day, so make sure to check them for the day you would like to go. You can find the actual tidal times online, for example here.
How to get to the Trilha das 7 praias from Ubatuba
The best way to get to Trilha das 7 praias when hiking without a tour, is by taking the bus to Lagoinha. You can also take the bus to Fortaleza, but with the timetable, it works out better to end at Fortaleza instead of Lagoinha. If you are traveling by car it doesn’t matter of course. But do keep in mind that this trail doesn’t start and end at the same place. So if you do decide to go by car, keep in mind that you would need to take a taxi(boat) or bus back to the car.
How difficult is the Trilha das 7 praias?
If you’re a frequent hiker the hike is very easy. But this hike is also perfectly doable for people who don’t hike a lot. The hike is about 10 km long and took us about 4 hours to complete. We didn’t spend a lot of time at each beach though, just some short breaks. So you can easily make this a longer day and rest on the beaches or go for a swim. Do be careful with the currents if you go swimming.
The most difficult part of the hike is getting to Cedro do Sul beach. There is a hill on each side of this beach which you will need to pass. Other than that the hike is more or less flat, with just some small ups and downs.
If you’re having doubts, you can also decide to only hike from Lagoinha to Praia Grande do Bonete. You’ll pass 5 stunning beaches during this stretch and the hike is fairly flat.
What to bring on the hike?
Most importantly, bring plenty of water. It’s very humid in this part of the world, also in winter. I also recommend bringing either some snacks or a packed lunch. In the high season there are places where you can buy drinks and snacks, but when we visited everything was closed. The last beach, Fortaleza, is a town and here you’ll find plenty of locations to buy a cold coconut or lunch. Also in the low season.
Besides that, bring sunscreen, a hat, and comfortable shoes and clothes. Sneakers are fine, there is no need for hiking boots. If you’re planning on swimming, bring a travel towel if you have one (they are a lot lighter than regular towels) and your swimsuit.
Hiking the Trilha das 7 praias without a tour or guide
Getting to the trailhead in Lagoinha
Take the VerdeBus line 1 or 2 to Lagoinha. The bus leaves from the Expresso VerdeBus terminal in Ubatuba, but you can also hop on later of course. The website of VerdeBus is no longer working, but you can check the schedule at Moovit. You might still want to confirm the timetable at the bus terminal to be sure they have the up-to-date timetable. The bus ride takes about 40 minutes and you’ll want to get off at the Rod. Dr. Manoel Hipólito Do Rêgo – 16771 – Lagoinha or BR-101 865 stop. Just tell the driver you want to get to the Trilha das 7 praias trailhead in Lagoinha. You can pay the driver in cash.
Hiking from Lagoinha to Praia Grande do Bonete
The trail starts in a condominium complex, so don’t get confused by your map. This is correct. The people at the entrance will point you in the right direction to start the trail. The entrance is free.
The first part of the trail is very easy. It’s mainly flat and passes by 5 beautiful beaches:
- Praia do Lagoinha
- Praia do Oeste
- Praia do Peres
- Praia do Bonete
- Praia Grande do Bonete
If you just want a chill hike and spend more time at the beach than hiking, you can always decide to hike back to the starting point from here. Do make sure you’ve checked the bus schedule since buses back from Lagoinha are not as frequent in the afternoon as from Fortaleza.
Continuing to Praia do Cedro Sul and Fortaleza
If you do decide to continue the hike, this is where it gets a little more challenging, since you will need to climb over the first hill. While it’s not very high, nor a technical hike, the humidity will make it feel tougher than you’d expect. But the 6th beach, Cedro do Sul, is a gorgeous beach and worth the effort.
From here you’ll need to hike over another, slightly bigger, hill on the other side. From here you have a nice view over Ponta da Fortaleza. Once you come down the hill you can make a little detour and visit the Ponta da Fortaleza, but we skipped it. We figured that if we headed straight to Fortaleza, we had just enough time to buy a delicious cold coconut before hopping on the next bus.
You will find the bus at the intersection of Rua das Ilhas and Avenida Uniflora, a few steps from the beach. When in doubt, just ask a local to point you in the right direction.
Finding the trail from Praia Cedro do Sul to Fortaleza – Make sure to look at the map and the signs when continuing to Fortaleza from Cedro do Sul, we initially missed the trail. So keep an eye out for the signs to Fortaleza and the taxi boats and you’ll find it. You’ll need to get back into the forest a little before the end of the beach.
Other things to do in Ubatuba
Ubatuba is mostly famous for surfing, so it’s a great place to get some lessons or just rent a board and go surfing. There are also many other stunning beaches in the surrounding area like Praia do Cedro.
