Moderate
Casqueiro Trail (Vigia Trail)
Coastal trail between Vigia and Silveira beaches, inside the Right Whale Environmental Protection Area.
| Length | 3.0 km |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| From the Residencial to the start | About 16.4 km by car |
| Best time | Dry days with a calm sea. |
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Photos: Garopaba Por Aí (@garopabaporai_tv) (opens in a new tab); Claudio Seelig, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (opens in a new tab); PREFEITURA DE GAROPABA (opens in a new tab).
The Casqueiro Trail, also called the Vigia Trail, links Praia da Vigia to the north end of Silveira Beach along the rocky coast south of the Historic Center, entirely inside the Right Whale Environmental Protection Area. Along the way are the Indigenous Solar Observatory on Ponta da Vigia, the shell mound and stone-tool workshops of Ponta do Casqueiro, the Casqueiro natural pools, with crystal-clear water sheltered by a large rock, stretches of coastal scrub and forest, and the Sphinx Rock, called the Guardian of the Sun. The stretch from Silveira to the Sphinx is known as the Sphinx Trail.
Route
It starts at Praia da Vigia, at the right end of Garopaba's central beach, and follows the coast through stretches of forest and open fields to the north end of Silveira Beach. About 3.6 km one way, between 0 and 67 m of altitude, around 3.5 hours at an easy pace with stops. The natural pools appear after a stretch of dense forest, heading from Vigia to Silveira. Plan your return beforehand: on foot the same way or by car from Silveira.
Points of interest
- Vigia Beach: the start, at the right-hand end of Garopaba's central beach.
- Indigenous Solar Observatory: on Ponta da Vigia, right at the start.
- Rock inscriptions: the shell mound and stone-tool workshops of Ponta do Casqueiro.
- Casqueiro Natural Pools: halfway along, sheltered by the rocks.
- Pedra da Coxinha: a rock in the sea shaped like a coxinha, near the pools.
- Pedra do Galeão: a huge rock wall split by a crack that looks like a canyon.
- Sphinx Rock: the formation shaped like a sphinx, seen from below at the edge of the rocks.
- Praia do Silveira: the finish, at the north end of the beach.
What to bring
Water, snacks, sunscreen, sturdy shoes and swimwear for the natural pools.
Safety tips
Uneven rocky terrain with ups and downs: basic fitness and proper footwear needed. There are no lifeguards or facilities at the natural pools: avoid rough seas and watch out for sea urchins. At Pedra do Galeão, a drop-off above the sea where accidents have happened, stay away from the edge. The return over Morro do Silveira is tiring: save some energy. Do not disturb the archaeological sites.
Source: OpenStreetMap (traçado), Café Viagem, AllTrails e JJ Hotels (opens in a new tab).
