Moderate
Gamboa - Guarda do Embaú crossing
Walk along the sand of Gamboa and the 6.5 km of Praia da Faísca to the mouth of the Madre River, at Guarda do Embaú.
| Length | 7.5 km |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| From the Residencial to the start | About 650 m on foot, 9 min |
| Best time | At low tide, when the sand is firmer. |
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Photos: Diorgenes Pandini/FECAM, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr (opens in a new tab); Residencial Costão da Gamboa.
One of the most beautiful beach crossings in the region: past Pedra da Faísca, Praia da Faísca runs deserted for about 6.5 km, between the open sea and the dunes and coastal scrub of Serra do Tabuleiro State Park, to the mouth of the Madre River. On the horizon, the Pedra do Urubu hill shows that Guarda do Embaú is close.
Route
Leave from the heart of Praia da Gamboa and walk north along the sand, past Pedra da Faísca. Continue along Praia da Faísca to the mouth of the Madre River, at the Guarda sand spit. To reach the village: at low tide you can wade across the river; otherwise, cross by boat with local fishers and residents, who charge for it. About 7.5 km one way, 2 to 3 hours of walking.
Points of interest
- Gamboa village center: the starting point, close to the sand.
- Pedra da Faísca: the rocks along the way on the sand, heading north.
- Praia da Faísca: the stretch of sand up to the river mouth.
- Faísca Dunes: the dunes behind the beach.
- Madre River mouth: where the walk ends; at low tide you can wade across, otherwise by boat.
- Praia da Guarda do Embaú: the village across the river.
What to bring
Plenty of water, sunscreen, a cap or hat, sunglasses and cash for the boat.
Safety tips
Soft sand is tiring, and there is no shade or facilities on the way. Plan your return beforehand (on foot, by boat or with arranged transport). Only wade across the river at low tide.
Source: OpenStreetMap (linha da costa), Wikiloc e informações do Roan (opens in a new tab).
