Circuito TH5 Travessia — Etapa 5 (Bertioga)

The fifth stage of the TH5 Circuito Travessia, scheduled for September 27, 2026, unfolds in the open waters of Praia da Enseada, Bertioga. This event is part of a series organized by TH5 Eventos along the São Paulo coastline. Swimmers should note that wetsuit regulations are stage-specific, requiring a check of the official technical bulletin closer to the event date. The competition takes place within an area of significant historical and environmental weight, where the water itself serves as a reminder of the region's colonial past.

Historical currents and landmarks

As you sight your line, you are essentially traversing the entrance to the Bertioga Canal. This waterway was once the primary conduit for the Tupinambá warriors, who navigated their war canoes through these very currents to launch raids against Portuguese settlements in Santos and São Vicente. The strategic importance of this passage led to the construction of the Forte de São João, the oldest fortification in Brazil. While swimming, you remain within view of the fort’s stone walls, which were damaged during a severe storm surge in 1769—a weather event that destroyed the original chapel and forced a reconstruction of the site. The fort also holds the memory of a 1563 peace mission, where Jesuit priests Manuel da Nóbrega and José de Anchieta stayed for five days to negotiate with the Tamoio confederation before continuing their journey to Ubatuba.

Environmental dynamics

These waters are subject to extreme meteorological shifts. The coastal geography is highly sensitive to the intense rainfall patterns characteristic of the Atlantic Forest biome. Notably, the nearby Guaratuba beach experienced an unprecedented deluge in February 2023, with 682 mm of rain falling in a single 24-hour period, the highest daily record ever registered in the country. Such events remind participants of the power of the local hydrological cycle. Beyond the immediate race zone, the municipality encompasses the vast Restinga de Bertioga State Park, which preserves one of the last remaining corridors of dense Atlantic rainforest and mangrove ecosystems. For those looking to compare regional swim experiences, the first stage of the season often presents different thermal conditions, while swimmers seeking shorter, high-intensity formats can look to the series' various aquathlon offerings. The history of this coast is also marked by the 18th-century 'Armação das Baleias', a whale oil production hub that once illuminated the cities of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, and the isolated, boat-accessible village of Vila de Itatinga remains a hidden fixture of the local landscape.