Mega do Ita 2026

In the pre-dawn hours of May 23, the waterfront of Bertioga shifts from its quiet coastal rhythm to the focused hum of the Associação 14 Bis community. Local swimmers and visiting athletes gather near the water, a tradition marked by the collective anticipation of the Mega do Ita 2026. This gathering draws those who return year after year, attracted by the specific challenge of navigating the tidal flows of the Bertioga Canal, a waterway that demands respect for its natural hydraulic cycle.

Historical currents and landmarks

As you navigate the course, you are moving through a landscape shaped by centuries of intense history. The route is overlooked by the Forte de São João, constructed in 1547 to guard the canal entrance against indigenous raids and serve as a launch point for colonial expeditions. This fortification also provided shelter to Jesuit missionaries Manuel da Nóbrega and José de Anchieta during their 1563 mission to settle the Tamoio revolt. Further along the coastline, the environment changes as you approach the perimeter of the Restinga de Bertioga State Park, where mangrove ecosystems sustain a complex local biodiversity.

History here is often visceral. The area is famously documented in the 1552 accounts of Hans Staden, a German mercenary held captive at the fort by the Tupinambá people. His struggle for survival, eventually resolved through French intervention, remains the most detailed European record of indigenous life and ritual in the region. In a much darker chapter of the 20th century, these same waters became the final scene for the Nazi war criminal Josef Mengele, who drowned here in 1979 while swimming. Today, the canal’s currents, influenced by the Atlantic tides, continue to dictate the pace for any swimmer, much as they governed the maritime trade of whale oil that once defined the local economy during the 18th century. Whether you are aiming for the full distance or testing your limits in different conditions, the event offers a unique perspective on a channel that has witnessed everything from colonial expansion to clandestine endings.