Buzios Swim & Adventure by OWA

In 1679, a man named João Fernandes was sentenced to be whipped at the stake, a brutal penalty enforced specifically for the act of fishing in these waters. Today, the beach that bears his name serves as a tranquil starting point for swimmers, far removed from the strict prohibitions of the colonial era. This historical tension between human activity and the sea defines the peninsula, where the Búzios shoreline has shifted from a site of enforcement to a venue for open water competition.

On October 22, 2026, the Buzios Swim & Adventure, organized by OWA, returns to the Praia Ferradura. The event offers distances of 500m, 1500m, 3000m, and 5000m, drawing on the peculiar geography of the region. The peninsula sits in a wind-dispersing corridor that pushes cold fronts toward the interior of the state, maintaining an annual rainfall of only 750mm and ensuring clarity in the water for the majority of the year. As you navigate the course, you may notice the Sant'Ana Chapel standing on the hill, a 17th-century structure built from a mixture of rock and whale oil, serving as a permanent navigational landmark for those rounding the bays.

Historical currents and landmarks

The maritime history of this coast is marked by more than just the echoes of colonial trade. In the late 19th century, the corsair ship 'Vingadores' bombarded the coast, an event captured in an oil painting currently held at the Historical Maritime Museum on Rua das Pedras. Further back, in 1503, the explorer Amerigo Vespucci is believed to have landed at Praia de Caravelas, marking a primary point of contact with the indigenous Tupinambá people. Swimmers in these waters are effectively crossing paths with these historical layers, from the 18th-century stone pier built by enslaved people at Praia de Manguinhos to the modern bronze statue of Brigitte Bardot on the Orla, which commemorates her 1964 visit to what was then an isolated fishing village.

For those looking for a different pacing or a broader challenge in the region, Open Waters - Búzios stage provides an alternative perspective on these same currents. The sea here acts as a natural divider, receiving cold water from the South Pole on one side of the peninsula and warmer currents from the Equator on the other, creating a thermal contrast that swimmers often feel during longer transitions. Success in these waters requires understanding how these currents shift around the headlands, a reality that dictates the line taken by local athletes during the 5km race.