Gravatá Beach, one of the most charming beaches in Florianópolis, can only be reached by hike or boat. The trail to the beach is one of those made official by the municipality and is called the Fishermen's Way. Find out more about the Gravata Trail in Floripa and the origin of the name "Fishermen's Way" in this post.
Localization
A beach located in the east of the island, between Mole and Joaquina beaches and close to Lagoa da Conceição. It is one of the beaches facing the ocean, with fine sand but protected from strong waves by a large rocky wall.
The trail starts at Road Jornalista Manoel de Menezes (the road that connects Lagoa da Conceição to Mole Beach). However, we always choose to start at Lagoa da Conceição, at the end of Avenida das Rendeiras, due to the possibility of a suitable place to park.
Check out the route we took in the Wikiloc.
ATTENTION!! Parking is prohibited on the Road Jornalista Manoel de Menezes, SC 406, and we have often seen the Military Police fining and removing vehicles from there.
The trail
Starting at the end of Avenida das Rendeiras, the total round trip is 5 km. The first 400 meters are through an urbanized area, so you'll need to be careful when crossing the road. There is a crosswalk at this point, so make it a priority to cross there and follow the road safely.
A few meters after crossing the road, the trail begins, and this first stretch is very steep and slippery, through terrain with a lot of erosion. But don't be alarmed, in 400 meters of hiking at this stage you will reach the beautiful natural belvedere of Mole Beach.
From this point the trail continues uphill, but more gradually, to the exit for Pedra do Urubu (Vulture Rock). If you choose to visit this spot, you'll hike for about 200 meters along a more enclosed trail, but the view is stunning: beaches on the east side of the island, Lagoa da Conceição and the dunes of Lagoa da Conceição Park, you'll be impressed by the immensity.
Despite all the beauty, this point requires special attention. It's a rocky spot at an extremely high point. Don't take unnecessary risks.
Returning to the main trail, from this point it's all downhill towards the beach. You can go straight down to the beach, or go around the top to the wave rock.
Skirting around the top, you come to a large lawn where you can admire the south of the island.
It's still possible to connect to another trail and reach the Secret Beach, but that's a topic for another post.
The Wave Rock
The wave rock worth a stop to admire for its unique shape. In fact, the large block of granite sculpted over the years has the shape of a perfect wave, ready for surfing.
Speaking about rocks, as this part of the island is surrounded by a rocky coastline, they are scattered everywhere. There are two types in particular: granite and diabase, both rocks of volcanic origin. The older granite, formed more than 500 million years ago, and the diabase, which has been occupying the spaces between the granite and forming these beautiful designs along the way.
ATTENTION!! One of the characteristics of diabase is that it is extremely smooth, especially when wet, so be very careful when stepping on it, especially if you are on high ground such as rocky coasts.
The Gravatá Beach
With crystal-clear waters in shades of blue/turquoise green, Gravatá Beach is a very small beach, just 80 meters long, but it is uniquely beautiful. It invites you to take a dip, but be aware that the current is strong and there are no lifeguards on site.
As well as all the beauty, along the beach we can find lithic workshops, a vestige of the prehistoric peoples who inhabited the region. These are the places where tools were produced and sharpened and which demonstrate the presence of humans at least 5,000 years ago.
Fishermen's Way - the trail that leads to Gravatá Beach
In artisanal fishing, there are several players involved and one of them is the "scout" or "watchman". He keeps an eye on the sea to observe the approach of the shoals and warn the team that will be making the surround. Due to its elevated position, there is a point on the Gravatá trail that historically allowed fishermen to carry out this task. For this reason, the path that leads down to the beach is officially recognized by the municipality of Florianópolis as the Fishermen's Way.
Gravatá Beach, in turn, has its name associated with the abundant presence of gravatá, a type of thorny bromeliad native to the region. It was used by the indigenous people as thread to make fishing nets, among other items.
The Gravatá dragon
Have you heard "Tribo da Lua"? It's a song by Dazaranha, a band from Floripa, which goes like this: "On one side a dragon, on the other an Indian". Written by Moriel of Daza (an affectionate way of calling the band), it refers to what can be seen from Mole Beach: the Indian at Galheta's Promontory and the dragon at Gravatá's Promontory.
Take a look at Gabriel Guenther's illustration if it isn't a perfect dragon.
Are you visiting Gravatá Beach? Check out these tips:
This is a permanent preservation area. Don't disturb the animals, don't uproot plants and don't open new paths. Don't leave garbage (peels and seeds are also garbage). Respect other hikers.
Wear comfortable clothes, closed shoes and don't forget to take a dry suit if you're going into the sea. Take water and a light snack.
Always put your safety first and don't go on the trail alone.
If you want to hire a guide for this journey, we're here for you.
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