Praia do Félix: Ubatuba's Two-Sided Beach

Praia do Félix is a 400-meter crescent of pale sand about 16 km north of Ubatuba's center, reached through a gated condominium off the Rio-Santos highway (BR-101) at roughly km 39.9. Entry to the beach is free and it stays open around the clock, but you pay for parking, and on a sunny Sunday the lots inside the condominium fill by mid-morning.

What makes this beach unusual is that it behaves like two different beaches. Look left and you get a steep, deep shoreline with real surf breaking off a rock formation. Look right and you get a shallow, glassy cove where a small river meets the sea and children dig in wet sand while parents order fried fish from a quiosque. In 2025, TripAdvisor users voted Félix the most beautiful beach in Brazil — ahead of famous northeastern names — and after thirty minutes on the sand it's easy to see why the vote went that way.

Where to Settle: Right Corner vs. Left Corner

The right corner, as you face the water, is the family side. The bottom stays shallow for a good stretch, the waves rarely amount to more than ankle-slappers near shore, and a freshwater stream runs across the sand — free entertainment for kids and a convenient rinse-off after a swim. Natural shade from restinga trees covers part of the sand, though the best patches go early. Quiosques here rent chairs and umbrellas, and most charge even if you order food, so ask before you sit down.

The left corner is quieter and more serious. A powerful left-hander breaks off the rocks at the south end, producing some of the most legitimate barrels on the Ubatuba coastline — the spot works best with southwest to southeast swell in the 3-6 ft range and light offshore wind. The wave runs at roughly 90 degrees to the incoming swell, which means paddling out is not the lazy affair it is on the right side. If you don't surf, the left corner is still worth a walk for the emptiness and the rock pools at low tide.

Praia do Português and Praia das Conchas

A short scramble over the rocks at the right corner leads to Praia do Português, also called Prainha do Félix — a horseshoe inlet barely 30 meters wide with green water and no infrastructure at all. Go at low tide, wear shoes with grip, and don't attempt it with a cooler in each hand. From Félix you can also walk about 20 minutes to Praia das Conchas, a small shell-strewn cove that sees a fraction of the Félix crowd. Both walks are tide-dependent; a rising sea cuts off the rock passages.

Something to know before you go exploring: in November 2026, five French tourists had to be rescued by sea after losing their way on a closed trail between Félix and Itamambuca. The local fire department's advice is blunt — stay off marked-closed paths, tell someone your plan, and never hike these stretches alone.

Getting There, Parking, and Timing Your Day

By car, take the Rio-Santos north from Ubatuba's center and turn in at the condominium gate near km 39.9. From the gate it's about 1.5 km of paved internal road to the parking area, then a staircase down to the sand — five minutes on foot. Parking inside runs roughly R$25-30 per day at the quiosque lots, though reviews report prices as high as R$50-70 on peak dates, and there is also municipal Zona Azul charging on the condominium streets. Fees change; confirm current rates on arrival rather than trusting any blog, this one included.

By bus, lines 14 Prumirim, 16 Almada, 17 Picinguaba, 22 Puruba, and 23 Camburi Praia all pass along the highway near the entrance. The nearest stops on the Rodovia Governador Mário Covas leave you a 14-17 minute walk from the gate — and then another walk to the beach, which adds up with beach gear. Budget 40 minutes from the bus door to the sand.

Arrive before 9:30 am in high season. The right-corner shade and the closest parking spots are gone by 10, and the access road backs up on holiday weekends. Carry what you need for the day: cash for parking and quiosque rentals, reef-safe sunscreen, and water shoes if you plan to cross the rocks.

When to Go

The driest window runs roughly April through September, with March to May offering the best balance of warm water, stable sea conditions, and thin crowds. December to March is hot but wet — afternoon downpours arrive fast and dump hard — and the beach is at its most crowded during Réveillon, Carnival, and long weekends. Spring mornings tend to be clear, with the sea glassy on the right side and offshore wind grooming the left. Water temperature swings between 20°C and 26°C, cool enough in winter that most Brazilians swim in short bursts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there an entrance fee for Praia do Félix?

No. The beach is public and free, open 24 hours. You only pay for parking — around R$25-30 a day in the quiosque lots — and for chairs or umbrellas if you rent them.

Can you swim at Praia do Félix?

The right corner is safe for swimming and for children, with shallow, calm water most days. The left corner has strong waves and a steep drop-off, and even adults use flotation aids there on bigger swell days. Lifeguards are on duty, but they watch a wide stretch of sand, so keep an eye on small children near the rocks.

How far is Praia do Félix from Ubatuba center?

About 16 km north, or 25-30 minutes by car along the Rio-Santos. By bus, take one of the lines serving the north coast and walk 14-17 minutes from the highway stop to the condominium gate.

Are dogs allowed on the beach?

No. Dogs are not permitted on the sand, so leave pets at your pousada.