Photo of the Month (July 2024 Edition): Puruba

Ubatuba, located on the northern coast of São Paulo state, is one of my favorite places in the world. Even with its almost constant rainfall, it boasts over a hundred beaches, surrounded by mountains still covered by the lush Atlantic Forest, which is relatively well-preserved in the region due to the terrain being unsuitable for agricultural mechanization and real estate speculation.

Despite the similarity of the general landscape, each beach is unique. Some are true pools, others have waves ideal for skimboarding and surfing. Some are very short, while others stretch almost two kilometers. Some are urbanized, while others (now only a few) remain almost unexplored. Some have lagoons, and many have rivers that flow into the sea, creating the perfect combination for a freshwater bath to wash off the salt.

One of the most emblematic beaches in Ubatuba, Puruba, is surrounded by water from the confluence of the Puruba and Quiririm rivers. To reach the beach, you need to cross the rivers, either swimming or using boats available from the local community. With about 1.5 km of extension, on a small sedimentary plain formed by the erosion of the Serra do Mar, it remains a very tranquil beach, especially off-season.

But its charm lies precisely in its almost complete separation from the continent, as it is connected to the land only at its right end. The narrow strip of sand, protected from river erosion by sparse vegetation, provides an ideal setting for aerial photography. The textures of the Quiririm Riverbed are almost imperceptible when crossing it, but seen from above, they harmonize perfectly with the fine white sand and green forest.