Small, sheltered and absurdly clear — probably the most photographed beach in Bombinhas.
Water
Very calm, green, like a natural pool
Stretch of sand
About 95 m — small, fills up early in summer
Getting there
On foot only: ~200 m trail at the end of Av. das Garoupas
Best for
Snorkeling, free diving, a quiet swim
About this beach
Sepultura is a short cove wedged between two rocky headlands that shield it from the open sea. The result is green, almost still water that on a sunny day looks like a natural pool. That's the scene behind one of the town's most repeated postcards.
It's about 95 meters of sand, and no car gets there: you walk in, on a trail of roughly 200 meters starting at the end of Avenida das Garoupas. That sets the tone — the beach is small, has no facilities on the sand and can't take a crowd. Which is exactly why turning up early earns you one of the best swims on the Santa Catarina coast.
For free diving and snorkeling, nothing in town beats it. Along the headlands, visibility is usually excellent and marine life shows up within the first few meters — colorful fish, sea urchins and, if you're lucky, turtles and seahorses. You can stay shallow with a snorkel, or go down on a tank with one of the local operators.
At the back of the cove there's something almost nobody expects: Bio Vida III, an underwater sculpture by the artist Pita Camargo. It's artwork you see by diving — one more reason to get in with a mask on, not just your feet.
The odd name ("grave") comes from a 19th-century oral account of an enslaved man buried here after a fight. It's local tradition with no documentary record — and it says nothing about how beautiful the place is.
The headlands on both sides gather marine life just meters from the sand.
Green water framed by rock and forest — a guaranteed shot on a sunny day.
Shielded from the open sea by the headlands, it barely forms waves.
Step by step
The route to the sand as it actually works — including the part you do on foot.
Take Bombinhas' main avenue (Av. Vereador Manoel José dos Santos) toward the right-hand end of Praia de Bombinhas, then follow Rua das Garoupas to the end. Cars don't reach the sand.
They sit at the end of the avenue and charge a daily rate. In high season the spots run out early — the main reason to leave home before 9am.
Five to ten minutes on foot through the forest. The first stretch is the steepest; after that it flattens out. Not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers.
From there, paths continue to Praia do Biguá and Praia do Cachalote, and to the natural pool formed among the rocks of the headland.
Bombinhas charges a fee per vehicle entering the town between November 15 and April 15. It's valid for 24 hours and can be paid ahead of your trip on the city hall website, with a toll tag, or at self-service kiosks. The amount varies by vehicle type and is adjusted every year — check the current one before you travel. The beach itself is public and free.
Check with Bombinhas city hallBefore you go
The official code of conduct for Praia da Sepultura. Worth reading before you pack — a few of the bans catch people out.
Allowed
Not allowed
Gallery
Slots reserved for this beach's material — the photos and the video go in here as soon as they're shot.
Photo: Renato Soares/MTur — domínio público
Photo: Sarah Helena Linke — CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Vinícios Gaston da Silva — CC BY-SA 3.0
Location
The beach on the map of Bombinhas — zoom in to see the access roads, what's around and the neighbouring beaches.
Questions
Not on the sand. The private lots are at the end of Avenida das Garoupas, charge a daily rate and fill up early in summer. From there it's about 200 meters of trail to the beach.
No. It's about 200 meters, five to ten minutes. The first stretch is steeper and the rest is flat. Not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers.
Facilities are minimal: there are recycling and general bins at the entrance. Bring water, food and sunscreen. Kiosks, restaurants and shops are at Praia de Bombinhas, a few minutes away.
Yes. Snorkeling works just meters from the sand, along the headlands, where the water is shallow and calm. For scuba, local operators take accompanied beginners.
The beach is public and free. What you pay for is parking and, between November 15 and April 15, the town's Environmental Preservation Fee, charged per vehicle entering Bombinhas.
From a 19th-century oral account of an enslaved man buried at the site. It's a story told locally, with no documentary record — and it says nothing about the beach, which is one of the finest in the state.
Keep exploring
Calm, clear water in the middle of town — perfect for a first snorkel and for the whole family.
The widest stretch of sand in town, with a lively waterfront, kiosks and a breathtaking sunset.
Surf on one side, calm water on the other, and four islands drawn along the horizon.
Living around here
We know every beach — and every property — in Bombinhas. Talk to our team and find your place in the sun.
