Praia do Retiro dos Padres

What to expect at Praia do Retiro dos Padres

Retiro dos Padres has around 260 metres of sand, ringed by Atlantic Forest and hills. Rocks crop up along the whole beach, and the water is crystal-clear and a little rough — which makes it a beach for diving and surfing rather than for floating about.

The name tells the story. In the 19th century it was called Praia dos Ingleses — the Englishmen's Beach — for having sheltered a damaged English ship. In 1967 it was bought by Catholic priests, who built a house for spiritual retreats there, and the name changed: Retiro dos Padres means the Priests' Retreat. The house is now a campsite, and both names still stand: the town council lists the beach as Retiro dos Padres or Ingleses.

You get there from the centre, following Avenida das Garoupas to the end — the same way as to Praia da Sepultura. Although it's away from the central seafront, the beach has facilities nearby: the town council mentions restaurants, bars, camping and guesthouses close by.

Two trails start at the right-hand end. One, an easy one, goes out to the point. The other leads to Praia de Quatro Ilhas, is more demanding and is used for trail-running races.

It's also one of the leading beaches for the artisanal mullet fishery, from May to July, with the Rancho dos Ingleses fishing shack. It was here, in 2016, that a single haul brought almost 40,000 mullet onto the sand, according to the town council. In season the same care applies as on any fishing beach: avoid swimming, diving and noise while the lookouts are on watch.

For anyone thinking about property, Retiro shows what the centre has beyond Praia de Bombinhas. The centre's shops and services are a few minutes away, and at the end of the same avenue there are two nature beaches — Sepultura, for snorkelling in still water, and Retiro, for those who like a livelier sea.

A sea for diving and surfing

Crystal-clear, slightly rough water, with rocks along the whole beach.

Trail to Quatro Ilhas

The trail used for trail-running races leaves from the right-hand end, plus a short one out to the point.

The old Englishmen's Beach

A name that comes from the damaged English ship that took shelter here in the 19th century.

Tips from people who live here

• Go into the water with care: the sea is usually rougher than in the sheltered coves, and there are rocks along the beach.

• Rubber shoes help — the rocks run the whole length of the sand.

• For the Quatro Ilhas trail, wear closed shoes and bring water: it's the harder of the two that leave from the right-hand end.

• You can pair it with Sepultura on the same day: both are reached from the end of Avenida das Garoupas.

• From May to July this is a fishing beach: watch the fishing shack and save the diving for later.

Getting to Praia do Retiro dos Padres

The route to the sand as it actually works — including the part you do on foot.

Via the BR-101, Porto Belo exit

The turn-off for Bombinhas is at km 155 of the BR-101, at the Porto Belo entrance flyover. From there it's about 14 km to Bombinhas on the SC-412 state road.

Head to the centre

Within Bombinhas, take the main avenue (Av. Vereador Manoel José dos Santos) towards the centre.

To the end of Avenida das Garoupas

From the centre, follow Avenida das Garoupas to the end. It's the same way as to Praia da Sepultura.

On foot, from Quatro Ilhas

If you're in Quatro Ilhas, you can come along the trail that links the two beaches and reaches the right-hand end of Retiro. It's the more demanding one: closed shoes and water.

The beach rules

The official code of conduct for Praia do Retiro dos Padres. Worth reading before you pack — a few of the bans catch people out.

Allowed

• Sports on the sand after 6 pm

• Launching and landing watercraft between 7 pm and 9 am, at the marked spot

Not allowed

• Pets

• Camping, fires and barbecues

• Speakers and loud music

• Reserving space on the sand

• Handing out flyers

• Motorboats within 200 m of the beach

Source: Bombinhas city hall