Located between the beaches of Guarda do Embaú and Pinheira, in the region of Palhoça, about 55 km south of Florianópolis, in Santa Catarina, Vale da Utopia contemplates a beautiful landscape of hills, green lawns, rocks and paradisiacal beaches with crystal clear waters.
The scenery is part of the conservation unit of the Serra do Tabuleiro State Park and is composed of trails where access is only possible on foot, starting from the beaches of Guarda do Embaú and Pinheira.
For those who leave Guarda beach, it takes an average of two hours of walking, at a normal pace, contemplating nature. The adventurer who chooses to depart from Pinheira beach [praia de Cima]the journey takes less than 30 minutes to the valley.
The place is considered mystical by some tourists, who, amidst the tranquility and totally wild landscape, can feel invited to the practice of meditation. Those who prefer less metaphorical dives can take a dip in the sea at Prainha and Praia do Maço, as well as walks between the hills and walks among the herds of cattle.
Famous for its waves that break to the right, Prainha is a favorite for surfers and is just a 20-minute walk from Guarda do Embaú. Access is via trails between the hills and fields, and the beach is absolutely uninhabited, with about 200 meters in length.
In the right corner of the bay, formed by fine white sand, the visitor enjoys natural pools in the midst of the rocks. On the rocks near the shores, there are records of rupestrian inscriptions.
Maço beach is small, approximately 50 meters long. On site, until recently, there was only one bar that sold drinks and quick snacks. After 25 years of operation, the establishment was demolished on the morning of March 15, at the request of the Public Ministry of Santa Catarina.
The agency filed a lawsuit in 2010 to evict the site, which belongs to the Serra do Tabuleiro State Park.
There are also no vacationers’ houses on the beach, nor are there any buildings, streets or parking lots. There, only the Atlantic Forest shines, butterflies, countless species of wild birds, such as canaries, thrush and lapwings, and oxen grazing on the banks of the hills. In addition to the emerald green sea —or blue—, you can see in the background the islands of Papagaio, Três Irmãs, Moleques do Sul and Ilha dos Corais.
According to some natives of the region, Vale da Utopia was named by an artist who lived there for more than two decades, between the 1960s and 1970s, and also by the owner of the land at the time.
In fact, their desire was to create an alternative community in the area, which remained… utopia. Members of hippie communities believed — and it is said that they still believe — that there is an energy point there, a kind of “portal” that makes direct contact with the cosmos in Latin America.
On the small beach, with little sand and many rocks, the stones piled up by the sea draw attention. Although the image gives rise to mysticism again, it’s just “rock balancing” [balanceamento de rocha]a hobby focused on relaxation and the challenge of gravity.
”Exercise requires a lot of concentration and calm,” explains Leonardo Carvalho, 37, who lives in Santa Catarina. Léo, as he is known, lived and worked as a tourist guide on Guarda do Embaú beach for more than five years.
He used to take tourists to discover the Utopia Valley and encourage them to practice, or at least try, stacking stones. “Picking up rocks is a habit that makes me relax and meditate at the same time.”
The Chilean Florencia Catalina, 22, visited Brazil in the summer of 2020. The young woman says she got to know the beaches of Florianópolis and it was there that she heard about Vale da Utopia, Praia do Maço and the practice of ”rock balancing” .
Catalina went by bus from Florianópolis to Pinheira. ”I was delighted with the beaches of Palhoça, including Pinheira beach, Vale da Utopia, Prainha and Guarda do Embaú. I did several trails and saw a lot of people piling stones in the middle of the way. At first I thought it was strange, I didn’t understand. Then they explained to me that it was a way to meditate, unwind, relax,” she recalls.
How to get
From Florianópolis to Pinheira beach by bus, the tourist takes about 1h30 and the ticket costs between R$33 to R$40.
