Praia Tartaruga - Tartaruga Beach Buzios

Imagine yourself on a secluded beach with cliffs surrounding you and crystal clear water out as far as your eye can see. The gentle waves push to shore as they've done for thousands of years. As you sit under the shade of a Brazilwood tree, a single turtle makes its way up the sand either unaware of your presence, or so intent on its mission that little could hinder the magic that is about to unfold.



Welcome to Tartaruga Beach in Búzios, Brazil. Here, for centuries, the same family of sea turtles has returned to lay eggs in nests dug with determination seldom seen in the animal kingdom.

And, because of operational laws in Búzios, the beach is dark after sunset, permitting turtles to navigate by nature to a spot in the sand that will shelter their eggs until hatched. Humans using the beach and facilities during the day ward off natural predators. Búzios is doing its part to assure the turtles have a uninterrupted area to continue their life cycle. Nests are protected by law.

Leave it to a turtle to pick one of the most spectacular beaches here. Tartaruga Beach in Búzios is actually two beaches. The first one is small and shallow and is where local fishermen anchor their boats. This beach is used for sports such as volley and soccer. You may find some people tanning, but the real strip is to your left.

Between the two is a small restaurant with local dishes on the menu. Most popular are seafood plates. It's not uncommon to find a local selling oysters along the beach. A plate will cost you about $7.00, and is decked with lemons and a dash of salt. You can ask to try one first.

Next to and beachside at the res- taurant, along the tables and chairs on the beach, are local vendors. These fellows, and a few gals, will have a few cotton beach clothes, wrist bands, hair clips, rings, necklaces, pins, all done in a tourist fashion. We also caught (and bought) a Brazilian hammock. Just beware of cotton garments. These items are not pre-shrunk. Also, beware of vendors selling "sandalwood". This is nothing but perfume sprayed on a piece of wood which will lose its scent very quickly. One fellow claimed the sandalwood was from the Amazon (which is incorrect).

You'll pass a row of thatched-roof huts, popular on weekends for those tasty "churrascos" or barbeques, and end up at the beginning of great sand. Gentle waves and clear water make this excellent for families. If you stay for a spell, you'll see the beautiful schooners come into the area. Schooners can take you from one beach to the next. You can purchase what is equivalent to a day-pass at the main pier in the city center. Hop aboard - visit a beach - and wait for the next schooner to come through to catch a ride. A few companies operate multiple schooners and this is an excellent way to see Búzios and surrounding islands.

But the best kept secret to Praia Tartaruga is toward the very end (west) of the beach. Here, the waters are warm and even clearer - and the sand is wide and clean. Plus, because of the distance from the entrance and restaurant, not many people venture to this prime spot.

So, stake a claim at Tartaruga Beach in Búzios. And since this beach faces northwest, grab a delightful and romantic sunset with your significant other.

Up next, the "happenin' beach" of Búzios - we'll tell you why - plus the only naturalist beach on the peninsula awaits. >>

Praia Tartaruga - Beach Index:

• Sand - medium to fine grain from rock, although divers report coral formations in the cove. No shell.
• Facilities - full including restaurant with local foods.
• Shade - lush, tropical trees mixed with semi-arid plants make finding shade easy. Western end of beach shaded first in mid-afternoon.
• Notes - crowded on weekends as the locals love this beach.