Brazil: Inclusive beaches to enjoy the sea without barriers

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Brazil is a country that welcomes all visitors with open arms, and its tourism strives to be accessible and inclusive, which is evident in the sun and beach services offered to visitors with disabilities or reduced mobility.

Several states have initiatives such as amphibious chairs, beach access ramps, and assistive devices that allow people to enjoy the ocean without barriers.

Inclusion initiatives are usually carried out through alliances between public entities, NGOs, and foundations, combining two modalities: the offer of amphibious chairs for users with reduced mobility or assisted immersion, in which, in addition to the chair, the tourist receives assistance of a companion who helps him to have the best possible experience of contact with the sea.

The amphibious chairs have unique wheels that slide easily over the sand and float on the water and must be used in the presence of an attendant who guides the vehicle during the immersion. Here are some Brazilian destinations that offer these options.

Maceió, Alagoas: one of the most popular beach destinations in northeastern Brazil, often compared to the Caribbean because of the coral reefs on its shores, the warm temperatures year-round, and the transparency of the water, which is surrounded by coconut trees and white sand.

t Pajuçara beach, considered one of the ten best beaches in Maceió, the Municipal Secretariat of Tourism, Sports and Recreation run a monthly activity in which a group of caregivers helps people with disabilities swim in the sea.

In addition to visiting the Brazilian coast by car, with a vast network of safe and quality roads, Paraguayan visitors can take advantage of the weekly frequencies that connect Asunción with São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, which have daily flights to Maceió.

Ilha do Mel, Paraná: Located just 120 km from Curitiba, the island is a protected nature reserve with controlled access. Instituto Água e Terra, in collaboration with the State Secretariat for Sustainable Development and Tourism, offers amphibian chairs at Encantada and Nova Brasilia beaches. The system works with prior reservations by Whatsapp (41) 99554-0313. The place is beautiful and a must for Paraguayans traveling to the south of Brazil.

Fortaleza, Ceará: Like Maceió, Fortaleza is one of the most beautiful cities in northeastern Brazil. In this northeastern state, known for its paradisiacal beaches and imposing cliffs, the state government maintains an accessible beaches program in collaboration with the municipalities of Fortaleza, Caucaia, Aracati, and Aquiraz.

Rio de Janeiro: Rio needs no introduction, and its beaches – a symbol of leisure for all walks of life – are already a feature of the culture of this city that belongs not only to Brazilians but to the entire planet.

One of the first inclusion projects on the beaches was Praia Para Todos, launched in 2008 as a joint initiative of the city government and Instituto Novo Ser – a non-profit organization – which consisted of offering amphibious chairs and ambulatory rides.

According to the institute, from 2008 to 2020, nearly 36,000 people with mobility impairments benefited from the project. Thirty-six percent of them said they had not been to the beach in more than a year, and 10 percent were in the ocean for the first time.

Santa Catarina: An initiative of the state of Santa Catarina in southern Brazil serves people with various physical and mental disabilities at 68 beaches in 23 coastal cities. The Praia Acessível project, implemented in 2013 at the initiative of the Fire Department, has 150 amphibious wheelchairs and 19,000 platforms distributed in Santa Catarina’s seaside resorts, such as the beaches of Sonho and Cima.

“Tourism in Brazil belongs to everyone and is for everyone. This is the essence of our tourism, which is democratic by nature. We want everyone, regardless of their limitations, to enjoy the almost infinite range of attractions, tours, and destinations in our country.

Initiatives like this underline this quality,” said Carlos Brito, president of Embratur. “I hope that more visitors from Paraguay – and from all over Mercosur – will come to see the model of accessible beaches practiced in major Brazilian cities.

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