Piscina Natural da Fortaleza (Pontão da Fortaleza)

At the Piscina Natural da Fortaleza, next to the Pontão da Fortaleza, you can see schools of sargentinhos and fish of many species. The fish appear in large numbers, mostly corcorocas-parati, peixes-anjo, peixes-agulha and sargentinhos. In the pool you can also spot ornamental fish and green turtles, which find a feeding ground there in the algae on the rocky shores, and there are sea urchins in the cracks between the rocks. The small beach is very popular with divers for its many rocks, its coral formations and the strong presence of ornamental fish.

The Pontão da Fortaleza, the rock that holds the pool, is a bouldering destination, a form of climbing without ropes, and hosts a traditional competition of the sport every year. On the Pontão, a group of huge rocks is known as Pedra da Tartaruga. In the past, Praia da Fortaleza served as a refuge for pirates and privateers and later became a point for transporting goods by canoe between the Port of Santos and Ubatuba. Today, the beach is home to a fishing community.