Praia dos Molhes, Urban beach in Torres, Brazil.
Praia dos Molhes is a beach in Torres where the Mampituba River meets the Atlantic. Two stone jetties, or molhes, extend into the sea at the river mouth, giving the beach its name. The shoreline alternates between sand and rocky outcrops, and the jetties remain visible as markers of the river-ocean boundary.
The two stone jetties at the Mampituba river mouth were built to keep the channel open for boats and to hold back the sand carried by the current. The beach takes its name, Praia dos Molhes, from these structures. They remain the main fixed reference point at the river's meeting with the Atlantic.
The beach's name comes from the molhes, the stone jetties at the Mampituba mouth, and locals use the calm water behind them for fishing and stand-up paddling while surfers work the open Atlantic side. During the summer season, beach tents and kiosks along the sand serve seafood and cold drinks to day-trippers from Torres and nearby Santa Catarina towns.
The beach has multiple entry points and parking areas spread along the coastline, with lifeguards stationed at regular spots. Plan visits around wave conditions and local events, since surfing competitions can draw crowds.
The border between Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina runs through the Mampituba River mouth, so the jetties at Praia dos Molhes stand on the state line itself. The river also marks the northern limit of the Rio Grande do Sul coastline, with Santa Catarina beginning on the far bank.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,782 contributors worldwide.