Praia da Ferradura, Horseshoe-shaped beach in Buzios, Brazil
Praia da Ferradura is a beach in the municipality of Búzios, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, about 1,000 km southeast of Brasília. Its shoreline curves around a bay shaped like a horseshoe, which gives the beach its name, and hills covered in vegetation rise behind both ends of the sand.
Búzios remained a small fishing village until the 1960s, when French actress Brigitte Bardot stayed on the peninsula and brought it wider attention. Her visit set off a gradual shift that turned the area, this beach included, into a destination sought by visitors from many countries.
The name "Ferradura" means horseshoe in Portuguese, referring to the bay's curved outline. Small fishing boats are still moored along the shore, a sign of the area's long-standing link to the sea.
Chairs, umbrellas, and water sports gear are available for rent directly on the sand, so there is no need to bring much equipment. Restaurants and restrooms are close to the beach and easy to reach on foot from anywhere along the shore.
At low tide, the shape of the bay creates shallow natural pools that sit apart from the open water and are noticeably warmer. These pools form on their own due to the curve of the coastline and tend to attract families with young children.
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