Meaípe Beach, Beach area in Guarapari, Brazil.

Meaípe Beach is a 4 km stretch of dark sand in the Meaípe neighbourhood of Guarapari, reached by the ES-60 coastal road. In the photograph, small open wooden boats painted white and blue float on shallow pale green-blue water close to the shore. The beach lies about 6 km from central Guarapari.

The area evolved from a traditional fishing village into a tourist destination while local fishing traditions remained an important part of its identity. The connection to the sea continues to shape this coastal area.

Local restaurants serve Moqueca Capixaba, a traditional fish stew made according to recipes handed down through generations. The dishes show how closely this region is connected to the sea.

The 4 km beach lies 6 km south of central Guarapari, reached by the Rodovia do Sol (ES-60). Storms in recent years have broken up stretches of the sidewalk along the shoreline, so walkers should watch for damaged paving. The sand is dark and slightly radioactive, as in Guarapari.

A UFES research group with USP is studying Meaípe's monazitic sand and its interaction with the atmosphere and health. The team's supervisor, thermalism PhD Fábio Tadeu Lazzerini, links the local negative ions and radiation to relief from rheumatic and dermatological complaints, and notes that Guarapari's breast cancer rate is lower than in other cities of Espírito Santo.