What to bring on a boat tour in Ubatuba

A boat tour in Ubatuba takes up a good part of the day, with strong sun, salt water and stops for swimming. What you bring decides whether the day is light or tiring. The list below is short on purpose: it fits in a small backpack and covers what usually goes missing.

For the sun

At sea the sun reaches you twice: from above and reflected off the water. Even on a cloudy day the skin burns.

• Water-resistant sunscreen. Put it on before leaving home and again after each swim in the sea.
• A hat or cap that will not fly off in the wind. A cord helps.
• Sunglasses. The glare off the water tires the eyes over the day.
• A light long-sleeved shirt, if you spend a lot of time in the sun. It protects the shoulders, which are what burns most when you sit on the boat.

At sea the sun reaches you twice: from above and reflected off the water.

For the water

• Swimwear under your clothes. Not every boat has somewhere to change in peace.
• A towel — microfibre ones dry fast and take up little space.
• Flip-flops or sandals that can get wet. Some stops are on rocky beaches.
• A dry bag or a zip-lock plastic bag for your phone and documents. One splash when getting off the boat is enough to soak everything.
• A dry change of clothes for the way back, inside a plastic bag.

For eating and drinking

• Water, more than you think you will drink. Sun, wind and sea dehydrate you without you noticing.
• A light snack: fruit, nuts, a sandwich. Heavy food before and during the tour raises the chance of seasickness.

Take your rubbish back with you. Nothing goes into the water.

If you tend to get seasick

Seasickness is common and there are ways to reduce it:

• If you know you get seasick, talk to a doctor or pharmacist a few days before about a seasickness medicine. Many need to be taken before boarding to work.
• On the boat, stay in the middle of the vessel, where it rocks less, and look at the horizon.
• Avoid reading or looking at your phone for long while the boat is sailing.
• Eat light before leaving. An empty stomach makes it worse too.

ID and payment

• Photo ID.
• Your booking confirmation, which arrives by e-mail. No need to print it: your trip’s page shows the date, time, boarding point and how much is left to pay.
• A way to pay the rest on the boat. On Larga Tudo e Vai’s tours the deposit is paid when booking and the rest on the day; the payment methods on board are in the FAQ.

What is already on the boat

A life jacket is a mandatory safety item on vessels that carry passengers, and the boat carries one for each person on board. The pool noodles also stay on the boat. The snorkel mask is rented on some tours; if you have your own, you can bring it.

What to leave at home

• A speaker. The boat belongs to everyone, and the sound of the sea is part of the tour.
• Valuables you do not want to see wet or lost.
• Glass bottles. They break easily on a moving boat.
• A big suitcase. One small backpack per person is what fits comfortably.

And if the weather turns?

If the Brazilian Navy does not allow the boat to leave, the team cancels the tour and gets in touch with you on WhatsApp to reschedule or refund what you paid. The full rule is under FAQ.

Before leaving home

Check the check-in time and the boarding point for your tour. Each route has its own: Ilhas Norte and Ilha das Couves com desembarque leave from Itaguá, and Roteiro Sul and the speedboat to Ilha Anchieta leave from Praia da Enseada.