Sphinx Trail Praia da Silveira: Cliffs, inscriptions, pools

Cliffs, a stone sphinx, and a swim in pools carved by the sea

A guided trail tour from Praia da Silveira along the coast to the Esfinge rock monument and Rock Inscriptions, with a swim in natural pools on the way back. The route takes four hours and includes an air-conditioned vehicle for pickup and transport. Guides speak English, Spanish or Portuguese.

Step-by-step itinerary

Hike trail and swim in natural pools

• Start trail at Praia da Silveira
• Follow cliffs to Esfinge monument
• Visit Rock Inscriptions site
• Return and bathe in natural pools

The experience

Praia da Silveira is where the trail begins, following the clifftop path that runs along the sea toward the Esfinge. A natural rock formation that gives the route its name. The path itself is the draw here: it stays close to the water, and the walk builds toward something specific rather than wandering through generic scrub. The Esfinge sits as a landmark you can see and touch, not just read about in a guidebook.

From there, the trail continues to the Rock Inscriptions, carvings left behind by the Sambaquieiros peoples thousands of years ago. These are not reconstructions or museum pieces. They are marks on stone where people stood and carved, and the age of them is the point. The return path loops back through the same landscape, but by then you've earned the natural pools: shallow basins of seawater that collect in the rocks, cold enough to matter after four hours on foot.

An air-conditioned vehicle handles the pickup and transport to and from Praia da Silveira, so you don't need a rental car or a taxi negotiation. The guide speaks your language (English, Spanish or Portuguese), and knows the trail's history and the names of what you're walking past. Infants can come along on an adult's lap. The terrain suits all fitness levels, though four hours of coastal walking does mean steady movement.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle pickup and transport to Praia da Silveira.
• a live guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
• access to the coastal trail, the Esfinge rock formation, and the Rock Inscriptions.
• a swim in the natural pools on the return.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 13 Sep 2027

AgesAdult (19 to 59 years) · Senior (60 and older) · Youth (13 to 18 years) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 15 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Ao Sul Natural

Is this one for you?Pick this if you're without a car. We collect you from your hotel and drive to Praia da Silveira trailhead, so you start walking immediately rather than arranging separate transport.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 18 years); Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Esfinge and why is it on this trail?

The Esfinge is a natural rock monument shaped by erosion into a sphinx-like form, visible from the coastal path. It's the landmark the trail is named for and marks the midpoint of the route before you continue to the Rock Inscriptions.

Who were the Sambaquieiros and what do their inscriptions show?

The Sambaquieiros were ancient peoples who lived in this region thousands of years ago. The Rock Inscriptions are carvings they left on stone, and seeing them in place, rather than in a museum, gives a sense of the people who made them and how long they've been here.

Can I swim in the natural pools, and how cold is the water?

Yes, the natural pools are part of the route and a place to cool off on the return walk. The water is seawater that collects in rock basins, so it's cold enough to feel refreshing after four hours of hiking, but the exact temperature depends on the season.

How does pickup work if I'm staying in a different part of Florianopolis?

The tour includes an air-conditioned vehicle for pickup from your accommodation. You'll be collected and driven to Praia da Silveira to start the trail, then returned after the swim and the walk back.

Is this trail difficult, and how much walking is involved?

The route is four hours of steady coastal walking and suits all fitness levels. It's not technical climbing, but it is continuous movement along the clifftop path, so comfortable shoes and a reasonable pace matter.