The first complete expedition of the Translagunar Trail, a route covering approximately 140 kilometers around Araruama Lagoon, was launched after the project was presented at the Sal Manoel Maria de Mattos Regional Museum, located in São Pedro da Aldeia. This event brought together representatives from various municipalities and institutions in the Lagos Region, including Prolagos, which supports the initiative.
The expedition will be led by tourismologist Kátia Santos and is expected to last about eight days. Its main objective is technical: to survey the route, identify points of interest, and assess the needs related to trail signage and infrastructure. The collected data will be used to plan next steps and properly structure the route.
With its approximately 140 km, the Translagunar Trail connects six neighboring cities to Araruama Lagoon: São Pedro da Aldeia, Iguaba Grande, Cabo Frio, Araruama, Arraial do Cabo, and Saquarema. The starting and ending point of the hike is in São Pedro da Aldeia, traversing various landscapes adjacent to the lagoon.
Paloma Guaiano, a consultant for the Blue Flag Program, emphasized that the initiative expands opportunities for people to approach the area's natural heritage. She stated that the Translagunar Trail offers a new way to experience Araruama Lagoon, connecting distinct communities and landscapes, which strengthens the sense of belonging and care for environmental preservation when the territory is known.
Prolagos' participation in this project is also linked to sanitation investments made over the years around Araruama Lagoon. These investments have aided in the ecological recovery of the lagoon ecosystem and increased the chances for responsible use of the region. Roberta Moraes, Institutional Executive at Prolagos, highlighted that the trail demonstrates how Araruama Lagoon can be a link between municipalities, communities, and experiences, reinforcing the importance of preservation alongside sanitation advancement and continuous care for the lagoon, which fosters new uses for tourism, leisure, and environmental education.
The Translagunar Trail is part of the Brazilian Network of Long-Distance Trails and, in March of this year, obtained certification to be part of the Decade of Oceans, which is part of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. The purpose of the initiative is to encourage environmental conservation, responsible contact with nature, and territorial integration of the areas surrounding Araruama Lagoon.
The results of the environmental recovery of Araruama Lagoon are visible in its surrounding activities. In addition to the Translagunar Trail, local lagoon beaches have received international recognition from the Blue Flag program. Leisure, sports, and tourism activities have occupied several points of the lagoon. For the 2026/2027 season, four lagoon beaches under concession from Prolagos—Caiçara, Cidade Nova, Ubás, and Pedras de Sapiatiba—were nominated in the state for program evaluation.