Marica · BR

Lagoa das Amendoeiras

Lagoa das Amendoeiras is the lagoon that anchors the waterfront leisure strip known as the Orla das Amendoeiras, in the São José do Imbassaí neighbourhood of Maricá, on Rio de Janeiro's Costa do Sol. Once an unremarkable stretch of shoreline, it was transformed by a municipal revitalization completed in late 2018 into a lit, landscaped promenade running along Rua Mário Leve, and it is now widely described as the main attraction of the neighbourhood and a fresh postcard for the city. What makes it worth a stop is the easy, everyday charm of it: a roughly one-kilometre walkway where families stroll, beach-volley and futevôlei games run on the sand courts, outdoor gym stations draw early-morning and after-dark exercisers, and a playground keeps children busy while adults sit on the benches facing the water. It is a relaxed, free, open-air space rather than a ticketed sight, and the calm lagoon views make it one of the better places in the district for a photo or a slow end-of-day walk.