The History of MaresiasTur: Adventure Tourism by People Who Live Maresias
By MaresiasTur · · Updated on · 4 min read
Quick answer
The history of MaresiasTur begins in 2016 in Maresias, São Sebastião (SP), when extreme sports athlete Thiago Bertassoni and tour guide Fabrício Barboza founded an adventure tourism agency. Today it runs hikes, rappelling, boat tours and try-scuba-diving.
The history of MaresiasTur begins in 2016, in Maresias, on the North Coast of São Paulo. São Sebastião had plenty of trails, waterfalls, headlands and islands, but was missing a company specialized in adventure tourism, capable of taking visitors to those places with technique, safety and professional guidance. That was the gap the two founders set out to fill.
Today, MaresiasTur Receptivo & Ecoturismo is a ground-handling agency that takes visitors to the islands of São Sebastião's South Coast, to the waterfalls and lookouts of the Atlantic Forest, and beneath the sea, with a licensed team and a commitment to nature.
Who founded MaresiasTur?
The agency was created by extreme sports athlete Thiago Bertassoni and tour guide Fabrício Barboza. That combination still sums up the agency's approach today: the hands-on experience of someone who lives for heights, trails and the sea, paired with the knowledge of someone who guides visitors and tells the region's story.
How did the agency start, in 2016?
The first tours were hikes and rappelling, activities where technique and equipment make all the difference. Rappelling remains one of the agency's signatures:
- Lookout Rappelling: 10 meters high, with up to 2 descents, on the Trilha dos Mirantes, between Paúba and Maresias. The hike is 2 km, easy level, and the activity includes a licensed guide, all gear and individual insurance.
- Calhetas Rappelling: 96 meters at the Cachoeira de Calhetas, with licensed adventure tourism guides, leaving from the agency.
- Cachoeira das 7 Quedas waterfall hike: 2 km round trip through the Atlantic Forest, with a licensed ecotourism guide.
From a duo to a team
What started with two partners grew into a team with administrative staff, a call center and guides. The agency is located at Av. Francisco Loup, 500, in Maresias, the departure point for several tours, and the company is registered as MaresiasTur Receptivo & Ecoturismo LTDA, tax ID (CNPJ) 35.417.415/0001-40.
- Licensed guides and licensed boat captains.
- Registered with Cadastur, Brazil's Ministry of Tourism.
- Online bookings with WhatsApp confirmation and human support before and after the tour.
What does MaresiasTur do today?
The catalog has grown from hikes and rappelling into the sea, biking and diving:
| Type | Tours | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Boat and speedboat | Ilha das Couves, Ilha dos Gatos, As Ilhas and Ilha do Montão de Trigo | Shared or private boat departures, 3 to 4 hours |
| Ilhabela Route | Private Runner 7500 speedboat | About 6 hours, leaving at 9 a.m. from Praia de Boiçucanga |
| Hikes | Cachoeira das 7 Quedas and EcoTour at Praia de Calhetas | 3 hours, with a licensed guide |
| Adventure | Lookout Rappelling, Calhetas Rappelling and Adventure Package | Gear and individual insurance included |
| Biking | Biketour 360º | 3 hours around the village, with a swim at Poço do Caetano |
| Diving | Try scuba diving at Ilha das Cabras, in Ilhabela | PADI® instructor, ages 10 and up |
To plan your trip, start with the guide to what to do in Maresias.
How does MaresiasTur work with safety?
- Licensed boat captains and safety gear on every boat tour.
- Individual insurance included on rappelling tours, the Adventure Package and try-scuba-diving.
- Clear rules: if weather or safety concerns cancel the departure, the customer chooses between rescheduling at no cost or getting a full refund, as stated in the cancellation policy.
The care put into every tour shows in what travelers say: MaresiasTur received Tripadvisor's Travelers' Choice 2024 award. To see what to check with any agency, read safety in ecotourism.
Why does MaresiasTur plant native saplings?
An ecotourism agency needs to give something back to the nature it shows off. As an official partner of São Sebastião City Hall's E-LIXO program, MaresiasTur trades e-waste for native Atlantic Forest saplings and has been planting every month for more than 5 years, totaling over 2,000 saplings. Learn more in how the E-LIXO program works.
Where is the agency and how do you book?
The agency is located at Av. Francisco Loup, 500, in Maresias, São Sebastião (SP). It's the departure point for the Biketour 360º, the Adventure Package, Calhetas Rappelling and EcoTour transportation; boat tours board at Praia de Boiçucanga or Praia de Maresias, depending on the route. Since Uber and 99 don't work in São Sebastião, see how to get there and get around. Bookings are made through the website, and private tours through WhatsApp.
Frequently asked questions
- When was MaresiasTur founded?
- In 2016, in Maresias, São Sebastião (SP), by extreme sports athlete Thiago Bertassoni and tour guide Fabrício Barboza.
- Who owns MaresiasTur?
- The founders and partners are Thiago Bertassoni, an extreme sports athlete, and Fabrício Barboza, a tour guide.
- Where is the MaresiasTur agency located?
- At Av. Francisco Loup, 500, in Maresias, São Sebastião (SP).
- Is MaresiasTur registered with Cadastur?
- Yes. MaresiasTur is registered with Cadastur, Brazil's Ministry of Tourism.
- What tours does MaresiasTur offer?
- Boat and speedboat tours around the South Coast islands and to Ilhabela, hikes, rappelling, Biketour, Adventure Package and try-scuba-diving at Ilha das Cabras.