If you go to the Praia De Santa Marta, people will tell you that you can jump off the bridge. A little beach situated between rock formations and beautiful architecture, this beach is a “hidden wonder” that has done rounds on social media, especially Tik Tok. The beautiful waters cover hidden beauties and subtle dangers; sea anemones, schools of fish, and jagged rocks. The main draw however is a cobblestone bridge that, during high tide, you can jump off of, landing in the clear waters below. This bridge is still an active road and many come to drive along it to take in the view. The only “issue” is, if it’s not high tide the only thing you can expect to get out of this “bridge-jump” experience is some broken bones and a hospital visit.
When I went to visit this beautiful and historic beach the tide was low, and only going more out. Initially I was hit with some disappointment as I looked at the shallow water and drying sand that resided at the bottom. However, this gave me a chance to pivot perspective and honesty ended up being the greatest turn of events. Because there was no water under the bridge, the sandier side of the beach was accessible making it easier for my group and I to find a spot. Additionally, with the tide going out, many treasures began to be revealed in little nooks and crannies and tide pools. Instead of focusing on the bridge, my group and I went around scaling rocks, finding sea glass, spotting fish and crabs, and swimming out to sea. These activities led to great “discoveries” that we weren’t expecting. Out past the larger rock formations that are easy to spot from the shore, there is a rock that has been worn away from the sea, giving it the appearance of a beak-less swan head and neck. Additionally, because of the proximity to the town and the porousness of the rocks, there were several areas filled with sea glass and sea-smoothed tile and ceramic among which were hidden several itty-bitty crabs. Finally, due to the rocky layout of the beach and the lack of water under the bridge, there were many shady spots to read or take shelter from the sun!
As the day came to a close, I realized that the wonderful things we had done and seen would have been near impossible during high tide. In losing the chance to jump off the bridge we gained an altogether different but equally exciting experience. This experience was a wonderful reminder about flexibility in adventure. Sometimes, your plans can be derailed but sometimes this can lead to many more incredible and surprising adventures.