Praia do Popeye

About

Praia do Popeye, or Popeye Beach, is an urban beach on a bowl-shaped cove within the Lagoa de Araruama, or Araruama Lagoon. The beach earned its playful nickname from local lore that Elzie Crisler Segar, the creator of the Popeye the Sailor cartoon, spent some time vacationing on the beach in the 1930s. This cartoon ran from 1929 into the 1950s, first as a Sunday newspaper comic strip, then an animated show, and even had a radio program. The lagoon and shape of the cove provide natural protection from strong winds, creating an ideal spot for casual swimming and wading.