Xuxa Water Park: The Ambitious $250 Million Plan That Would Transform São Paulo's Coast With Xuxa's Castle, Jobs, and Family Tourism, But Was Blocked by Ibama's Final Ban in the Atlantic Forest

Xuxa Water Park: The Ambitious $250 Million Plan That Would Transform São Paulo’s Coast With Xuxa’s Castle, Jobs, and Family Tourism, But Was Blocked by Ibama’s Final Ban in the Atlantic Forest

Written by Romário Pereira de Carvalho

Published on 25/12/2025 at 16:00

Updated on 25/12/2025 at 16:11

Imagem: Divulgação / Xuxa Water Park

26 people reacted to this.

The Ambitious Plan to Transform the Paulista Coast with the Castle of Xuxa and Thrilling Attractions That Promised Thousands of Jobs, but Ended Up Being Stopped by the Definitive Embargo of Ibama in the Atlantic Forest

In 1998, Xuxa Water Park planned to invest an estimated amount of US$ 250 million in Itanhaém to create a family tourist hub. The project aimed to boost the local economy, but the definitive environmental embargo prevented construction due to its impact on sensitive areas of the Atlantic Forest. The data in this article comes from the Vipzinho portal and other sources.

The park would occupy the area of Chácara Cibratel located on the southern Paulista coast. The companies Embraparque and NBGS formed a partnership to facilitate the investment of US$ 250 million.

The structure would include a wave pool, water roller coaster, and lazy river. Other planned attractions were the surf track and the iconic Castle of Xuxa.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

Expectation and Job Creation

The local expectation revolved around the creation of thousands of direct jobs. The official opening of the enterprise was initially scheduled for July 1999.

High-cost media campaigns ensured intense publicity for the interested public. Passes valid for 25 years were sold even before construction began.

Daily tickets were also sold in advance to residents, investors, and fans of the host.

The initial capital movement excited merchants who hoped for profits with the new flow.

Obstacles and Environmental Intervention

The progress of the project faced a decisive obstacle related to the necessary environmental licenses. The park depended on state and federal authorizations due to its location in a forested area.

Environmental technicians warned about serious risks to the local ecosystem and wildlife. The restinga areas and the base of the Serra do Mar would be impacted.

Ibama decided to suspend the environmental license after analyzing the risks to the regional ecosystem. A preliminary decision determined the definitive embargo of the works still in 1998.

Local Conflict of Interest

Environmentalists advocated for the preservation of continuous areas of Atlantic Forest in the state of São Paulo. On the other hand, residents saw the park as a real opportunity for economic growth.

The strengthening of tourism throughout the year was the main goal of merchants. The impasse divided opinions about the priority between economic development and nature preservation.

History and Definitive Closure of Xuxa Water Park

Subsequent attempts to revive the brand in São Paulo failed after serious structural problems. A fire that occurred in 2001 hindered the continuity of new expansion plans.

In 2002, the old Parque do Gugu closed its activities, marking the end of this phase of theme parks. Xuxa Water Park became the symbol of a major unfinished project.

Currently, the case serves as a warning about the balance between tourism and the environment. The project never materialized despite the advance sale of many tickets.

The data in this article comes from a piece on the Vipzinho portal.

2 Comments

most recent

older Most voted

Built-in feedback

View all comments

Moacyr Cardoso

#214953

26/12/2025 07:25

Seria um empreendimento interessante. Porém a preservação da já redusidicima cobertura de mata atlântica tem que estar em primeiro lugar., o por isso dos recordes de temperatura hoje no mundo e em São Paulo media de 38 graus.

Last edition 4 months ago for Moacyr Cardoso

Respond

Vili

#214907

26/12/2025 00:58

Os moradores mais antigos de itanhaém diziam que foi pedido uma grana para liberarem o empreendimento.

Respond

Xuxa Water Park: The Ambitious $250 Million Plan That Would Transform São Paulo’s Coast With Xuxa’s Castle, Jobs, and Family Tourism, But Was Blocked by Ibama’s Final Ban in the Atlantic Forest

The Ambitious Plan to Transform the Paulista Coast with the Castle of Xuxa and Thrilling Attractions That Promised Thousands of Jobs, but Ended Up Being Stopped by the Definitive Embargo of Ibama in the Atlantic Forest

Expectation and Job Creation

Obstacles and Environmental Intervention

Local Conflict of Interest

History and Definitive Closure of Xuxa Water Park

While a traditional school may take several days just to raise walls, in Malawi a 3D-printed school had its structure ready in 18 hours, welcomed children in June, and showed a new solution to the lack of classrooms.

Material once seen as a poor man’s choice returns as a climate bet, with red clay replacing part of the gray concrete in modern buildings, hospitals, houses, and a cultural center that transforms tradition into a solution against urban heat.

Australia prepares to dredge 96.5 million m³ in Moreton Bay to deepen, widen, and realign channels of the Port of Brisbane, in a project of up to 25 years designed to accommodate larger ships and enhance maritime safety and regional port efficiency.

Study solves great ancient mystery: remains of Philip II, father of Alexander the Great, are identified in Vergina and resolves the enigma of the Macedonian royal tombs that had lasted half a century.

Larger than the Toyota Hilux and with a towing capacity of 3.5 tons, the new MG U9 2026 features a 2.5 turbodiesel engine, 520 Nm, 4×4 traction with three locks, and an almost full-size build.

Portugal installs two giant underwater sockets to draw water from the Atlantic and create a €107.9 million desalination plant in the Algarve capable of producing 43.2 million liters of potable water per day with ocean intake 2 km from the coast.

How does Brazil manage to deliver 13 gas cylinders per second?

R$ 27.6 billion will be invested in the largest railway in Brazil under an agreement that renews the VLI concession in Centro-Atlântica for another 30 years and returns to the Union about 3,100 km of tracks considered deficient, which may go to new operators.

Research with DNA extracted from feces showed that the elephants known as “ghosts” in the highlands of eastern Angola form a distinct genetic lineage, with closer proximity to populations from Namibia.

A robot named Walter does the work of five bricklayers per hour and can save the construction industry, where the average age of professionals is 46 years and almost no one wants to learn the trade anymore, in the United Kingdom.

The five healthiest countries in the world have something in common that most people overlook; it’s not advanced medicine, it’s the balance between work and rest that is keeping their populations alive longer.

Xuxa Water Park: The Ambitious $250 Million Plan That Would Transform São Paulo’s Coast With Xuxa’s Castle, Jobs, and Family Tourism, But Was Blocked by Ibama’s Final Ban in the Atlantic Forest

The Ambitious Plan to Transform the Paulista Coast with the Castle of Xuxa and Thrilling Attractions That Promised Thousands of Jobs, but Ended Up Being Stopped by the Definitive Embargo of Ibama in the Atlantic Forest

Expectation and Job Creation

Obstacles and Environmental Intervention

Local Conflict of Interest

History and Definitive Closure of Xuxa Water Park

While a traditional school may take several days just to raise walls, in Malawi a 3D-printed school had its structure ready in 18 hours, welcomed children in June, and showed a new solution to the lack of classrooms.

Material once seen as a poor man’s choice returns as a climate bet, with red clay replacing part of the gray concrete in modern buildings, hospitals, houses, and a cultural center that transforms tradition into a solution against urban heat.

Australia prepares to dredge 96.5 million m³ in Moreton Bay to deepen, widen, and realign channels of the Port of Brisbane, in a project of up to 25 years designed to accommodate larger ships and enhance maritime safety and regional port efficiency.

Study solves great ancient mystery: remains of Philip II, father of Alexander the Great, are identified in Vergina and resolves the enigma of the Macedonian royal tombs that had lasted half a century.

Larger than the Toyota Hilux and with a towing capacity of 3.5 tons, the new MG U9 2026 features a 2.5 turbodiesel engine, 520 Nm, 4×4 traction with three locks, and an almost full-size build.

Portugal installs two giant underwater sockets to draw water from the Atlantic and create a €107.9 million desalination plant in the Algarve capable of producing 43.2 million liters of potable water per day with ocean intake 2 km from the coast.

From a small family business in Gaspar to a global reference in biotechnology that cleans one of the most polluting industries in the world, the textile industry, the Santa Catarina-based Akmey is going to open a new factory in Apiúna and expand its operations to up to 10,000 square meters.

Furniture giant closes stores across Brazil and liquidates stock with discounts of up to 70% after debt exceeds R$ 1 billion; Tok&Stok shrinks operations amid bankruptcy protection filing, exposing crisis in the home decor retail sector.

Fashion giant closes 11 stores in Brazil despite becoming the most valuable fashion brand in the world; Zara reduces physical presence, bets on larger stores, and showcases the new phase of premium retail in the country.

Global technology giant cuts 22% of employees and promises a salary of R$ 5 million to those who stay and master AI aiming for higher production.

Greater São Paulo saves 146 billion liters of water

How does Brazil manage to deliver 13 gas cylinders per second?

R$ 27.6 billion will be invested in the largest railway in Brazil under an agreement that renews the VLI concession in Centro-Atlântica for another 30 years and returns to the Union about 3,100 km of tracks considered deficient, which may go to new operators.

Research with DNA extracted from feces showed that the elephants known as “ghosts” in the highlands of eastern Angola form a distinct genetic lineage, with closer proximity to populations from Namibia.

A robot named Walter does the work of five bricklayers per hour and can save the construction industry, where the average age of professionals is 46 years and almost no one wants to learn the trade anymore, in the United Kingdom.

The five healthiest countries in the world have something in common that most people overlook; it’s not advanced medicine, it’s the balance between work and rest that is keeping their populations alive longer.