Itaparica is the southernmost of Vila Velha's main beaches and the most family-oriented. It's quieter than Praia da Costa, with calmer water and a gentler atmosphere. The neighbourhood behind it has a good selection of small restaurants and ice cream parlours popular with local families.
The beach sits next to the Parque Natural Municipal de Jacarenema, a coastal reserve with walking trails through restinga vegetation — the scrubby coastal ecosystem typical of this stretch of the Espírito Santo coast. The combination of beach and nature reserve makes this end of the waterfront worth exploring beyond the main Praia da Costa strip.