A little of Matariz history:

Matariz Beach is a small community in Ilha Grande. It has approximately 73 families.  The main economic activity today is tourism, but this has started only around the 90’s.

At the beginning of the 20th Century, the families used to survive of small plantations only for their own maintenance and of workmanship fishing. Along the years, banana cultivation gained space at State of São Paulo’s coast and at São Francisco Farm in Matariz it began to be economically explored. Hundreds and hundreds of banana bunches used to be sent to the continent every week. At the same time, locals kept planting the basic for their own survival (manioc, corn, beans) as well as making some manioc flower for the family use.

Around 1930, the first sardine factory was established at Ilha Grande and years later Matariz also hosted its first fishing undertaking. Later on, the factory was taken over by Mr. Odaka who turned it into the largest one at Ilha Grande. Nearby there was also the sardine factory of Family Tonaki. The ruins of both factories can be seen as soon as you enter Matariz.

Its not possible to precise which were the reasons that led to the decline of Ilha Grande’s sardine factories at the second half of the 1980’s, but it is possible that predatory fishing and the resultant fall in sardines’ availability, together with competitors from other regions and increasing requirements from inspection agents have contributed to the unfeasibility of these businesses, which were mostly small family companies.

And finally, tourism started around the 1990’s as a new possibility.

Matariz Beach keeps until nowadays the characteristics of a small fishermen’s village, where everyone knows everyone and gather together to tell stories under the almond tree.  A quiet place, surrounded by lots of nature and lots of stories!