Intamin takes observation to new heights at Parque Unipraias

Super gyro tower offers stunning views over the 'Dubai of Brazil'

AT: Tim Baldwin

tbaldwin@amusementtoday.com

BALNEÁRIO CAMBORIÚ, Brazil — Not all large attractions are in theme parks. Many cities have found Ferris wheels or other such rides in their offerings a nice fit for tourists.

Balneário Camboriú has the good fortune to provide modern architecture along with beautiful stretches of South Atlantic Ocean beaches. The city is built on steep hills that drop down to the sea. Cable cars exist for tourists and residents to traverse the mountains.

But what if just getting over the mountain was not the only goal?

Intamin has an array of observation rides to offer clients. Parque Unipraias had a certain attraction in mind.

“They knew they wanted a tower,” said Bruno Lancetti, senior project manager, Intamin.

Standing atop the mountain is a new super gyro tower at 53 meters (174 feet). It has been installed on the peak of Morro da Aguada. The view is 240 meters (787 feet) above sea level, making it one of the most spectacular vantage points in the region.

“It’s a natural entertainment location for Balneário Camboriú, which is known as the Dubai of Brazil. It’s on the east coast, on the ocean. In the last four or five years, tourism in Brazil has been boosting a lot,” Lancetti told Amusement Today. “They thought by already having this park on top of the mountain, ‘How can we improve this experience and keep people at the top of the mountain and improve that sightseeing experience?’”

On the other side of the mountain is a popular beach destination. That site was already reached by a cable car, which went up and over the mountain. The tourist complex connects three stations via 43 six-passenger cable cars and is the only park that connects two beaches. Now, there is an attraction to keep visitors at the top to enjoy the scenic views like never before.

“We talked about different products, of which a tower was an option,” said Lancetti. “There was limited space on top of the mountain.”

The air-conditioned cabin offers panoramic views with a gentle 360-degree rotation, ensuring that every one of its 50 passengers is treated to uninterrupted and ever-changing scenery throughout the experience. Children under 6 years of age must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

“They can see all the entire skyline, the skyscrapers of Balneário Camboriú, which is the city in Brazil with the highest number of skyscrapers built so close to each other,” noted Lancetti. “And the race for the sky is not finished because every landlord or landowner is now racing to go higher.”

A gyro tower proved to be the most logical option.

“They decided to go in that direction because they also benefit from the flows of cruise lines, which are stopping in front of Balneário in the summertime, which is starting right now, including December, January and February,” Lancettie said at the time of IAAPA Expo. “So, it’s a view of the city and a view of the green area of the state of Santa Catarina. It’s a perfect view of the beach, where most of the people just take advantage of the cable car connection to reach and spend the day there.”

Parque Unipraias had the tower painted in its vibrant corporate colors.

On the horizon is a marketing plan to catch people on their return from the beach.

“It’s an evening or night ‘flight’ with champagne, a romantic moment and all these things,” Lancetti said.

An LED lighting package allows the attraction to continue to shine in the landscape after dark.

Building on top of a mountain can present challenges.

“We have been guiding the park, but it was not an issue as the park had experience,” Lancetti told AT. “They use special all-wheel drive vehicles, and they had to create some space for a crane on top, but they did it.”

The tower opened at the end of October 2025.

Lancetti was able to visit the facility just prior to IAAPA Expo and reported that the owners were extremely happy. “The ownership is proud of its creation,” he smiled.

Lancetti hinted the ownership may be looking for more on top of the mountain beyond observation rides and the handful of options that includes a zipline.

“There’s a small train for kids and an alpine coaster, but perhaps … something faster?”