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Maceio
is
the capital of the state of Alagoas, one of the smallest states in
Brazil. But when it comes to beaches beauty, it is “the blessed” state.
Well, 230 km of green waters and white sand beaches is a considerable
credential.
Maceio
was our honeymoon destination. The expectation was big. Everyone wants to
have the “perfect” honeymoon and this city of 800,000 friendly inhabitants
was just that: perfect!
We arrived on a
Saturday afternoon and went for a walk on the sidewalk.
All the in-town
beaches have sidewalks (calçadão in Portuguese) and it is really nice to walk along, stop for coconut
water, a beer or a Caipirinha. You can also find several Tapioca (a kind
of crepe) vendors. They are very popular in Maceió
and delicious!
The beaches are the
best attractions. So let’s start with them.
Going South
Praia do Francês, 32
km from Maceio, has beautiful green waters, is protected by rocks and full
of bars and shopping booths. It is always full of people and vendors on
the beach. If you are after peace and quiet, take some pictures and go on
to paradise on earth: Gunga!
Among the 10 most
beautiful beaches in Brazil, Gunga is 47 km away from Maceio.
To get there, go to Cais de São Miguel and get a boat to Gunga. By the
way, Barra de São Miguel, where Cais the São Miguel is located, is also a
beautiful beach. So check it out before embarking on the boat.
Back to Gunga. The
boats have
board service and it is a nice tour. You can also reach Gunga by car,
going to Fazenda dos Cocos, but the access is controlled. If you want to
go by road, we recommend that you hire one of the local travel agencies in
Maceio that do this tour. They have special IDs that allow them in and
out. Some taxi drivers also have permits to use Fazenda dos Cocos' private
road.
The sand is very
white and there is an “ocean” of coconut trees framing this picture
perfect place. From Gunga, you can take a buggy to Jacarecica do Sul,
which sand reflects a reddish color on the sea. Or just relax and enjoy
this precious beach. There are several kiosks on the beach that serve
fresh fish and seafood. It is paradise!
Foz do São Francisco
Foz of São Francisco
River is a must go and enjoy a lot trip. Take AL 101 South and go to Piaçabuçu,
137 km away from Maceio.
From there, you get a boat and enjoy an astonishing landscape of small
islands and beautiful green waters and manguezais.
When you get to the
Foz, you feel like you stepped into a different set of a film: the wind
builds the landscape and creates dunes. It is an ecological reserve that
preserves sea turtles and birds.
After that it is
time for a walk around the dunes and for a well-deserved cool off swim in
the river. It is an unforgettable trip.
Going North
Carro Quebrado means
“Broken Car”. Rumor has it that
 some
years ago (no idea how many) a Volkswagen Kombi broke down on the Beach
and was left there. So the beach, which access is a little rough, was
named after the old Kombi. This is another well-preserved treasure.
There is not a
tourist intra-structure in Carro Quebrado. It is kind of rustic, simple
and natural stunning beauty.
Further north,
135 km
from Maceio, lies
Maragogi, home to natural swimming pools
6 km away from the coast into the
sea. We just fell in love with it. So will you, we bet.
Lakes and Lagoons
Several lakes and
lagoons surround Maceio. You can visit them in boat tours. Get information
about these tours at your hotel. There are several local travel agencies
In Maceio that organize these tours. The tour will take you to fishing
villages and marinas.
Massaguera, a
simple but charming fishing village, can also be reached by car. There are several
simple but absolutely fantastic restaurants by the river. So you can enjoy
the beautiful view while you relish on the delicious fish or seafood
dishes. But be careful: people from northeast Brazil in general tend to
use very strong condiments in their food. Ask for the light version (leve,
in Portuguese) of the dishes. And take it easy because servings tend to be
way too much.
Going back to town
The natural
swimming pools of Pajuçara are in the heart of Maceió.
You can get a “jangada” from Pajuçara beach. The
swimming pools are beautiful, with small fish swimming around you. The
boats take snorkels and masks so you can take a close look at the fish. And
there are boats that sell snacks and beverages and Capirinhas
made of all kinds of fruits.
As you read our
guide you are going to find innumerous mentions to Caipirinha. Yes, we
like them a lot. Besides, they go pretty well with sun and beaches.
The other in-town
beaches are Jatiuca, for surfers, Sete Coqueiros,
Ponta Verde e Pajuçara. But we don’t recommend going into these beaches
because they are polluted. You can find great, beautiful and clean beaches
20 minutes away.
But do walk along
the in-town beaches and get the most of the beautiful view, there
are kiosks and
the restaurants along the way.
Maceio Travel Tips
Shows
Go to a Folklore
Show. It is beautiful and you can have a taste of t he
rich northeastern Brazil Culture. The show houses go to your hotel and
pick you up. They have free shuttle service with scheduled hours. Get
information at your hotel desk.
Getting What You Want
Learn a little
Portuguese so you can get by without too much stress. Apart from hotel
employees, people don’t speak much English in Alagoas. So you will need to
learn the basics and use mime, body language and whatever ways you find to
communicate. People are very friendly and will try to help you, so be
open-minded and you will be fine.
Food and Drink
The gastronomy in
Maceio is a feast. And all restaurants, simple and posh, have delicious
fish and seafood, and carne de sol (a kind of dried meat), which is also a
specialty here. Some of the most famous restaurants are in Praia da
Jatiuca. Some suggestions are Canto da Boca, Divina Gula and Peixarão.
Pajuçara and Sonho
Verde have various kiosks and restaurants that you should also try. And
there is nothing like watching the sunset sipping a cold drink in one of
those kiosks on the beach.
Shopping in Maceio
Handcrafting in
Maceio is huge. The people are extremely talented and everything is so
inexpensive that it is impossible to resist.
The
best places to find a large variety are Núcleo
Artesanal do Pontal da Barra
(Ponta da Barra);
Pavilhão do Artesanato
(Av.
Antonio Gouveia, Praia de Pajuçara);
Feirinha de Artesanato da Pajuçara
(Av. Antonio Gouveia, Pajuçara),
Mercado de Artesanato de Maceió
(Rua Melo Morais, 617 - Levada, Centro; and
Cheiro da Terra
(Av.
Álvaro de Otacílio, 2500 Praia de Jatiúca).
Splurge in Maceio! The products have a great value for your money.
Getting around
It is not difficult to drive in Maceio and the
nearby beaches. If you want to rent a car buy a good map. If you don’t
speak any Portuguese, the map is going to be your best guide.
There are several local agencies that offer daily
tours to several of the attractions. If you don’t want to drive, this is
the way to go. You are not as free as you would be with a car, but you
don’t have to worry about getting directions. If you get a good guide, it
is very worthwhile.
You can also hire a taxi that will take you to any
place you heart desires without the schedule of the tours. But you will
need to speak some Portuguese if want to go with this option.
Other Attractions
There is a lot to
see and enjoy in Maceio
and its surroundings. If you have time, you can also visit Duas Barras, em
Jequiá da Praia
and check out Dunas de Marapé.
Or go
north and visit
Jacarecica, Garça Torta, Riacho Doce, Sereia, Ipioca
and Paripueira.
Distances
Recife
288 km, Aracaju 299 km,
João Pessoa 388,
Natal 559, Salvador 632 km, Rio de Janeiro 2131 km, São Paulo 2449.
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