MACEIÓ

If you add up all the factors that make a great coastal region in the northeast of Brazil—things like clarity of the water, variety of beaches, nightlife options, charm, safety, quality, and variety of food, and so on—Maceió may very well come out in the top position. Surprised? Most travelers are when they see what the Maceió region has to offer. The city itself sits in the middle of the Alagoas coastline with almost 200 kilometers of coast to the north and south. The water in Maceió is surprisingly blue and clear and it gets even better as you go farther north or south. The coastline is loaded with reefs that break the incoming tide (making the surf on the beaches both calm and warm) and provide great snorkeling and scuba diving areas—among the best in the country.

Some of the remote beaches are nearly deserted while others have options for tourists, like beach bars, restaurants, boat excursions, and hotels. What’s best about this region is that it’s not as “discovered” as some other places in the northeast—so you’ll find fewer crowds, lower prices, and better overall conditions. Highlights include the Pajuçara Beach and its offshore reefs in the city of Maceió itself. There you can do some snorkeling in the sparkling green waters of the area. Praia da Gunga and Barra de São Miguel to the south are also important to put on the agenda as they are two of the most pristine beaches on the Brazilian coastline. Maragogi to the north is an alternative beach village with a little of everything: semi-urban beaches with plenty of bars and shops, remote beaches for getting away from the crowd, and offshore reefs for some of the best snorkeling in the area. These are actually only a few of the many great beaches in the area.

Like the entire northeast coast of Brazil, Maceió is best visited just before peak season, September–December. Peak season in Maceió is not as packed as in other locations, so you might even find the summer months (December–February) agreeable, although prices do go up, and reservations are a must.