In case you’re searching for a unprecedented Brazilian escape away from the same old vacationer path, Alagoas in Brazil is your hidden gem. Nestled within the northeastern a part of Brazil, the state of Alagoas is famend for its beautiful magnificence harking back to the Caribbean, that includes crystal-clear turquoise shallow waters, coconut tree-covered seashores, and year-round good climate. Whereas it has change into an more and more widespread vacation spot amongst Brazilians, it stays comparatively unknown to worldwide vacationers. Alagoas ought to undoubtedly be in your Brazil journey bucket checklist because it’s among the finest locations to go to in Brazil.
Alagoas is without doubt one of the 9 northeastern states of Brazil, a area of Brazil that’s above the equator, with excessive temperatures all yr spherical and a very talked-about vacationer vacation spot for solar seekers and ocean lovers alike.
One other state within the north east of Brazil, that you must go to is Maranhão, the place you could find the Lencois Maranheses. You may learn all about it on this weblog of the perfect issues to do in Lençois Maranheses and discover a 7 day itinerary on this weblog.
From the perfect seashores to essentially the most iconic viewpoints and the place to eat and drink on the coast of Alagoas – this information has every little thing that you must know for an unbelievable 7-day itinerary within the Alagoas.
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Although Alagoas boasts excessive temperatures all yr spherical, the perfect time to go to Alagoas, Brazil, is throughout its dry season, which usually spans from October to February. This era guarantees sun-drenched days with 25-35C temperatures, making it the proper climate to be by the seashore! Whereas it’s doable to go to within the shoulder season, increased rainfall could have an effect on water visibility and interrupt many outside actions.
As somebody who visited simply earlier than the dry season and encountered patchy rain, I can say that the climate considerably influenced our journey. I like to recommend visiting in the course of the dry season.
Attending to Alagoas inside Brazil is fairly easy, simply catch an inside flight to Maceio Worldwide Airport (Zumbi dos Palmeiras). There are a number of day by day flights from the most important cities in Brazil like Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Salvador. All three main airways, LATAM, Azul, Gol fly to Maceio Worldwide Airport.
In case you’re flying from overseas, significantly Europe, and planning to remain inside the Northeast of Brazil, contemplate flying into Fortaleza or Recife airport from Portugal with TAP Airways. This protects you from flying right down to São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro after which again up, decreasing pointless journey time.
If you wish to lease a automotive, there are two corporations I’d suggest: Localiza or Movida. Each are dependable and environment friendly and supply a superb vary of automobiles to select from.
The roads in Alagoas are total in very situation! Particularly the principle highways taking you to the completely different coastal cities, however do maintain a watch out for potholes as there aren’t unusual.
Now that you simply’ve acquired the lay of the land, let’s get to the itinerary!
DAY 1: Arriving into Maceio and driving to Praia do Frances (1hr driving)
After touchdown at Maceio Airport, your first process is to select up your rental automotive. Minibuses/vans can be found to take you to their depot at Arrivals; merely observe the indicators inside the airport.
Your preliminary vacation spot on this 7-day street journey via the coast of Alagoas is Barra de São Miguel, particularly Praia do Francês.
There are two routes to succeed in it: both via the town of Maceio and down the coast (through freeway AL-104) or by circling across the lake and taking freeway AL-424. Visitors is normally higher within the latter, but it surely’s advisable to verify Google Maps and Waze on the day. The drive is just an hour lengthy, so with an early morning flight, you’ll have the afternoon to settle into your lodging and discover the seashore.
Praia do Francês is widespread, attracting each locals and vacationers. Quite a few “barracas,” or seashore huts, line the lengthy stretch of the seashore, providing locations for vacationers to loosen up. Costs sometimes vary between R$12-25 per individual, and this price usually consists of food and drinks orders.
After sundown, head up R. Carapeba from the seashore to the small city middle, the place you’ll discover quite a few charming shops and eating places.
Eating places I’d suggest having dinner at in Praia do Francês:
- Restaurante Moai
- Rimini Pizzeria
- Java Restaurane
The place to remain in Praia do Francês:
DAY 2: Praia do Frances & Praia do Gunga (40mins driving)
On this a part of the Brazilian coast, the solar rises over the ocean, so in the event you’re up for an early begin, head to the seashore to catch the dawn on the second day of this 7-day street journey via the coast of Alagoas. For the extra adventurous, flip this dawn journey right into a morning of browsing or kite-surfing, particularly on the far proper of Praia do Francês.
Aspect word: Praia do Francês has a number of Kitesurfing colleges, making it a wonderful location to be taught. Classes are extra accessible and inexpensive than in Europe.
To gasoline up for the day journey to Praia do Gunga, have an açai bowl for breakfast at one of many stands on the seashore. Then, hit the street on AL-101 freeway; the journey from Praia do Francês to Praia do Gunga takes about 20 minutes. Parking is obtainable proper by the seashore.
Praia do Gunga is thought for the Mirante do Gunga (Gunga Seashore Lookout), providing unparalleled vistas of completely aligned coconut bushes towards the backdrop of pristine, crystal-clear ocean waters. The Falesias do Gunga (Gunga Cliffs) stand out with hanging desert purple hues, making a dramatic distinction towards the coastal panorama.
To profit from your day at Praia do Gunga, contemplate taking a buggy tour to go to Mirante do Gunga, Farol da Praia do Gunga (Gunga Lighthouse), Falesias do Gunga, and Lagoa Doce, a freshwater lagoon. Excursions begin at R$200 per buggy. Alternatively, in the event you desire driving your self, there’s an possibility for an ATV tour, although these are usually dearer.
DAY 3: Praia do Francês to Japaratinga (3hrs driving)
That is the longest drive of the journey, so set out after breakfast. The drive to Japaratinga takes you thru Maceio out onto AL-105 freeway. Proceed on AL-105 till you attain Porto Calvo, then flip onto AL-465.
Japaratinga itself isn’t essentially a spot to discoveras it’s nonetheless comparatively underdeveloped. Nevertheless, it serves as a strategic and budget-friendly base for visiting Maragoggi. The lodges in and round Japaratinga are extra inexpensive and inside driving distance of sights in Maragoggi.
Locations I’d suggest staying at in Japaratinga:
Finances pleasant lodges in Japaratinga
Boutique Lodge lodges in Japaratinga
After an extended drive, have some lunch at your resort or a close-by restaurant (just a few suggestions listed beneath), then take the afternoon to relax on the seashore. Praia do Boqueirao has acquired a bit extra happening with just a few eating places and barracas, so I’d head there.
Different seashores within the space:
- Praia do Bitingul
- Praia de Japaratinga
The place to eat in Japaratinga:
- Scalini Restaurante
- Companhia da Lagosta
- Kypá Restaurante
- Pousada Estalagem Caiuia
DAY 4: Day journey to Maragogi (40 minutes driving)
Maragogi is what put the state of Alagoas on brazilian travellers radars – that is the place the state acquired the time period “Brazilian Carribrean. It’s acquired a sand financial institution that they name Caminho de Moises (Moses’s Method) on prime of that, so whether or not you’re spiritual or not, you’d be tempted to go see what that’s!
Earlier than making your method as much as Maragogi, it’s finest to pre-book a tour for the day. Simply ask your resort for a advice, all of them have contacts with boat excursions they usually’re tremendous dependable.
The drive to Maragogi from Japaratinga is brief, simply 20 minutes up the coast.
The easiest way to discover Maragoggi is by taking a ship tour as mainly all of the sights are both by or within the ocean. The “signature” tour of Maragoggi takes you to:
- Galés pure swimming pools, the place you possibly can swim and snorkel amongst the fishies
- Caminho de Moises (Moses’s Method), a sand financial institution the place you possibly can on the ocean and in addition sit at a bar and have a caipirinha
- Praia Antunes (Antunes Seashore) or Praia da Bruna (Bruna seashore), a pit cease on land to discover some of the stunning seashores within the area
The complete tour is round 3-4hrs and there’s the choice to do the tour on a Catamaran or a speedboat. Catamaran excursions are extra inexpensive as they’re for bigger teams, beginning at R$200 per individual. Speedboat excursions vary between R$1300-1500.
In case you determine to eat in Maragogi, listed here are just a few suggestions on the place to eat in Maragogi:
- Restaurante Tuyn
- Camurim Grande
- Odoia Maragogi
- Meraki Seashore
DAY 5: Praia do Patacho & São Miguel dos Milagres (1.5hrs driving)
Immediately’s journey takes you to the hidden gems of Praia do Patacho and São Miguel dos Milagres, providing a extra tranquil and fewer crowded expertise. The drive from Japaratinga to Praia to Patacho is one other brief one, and there are two routes you possibly can take, the good distance spherical or through the boat ferry.
The good distance spherical is again the best way you got here, on AL-465, then down AL-460. The drive is about an hour. The ferry route is shorter, particularly in case your resort is close to Praia Bitingui; nevertheless, because the ferry is small, it will probably solely take 6 automobiles at a time. If not timed proper, you might spend an hour ready to board. To keep away from queues, go away earlier than 8 AM. The ferry crossing takes solely 10 minutes.
Set your vacation spot location to Restaurante Sonhos do Patacho as that is the perfect place to base your self for the day. It’s a seashore restaurant with good meals, free (protected) parking, and is the place the Jangadas (a well-known kind of boat within the area) depart to take you on the tour to Patacho’s pure swimming pools (Piscsinas Naturais do Patacho).
The Jangada tour at Praia do Patacho is just like the one in Maragogi, involving visiting pure swimming pools and swimming with fish) but it surely’s a really completely different vibe to Maragoggi because the boat is slower and made for shallow waters, but additionally just because it’s not as touristy, so there’s extra of a way of calm. The Jangada can be excellent for anchoring down in the course of the ocean and sunbathing on the roof. Jangadas can accommodate between 6-8 folks, and there’s the choice for a bunch tour or a personal tour (circa R$80-120 per individual or R$600 for the boat).
To make sure you can take the Jangada tour, verify the tide occasions for low tide the day earlier than, as boats sometimes begin the tour about 1 hour earlier than low tide. The tour lasts round 3 hours.
After the tour, take pleasure in a late lunch on the restaurant and spend the remainder of the day on the seashore earlier than heading to São Miguel dos Milagres, your lodging for the subsequent two nights. There are many lodging to select from, as São Miguel dos Milagres has change into a well-liked vacation spot on this coast, particularly for giant New 12 months’s Eve events.
You’ll find my suggestions on the place to remain in São Miguel dos Milagres beneath:
Finances-friendly lodging choices:
Boutique Lodge lodging choices:
Luxurious lodging choices:
DAY 6: São Miguel dos Milagres
São Miguel dos Milagres is the a part of this street journey the place it turns into a correct seashore vacation. All there’s to do right here is drive to a seashore for a day, discover the proper spot, and revel in your self by the seashore!
One of the best seashore within the space are Praia do Marcineiro and Praia do Toque.
Praia do Marcineiro is essentially the most picturesque seashore however has the least quantity of “construction” round. There’s only one a part of the seashore with chairs and tables, and distributors solely promote just a few snack-type meals. The remainder of the seashore is simply stretches of sand and palm bushes.
Praia do Toque is widespread amongst travellers who’re searching for a fantastic seashore with a seashore membership. In case you’re searching for a extra vigorous vibe, then that is the seashore for you.
Praia do Toque can be recognized for gaining access to many pure swimming pools, just like those in Maragogi and Praia do Patacho. In case you haven’t had sufficient of swimming in crystal-clear waters, then there’s the choice to take that tour right here too.
In your final night, ebook a desk at among the finest eating places on the town (sure, you actually should ebook in such a tiny city!): No Quintal or Patricia Bistro. Each eating places are tremendous charming and cute, providing basic North Japanese Brazilian delicacies plates infused with their chef’s personal contact.
Day 7: Sao Miguel dos Milagres & Maceio (1.5hrs driving)
I at all times wish to spend the final day of any street journey doing the issues I cherished and can miss essentially the most. For me, that is going for a final swim within the ocean as I like in a giant metropolis so I be certain I give myself sufficient to do that earlier than hitting the street once more to Maceio Airport. No matter that’s for you, discover the time to do it!
The one oen factor I’d suggest doing in your final day is to go to the Capela de Sao Miguel dos Milagre as you’re driving out of the city. That is very a lot simply an iconic place of the area as many postcards are panorama pictures of this little white church. That is positively skippable if time is of the essence, however the photographer in me regrets not going.
And that’s it! A 7-day roadtrip itinerary for the coast of Alagoas, Brazil.
I hope you loved this Alagoas itinerary and that it impressed you to go to this really beautiful a part of the North East of Brazil! It’s an absolute must-visit and among the finest locations to go to in Brazil.
