For those who’re in search of a rare Brazilian escape away from the standard 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 gorgeous 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 record because it’s among the best 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 12 months 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, you should go to is Maranhão, the place you’ll find the Lencois Maranheses. You possibly can learn all about it on this weblog of one of the best issues to do in Lençois Maranheses and discover a 7 day itinerary on this weblog.
From one of the best 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 you should know for an unbelievable 7-day itinerary within the Alagoas.
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Although Alagoas boasts excessive temperatures all 12 months spherical, one of the best 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 right climate to be by the seaside! Whereas it’s doable to go to within the shoulder season, greater rainfall could have an effect on water visibility and interrupt many out of doors 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 throughout 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 each day flights from the key cities in Brazil like Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Salvador. All three main airways, LATAM, Azul, Gol fly to Maceio Worldwide Airport.
For those who’re flying from overseas, significantly Europe, and planning to remain inside the Northeast of Brazil, think about flying into Fortaleza or Recife airport from Portugal with TAP Airways. This protects you from flying all the way down to São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro after which again up, lowering pointless journey time.
If you wish to hire a automotive, there are two corporations I’d advocate: Localiza or Movida. Each are dependable and environment friendly and supply a great vary of automobiles to select from.
The roads in Alagoas are total in very situation! Particularly the primary highways taking you to the completely different coastal cities, however do hold a watch out for potholes as there are usually not unusual.
Now that you simply’ve obtained 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 job is to choose 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 by the coast of Alagoas is Barra de São Miguel, particularly Praia do Francês.
There are two routes to succeed in it: both by town of Maceio and down the coast (through freeway AL-104) or by circling across the lake and taking freeway AL-424. Visitors is often higher within the latter, nevertheless it’s advisable to examine Google Maps and Waze on the day. The drive is barely an hour lengthy, so with an early morning flight, you’ll have the afternoon to settle into your lodging and discover the seaside.
Praia do Francês is widespread, attracting each locals and vacationers. Quite a few “barracas,” or seaside huts, line the lengthy stretch of the seaside, providing locations for vacationers to loosen up. Costs sometimes vary between R$12-25 per particular person, and this value typically consists of food and drinks orders.
After sundown, head up R. Carapeba from the seaside to the small city middle, the place you’ll discover quite a few charming shops and eating places.
Eating places I’d advocate 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 should you’re up for an early begin, head to the seaside to catch the dawn on the second day of this 7-day street journey by 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.
Facet be aware: Praia do Francês has a number of Kitesurfing faculties, making it a superb location to study. Classes are extra accessible and reasonably priced than in Europe.
To gas up for the day journey to Praia do Gunga, have an açai bowl for breakfast at one of many stands on the seaside. Then, hit the street on AL-101 freeway; the journey from Praia do Francês to Praia do Gunga takes about 20 minutes. Parking is accessible proper by the seaside.
Praia do Gunga is thought for the Mirante do Gunga (Gunga Seaside Lookout), providing unparalleled vistas of completely aligned coconut timber towards the backdrop of pristine, crystal-clear ocean waters. The Falesias do Gunga (Gunga Cliffs) stand out with putting desert pink hues, making a dramatic distinction towards the coastal panorama.
To take advantage of your day at Praia do Gunga, think about 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, should you want driving your self, there’s an possibility for an ATV tour, although these are typically costlier.
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 reasonably priced and inside driving distance of sights in Maragoggi.
Locations I’d advocate staying at in Japaratinga:
Funds pleasant lodges in Japaratinga
Boutique Resort lodges in Japaratinga
After a protracted drive, have some lunch at your resort or a close-by restaurant (a couple of suggestions listed under), then take the afternoon to sit back on the seaside. Praia do Boqueirao has obtained a bit extra occurring with a couple of 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 obtained the time period “Brazilian Carribrean. It’s obtained a sand financial institution that they name Caminho de Moises (Moses’s Approach) on prime of that, so whether or not you’re non secular or not, you’d be tempted to go see what that’s!
Earlier than making your approach as much as Maragogi, it’s greatest to pre-book a tour for the day. Simply ask your resort for a suggestion, 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.
One of the simplest ways to discover Maragoggi is by taking a ship tour as principally 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 may swim and snorkel amongst the fishies
- Caminho de Moises (Moses’s Approach), a sand financial institution the place you may on the ocean and in addition sit at a bar and have a caipirinha
- Praia Antunes (Antunes Seaside) or Praia da Bruna (Bruna seaside), a pit cease on land to discover one of the crucial lovely 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 reasonably priced as they’re for bigger teams, beginning at R$200 per particular person. Speedboat excursions vary between R$1300-1500.
For those who determine to eat in Maragogi, listed here are a couple of suggestions on the place to eat in Maragogi:
- Restaurante Tuyn
- Camurim Grande
- Odoia Maragogi
- Meraki Seaside
DAY 5: Praia do Patacho & São Miguel dos Milagres (1.5hrs driving)
At this time’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 may take, the great distance spherical or through the boat ferry.
The great distance spherical is again the way in which 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; nonetheless, because the ferry is small, it might solely take 6 automobiles at a time. If not timed proper, you would 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 one of the best place to base your self for the day. It’s a seaside restaurant with good meals, free (secure) parking, and is the place the Jangadas (a well-known sort 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 much like the one in Maragogi, involving visiting pure swimming pools and swimming with fish) nevertheless it’s a really completely different vibe to Maragoggi because the boat is slower and made for shallow waters, but in addition just because it’s not as touristy, so there’s extra of a way of calm. The Jangada can be good for anchoring down in the course of the ocean and sunbathing on the roof. Jangadas can accommodate between 6-8 individuals, and there’s the choice for a bunch tour or a personal tour (circa R$80-120 per particular person or R$600 for the boat).
To make sure you can take the Jangada tour, examine the tide instances 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, get pleasure from a late lunch on the restaurant and spend the remainder of the day on the seaside 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 preferred vacation spot on this coast, particularly for large New Yr’s Eve events.
You will discover my suggestions on the place to remain in São Miguel dos Milagres under:
Funds-friendly lodging choices:
Boutique Resort 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 seaside vacation. All there’s to do right here is drive to a seaside for a day, discover the right spot, and luxuriate in your self by the seaside!
The most effective seaside within the space are Praia do Marcineiro and Praia do Toque.
Praia do Marcineiro is essentially the most picturesque seaside however has the least quantity of “construction” round. There’s only one a part of the seaside with chairs and tables, and distributors solely promote a couple of snack-type meals. The remainder of the seaside is simply stretches of sand and palm timber.
Praia do Toque is widespread amongst travellers who’re on the lookout for a gorgeous seaside with a seaside membership. For those who’re on the lookout for a extra vigorous vibe, then that is the seaside for you.
Praia do Toque can be recognized for accessing many pure swimming pools, much like those in Maragogi and Praia do Patacho. For those who 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, e-book a desk at among the best eating places on the town (sure, you actually need to e-book 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 all the time prefer 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 ensure 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 advocate 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 photos of this little white church. That is undoubtedly 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 actually gorgeous a part of the North East of Brazil! It’s an absolute must-visit and among the best locations to go to in Brazil.
