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With fine white sand beaches, warm and crystal clear waters, paradisiacal landscapes and mouth-watering gastronomy, the Paraiba coastline has been attracting tourists.

Paraíba is known for its tropical coastline and Portuguese colonial architecture.

The capital, João Pessoa, has beaches such as Manaíra and Tambaú, as well as coral-filled dive sites off the coast.

Next to the Paraíba River, the city’s historic centre has colourful houses and the church of São Francisco, with a Baroque architecture.

Ponta do Seixas, with the nearby Cabo Branco lighthouse, marks the easternmost point of the Americas.

With just over 130 km of extension, the coastline of Paraíba leaves the impression of being easily explored. However, some beaches north of João Pessoa have more complicated access. You can use the capital’s infrastructure as a base and abuse the day trips along the coast.

Include Paraíba in your travel plan if you like cliffs – they are a big hit along much of the coast. The beaches below do not follow a ranking, they are listed from south to north:

Best Beaches on the Coast of Paraíba

1. Pitimbu Beach – Pitimbu
2. Tambaba Beach – Conde
3. Coqueirinho Beach – Conde
4. Tabatinga Beach – Conde
5. Cabo Branco and Tambaú Beach – João Pessoa
6. Bessa Beach – João Pessoa
7. Jacaré Beach – Cabedelo
8. Miriri Beach – Rio Tinto
9. Praia Bela – Pitimbu
10. Barra do Abiaí beach – Pitimbu
11. Tambá Beach – Baía da Traição
12. Barra de Camaratuba – Marataca
13. Beaches on the coast of João Pessoa
14. Beaches of the South Coast of Paraíba
15. Beaches of the North Coast of Paraíba

Videos about the Beaches of Paraíba

1. Pitimbu Beach – Pitimbu

The central beach of the municipality of Pitimbu with the same name is a joy for those travelling with family.

Although busy, the sandy strip is generous in size and the sea, even at high tide, is very calm, so windsurfers also like to go for a swim. There is no shortage of bars to satisfy the hunger and thirst of the locals.

Distance from João Pessoa: 63 km

See Pitimbu in Paraíba has a scenery rich in natural pools, estuaries and cliffs.

2. Tambaba Beach – Conde

The beach is divided into two parts. In the first and smaller one, nude swimming is forbidden and visitors find a rather dull natural pool amidst the rocks.

A gate signposts access to the second part, where only the naked have a turn – those wearing swimming trunks or bikinis can’t even take a peek.

This is the most scenic stretch, with an imposing cliff and a sea of pleasure on 300 metres of beach. Unaccompanied men have no place there or can enter in the company of a couple;

Distance from João Pessoa: 42 km.

3. Coqueirinho Beach – Conde

If you were afraid to visit Tambaba, you can rest assured: a little higher up, seven kilometres to the north, Coqueirinho beach is just as scenic.

The diminutive name does not do it justice, it should be “Coqueirões” or “Coqueiral”, such is the quantity of trees.

Which is good news, there’s shade to choose from. Shaped like a cove, the beach with calm waters is a delight for those travelling with children. Generally, buggy rides from João Pessoa stop here for lunch.

But the options are few and basic. Just be careful when accessing the beach: a steep descent on a very boring sandy road. If you prefer, you can come walking from Tabatinga Beach (we’ll talk more about it below), on a three-kilometre route passing by cliffs.

Distance from João Pessoa: 35 km

4. Tabatinga Beach – Conde

At one end, the lagoons are formed by the meeting of the Bocatu River with the sea. On the other side, striking colourful cliffs. Between the lagoon and the cliffs, a beach that is not very busy and has no structure, but has a beautiful view.

The fine sand invites you to take a walk, while the sometimes rough sea calls for caution;

Coconut trees and reefs help to compose the beautiful scenery. Those who spend the day at the beach should bring a snack. There is even a structure on the sand, but it is exclusive to guests of a nearby resort.

Distance from João Pessoa: 33 km

5. Cabo Branco and Tambaú Beach – João Pessoa

Let’s talk about both beaches in the same text, after all there is no geographical accident dividing them (only the name of the neighbourhoods) and they have many similarities.

They are the two most central beaches on the shore of João Pessoa, where the bulk of hotels and restaurants are located, as well as a good number of beach huts.

On the stretch of Cabo Branco, the sand is softer than Tambaú, but both are great for walking.

If you don’t want to walk on the sand, you can use the seafront promenade and, in the case of Cabo Branco, the coastal avenue is closed to cars for part of the morning so that locals and tourists can play sports. Sea bathing? Despite the murky waters, you can go in without a problem.

The waves are calm and the temperature is very warm. From Tambaú, there is a boat trip that takes you to the picãozinho natural pools when the tide is low.

Bessa Beach – João Pessoa

But its greatest asset is a coral reef 800 metres from the coast, about 4 km long.

To get there, people take advantage of the calm water and go by kayak or stand-up paddle.

Because of the reefs, the beach is also called “Caribessa”.

7. Jacaré Beach – Cabedelo

A poetic licence is in order here. Better said, boleristic.

It is a river beach, where no one swims in the river and people start arriving there around 4pm.

If people paint there in the late afternoon, you don’t have to bat your eyelid much to discover that it has to do with the sunset.

The beach, which is in Cabedelo, a municipality neighbouring João Pessoa, gained fame due to a local artist, Jurandy do Sax, who, inside a canoe in the middle of the Paraíba River, sings Ravel’s bolero at the same time every day.

Until 2015, people followed the show inside bars or on catamarans on the river.

Then the Public Prosecutor’s Office took action and ordered the bars to be demolished. Today, in addition to the boats, people meet on a wall to be thrilled by the chords at dusk. And they can still buy souvenirs in a craft shop.

Distance from João Pessoa: 11 km

8. Miriri Beach – Rio Tinto

The northern stretch of the Paraiba coast is much more native than the south.

No beach is too crowded and, in some cases, you have to suffer a bit to get there.

Miriri is part of this team. It can only be reached by a buggy ride from João Pessoa or by a very sandy road from Praia da Campina.

So much effort to visit a beach formed by the mouth of the Miriri River, coconut palms and incredibly colourful cliffs. In addition, the possibility of alternating between sea, river and lagoon bathing. Take food, you will not find anything nearby.

Distance from João Pessoa: 38 km

9. Praia Bela – Pitimbu

Praia Bela is a spectacular open sea with strong, long waves over the sand at high tide. So much so that it lends itself to water sports such as surfing and windsurfing, especially with strong wind.

Praia Bela is an excellent place for those seeking leisure options, gastronomic experiences or simply rest. At 44 kilometres from the capital, João Pessoa, access is via the PB-008, and the place is just a few minutes from other more popular spots, such as the naturist beach of Tambaba.

Distance from João Pessoa: 44 km from João Pessoa.

10. Barra do Abiaí Beach – Pitimbu

Barra do Abiaí Beach has wild, calm and beautiful nature.

If you’re looking for peace and quiet and pure nature, you can’t miss Barra do Abiaí beach, on the fantastic south coast of Paraiba. Just as Praia Bela, on the coast of Pitimbu, is an increasingly strong place for sun and sea tourism, its neighbour, Barra do Abiaí, also promises.  

Distance from João Pessoa: 60 km from João Pessoa

11. Tambá Beach – Baía da Traição

Baía da Traição is a small municipality 90 km from João Pessoa with indigenous villages nearby – so much so that its name refers to the place where the Indians attacked the portugas. The central beach has some structure and movement at the weekend.

Five kilometres to the north, Tambá is as quiet as can be. There, on top of a cliff, is the Alldeia Alto de Tambá (formerly Galego), which sells indigenous handicrafts and sweets.

Despite poor signposting, you can reach the village by car, continuing along a trail. But many prefer to walk the half hour from Baía da Traição.

The sea is one of the most beautiful in Paraíba, but the waves are very violent, so much so that it is one of the surfing peaks in the state. A beach to call your own.

Distance from João Pessoa: 95 km

12. Barra de Camaratuba – Marataca

In the extreme north of Paraíba, Barra de Camaratuba is already showing signs that we are approaching the coast of Rio Grande do Norte by showing a unique scenario so far in the state with dunes and Atlantic Forest.

The fishing village has a basic structure with few restaurants and inns.

As the name implies, the centre is near the mouth of the Camaratuba River. A ferry takes you to the deserted Praia de Cardosas, already in Baía da Traição.

In fact, the beaches there have zero traffic. A buggy ride is the best way to get to know the beaches to the north, with the dunes and mangroves.

The presence of surfers (a few) in the sea shows that the sea bathing is agitated. Kitesurfers and windmills signal the strong winds.

Distance from João Pessoa: 115 km

13. Beaches of the Coast of João Pessoa

The coast of João Pessoa has the popular beaches of Cabo Branco, Tambaú, Manaíra and Bessa. Boardwalks that make it possible to walk or stroll.

Cycle paths that offer the practice of activities such as cycling, rollerblading and skateboarding. In addition, it is from these beaches that nautical trips to the Seixas Natural Pools and Bessa Natural Pools leave.

At Bessa beach, there is also the possibility of kayaking and Stand Up Paddle activities – the latter can be done even in the night shift. But, all of them in line with the tide table.

See also João Pessoa in Paraíba – Tourist Spots and Historic Centre.

14. Beaches of the South Coast of Paraíba

On the South Coast, the scenery is more exotic.

Among the beaches you can mention Barra de Gramame, Praia do Sol, Praia do Amor, Jacumã, Coqueirinho, Carapibus, Praia Bela, Barra do Abiaí Beach and Tambaba.

The latter is the first naturist beach in the Northeast and is also known for hosting naturist surfing championships. One way to get to know the main beaches of the South Coast is through buggy rides.

15. Beaches of the North Coast of Paraíba

The North Coast is made up of 19 beaches spread over five municipalities in Paraíba.

In the municipality of Cabedelo, for example, the beaches of Camboinha, Ponta de Campina are an option for those who go with children for the tranquility of its waters. It is from these beaches that catamarans and speedboats also leave for the island of Areia Vermelha.

Barra de Camaratuba, Baía da Traição and Lucena are also beaches that make up this third part of the Paraiba coast.

Best beaches in João Pessoa, south and north coast of Paraíba