Cabo de Santo Agostinho is a city located in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil, known for its beautiful beaches, natural landscapes and rich history.

Cabo de Santo Agostinho is the westernmost town in Pernambuco and is located 40 kilometres from Recife.

There are nine beaches spread over an area of 445 square kilometres, with crystal clear waters, white sands, sandstone reefs, volcanic rocks, natural pools, mangroves, coconut trees, churches, historic ruins dating back to the 17th century, viewpoints and cliffs.

The beaches of Cabo de Santo Agostinho are ideal for water sports such as diving and fishing, as well as more radical activities such as abseiling, trekking and paragliding.

One of the most popular programmes in the city is the buggy ride, the best way to visit the beaches, viewpoints and Vila de Nazaré, where the historical ruins are located, as well as taking a clay bath, famous for its aesthetic benefits.

It’s a set of beauties for which tourists visit Cabo de Santo Agostinho.

The beaches are ideal for water sports, diving, fishing, abseiling, trekking and paragliding.

Named Costa dos Arrecifes because of the successive reefs that dot it, this stretch of coastline comprises the beaches of southern Pernambuco in the direction of Recife – Maceió – from the city of Cabo de Santo Agostinho, where the port of Suape is located, to Tamandaré, near Alagoas, with the main access via PE-060.

The best beaches are Gaibu, Calhetas, Pedra do Xaréu and Camboa, in Cabo de Santo Agostinho, on the PE-028; Muro Alto, Cupe, da Vila and Maracaípe, in Porto de Galinhas, on the PE-038; Tamandaré, in Tamandaré, on the PE-076.

You can get to them in a short trip from Recife, as the furthest beach on the route is around 100 kilometres away.

The point of land that juts into the sea is the westernmost place in Pernambuco and defies official Brazilian history: the Spanish navigator Vicente Pinzón landed there at the end of January 1500, around three months before Cabral arrived in Bahia; a bust in the Vicente Pinzón square honours him.

The former Arraial do Cabo, now Cabo de Santo Agostinho, grew out of the exploitation of sugar cane and in its surroundings you can still see several mills amidst the green landscape.

In the engenho Massangana, now the Casa de Cultura, the abolitionist Joaquim Nabuco lived out his early years.

The ruins of military buildings on the beaches demonstrate its strategic importance in colonial times – the village witnessed clashes between Indians, Portuguese and Dutch.

It’s worth climbing up to the village of Nazaré, the highest point in Cabo de Santo Agostinho, to admire the small 16th century church of Nossa Senhora de Nazaré and the ruins of a 17th century Carmelite convent.

Videos – sights of Cabo de Santo Agostinho

Main tourist attractions of Cabo de Santo Agostinho PE

1. Beaches

1. Suape Beach

Praia de Suape is located between the Massangana River and Praia do Paraíso. An extensive sandstone reef acts as a barrier, forming a giant swimming pool with no waves, ideal for swimming and water sports.

The beach is a meeting point for buggy drivers, with bars, restaurants, inns and a major resort.

2. Paraíso Beach

Praia do Paraíso is the smallest beach in Cabo, formed by a hill of volcanic rocks and two bays, the whole beach is only 30 metres long and is ideal for those who like peace and quiet.

It offers boat trips around the different islands and has only one floating boat.

3. Cabo de Santo Agostinho Beach

Praia do Cabo de Santo Agostinho is the dividing point between the African and South American continents, a geographical accident more than 100 million years old. Cabo de Santo Agostinho beach is mentioned as the site of the discovery of Brazil by the Spaniard Vicente Pinzón.

4. Calhetas Beach

Praia de Calhetas is an ideal bay for snorkelling, underwater fishing and taking delicious swims in the warm blue waters.

It has good restaurants and traditional bars to enjoy in the midst of nature, coconut trees, volcanic rocks and the incredible beauty of the Atlantic Forest vegetation.

Calhetas is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

5. Paiva Beach

Praia de Paiva is where coral reefs form natural pools, making it an ideal place for swimming, with beautiful landscapes made up of white sands, blue sea and five kilometres of dense coconut groves.

Paiva beach is the first point of the Cape and the largest beach in the municipality. Access is via the beach.

The Lavadeira Festival, an important popular event in the region, has been held there since 1987.

6. Gaibu Beach

The name of Gaibu beach is of Tupi origin (aybu) and means ‘Water Eye’. Almost the entire length of the beach is covered by a barrier of coral reefs, it looks as if the beach has a wall in the middle of the water.

It’s an ideal beach for surfing. One of its attractions is the climb up Morro das Pedras, from where you can see a beautiful perspective of the sea and Calhetas beach.

Praia de Gaibu is one of the most popular beaches on the Cabo coast. There are good restaurants, bars, hotels and pousadas there

Coral Cove

Enseada dos Corais is an ideal beach for swimming, its reefs form charming natural pools. This beautiful beach is home to the Mata do Zumbi and Mata das Duas Lagoas ecological reserves.

It is located between Gaibú beach and Pedra do Xaréu.

7. Itapuama Beach

Itapuama Beach is located between Pedra do Xaréu and Praia do Paiva.

The name Itapuama means ‘Beautiful Stone’. Itapuama beach is characterised by the volcanic rocks and coconut palms that make up its beautiful landscape.

It’s a beach with good waves, popular for surfing and has small boats along the shore and good inns to stay in.

8. Pedra do Xaréu Beach

Pedra do Xaréu is next to Paiva beach. It is a beach with medium waves and light sands. In the middle of volcanic rocks, natural pools are formed at low tide, ideal for swimming and snorkelling.

Its name comes from the large quantity of shark fish found along the shore. It’s a good spot for savouring delicious seafood.

2. Historical and Cultural Sites

• Ruins of the Carmelite Convent: A 17th century convent that offers a fascinating insight into the region’s religious history.
• Igreja de Nossa Senhora de Nazaré: A historic church dating back to the colonial period.
• Forte Castelo do Mar: An ancient fortification used in defence against invaders.

3. Outdoor Activities

• Trails and Walks: Several trails through the Atlantic forest, such as the Trilha do Paraíso, give visitors the chance to explore the local fauna and flora.
• Diving and Snorkelling: The clear waters and rich marine life make the region ideal for these activities.

4. EcoTourism

• Armando de Holanda Cavalcanti Metropolitan Park: A nature reserve offering hiking trails and bird watching.
• Morro das Pedras: A place with panoramic views of the beaches and Suape harbour, excellent for photos and relaxation.

5. Practical Tips

• Best Time to Visit: The dry season, from September to March, is ideal for enjoying the beaches and outdoor activities.
• Accessibility: The town is approximately 35 kilometres from Recife, making it easy to reach by public transport or car.

Cabo de Santo Agostinho is a destination that combines natural beauty, history and culture, offering a variety of experiences for all types of travellers.

Another possibility is to stay for a few days in Cabo de Santo Agostinho or Porto de Galinhas, both of which have an infrastructure of inns, hotels and resorts.

See the map of the south coast of Pernambuco

History of Cabo de Santo Agostinho

The history of Cabo de Santo Agostinho began long before the Portuguese arrived in Brazil. Like much of Brazil, the Cape was populated by indigenous people of the Caeté ethnic group.

The first settlements called Arraial do Cabo appeared in the second half of the 16th century.

It is made up of the Parish Churches of Sto Antônio, Sto Amaro, Nossa Senhora do Livramento and the former Capela do Rosário dos Pretos (today Praça Théo Silva), and the sparse houses represented by the old buildings in the streets of Matriz (Rua Vigário João Batista) and Dr Antonio de Souza Leão.

The façades are protected by municipal law, but most are uncharacterised.

In 1560, João Paes Barreto established the Morgado de Nossa Senhora da Madre de Deus do Cabo de Sto Agostinho, linking the Madre de Deus sugar mill, later called Engenho Velho. The deed was drawn up on 28 October 1580.

According to Sebastião de Vasconcelos Galvão, author of the Dicionário Iconográfico, Histórico e Estatístico de Pernambuco (Iconographic, Historical and Statistical Dictionary of Pernambuco), the municipality’s settlement dates back to 1618; before then it was made up of a few sparse houses, far apart.

More than two hundred years after the settlement of Sto Agostinho was elevated to the status of a parish, the town of Cabo de Sto Agostinho was created by the charter of 27 July 1811 and the Royal Provision of 15 February 1812, sent to the then governor of the province, General Caetano Pinto de Miranda Montenegro.

Its installation, however, took place on 18 February 1812, by the ombudsman and corregidor-general of the Recife District, Dr Clemente Ferreira de França.

The then Vila do Cabo de Sto Agostinho was elevated to city status on 9 July 1877, by provincial law no. 1,269, to the name of Cidade de Santo Agostinho do Cabo.

Cabo’s economy was centred on the development of sugar cane monoculture, starting in 1570 with the donation of sesmarias along the Pirapama River.

João Paes occupied the land granted to him in 1571, to the south of the Araçuagipe River (Pirapama), and founded the first engenho bangüê (sugar mill), which he called Madre de Deus (today Engenho Velho), the oldest sugar centre in the region.

Later, with the creation of new sugar mills, Cabo came to represent the economic power of the Province of Pernambuco, a time when sugar cane represented the country’s growth force.

Tourism and Travel Guide to Cabo de Santo Agostinho in Pernambuco