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Maceió, the capital of Alagoas, is bathed by lagoons and a sea that mixes turquoise blue and emerald green.

The name Maceió has a Tupi origin, its name means “what covers the swamp”.

Historians claim that the capital of the State of Alagoas was born from a old sugar mill, in the 18th century.

For others, its emergence is linked to a small fishing village.

Its cuisine is a mixture of the traditions of the Indians, the Portuguese colonisers and the Africans.

The Indians, the first inhabitants of the place, left the tradition of tapioca much appreciated at breakfast and in the late afternoon throughout the coast of Maceió in Alagoas;

Just a few metres from the hotel, depending on your location, turquoise water beaches show themselves without much effort, in Maceió, one of the most populous northeastern capitals. The 40 kilometres long coastline is divided into north and south.

But it is on the main shore of Maceió that the three most famous urban beaches of the destination are located, such as the obligatory Pajuçara, known for the raft trips to the natural pools that are two kilometres from the coast.

The marvellous trio is completed with the sandy strips of Jatiúca and Ponta Verde, an area for practising sports such as kayaking, windsurfing and stand-up paddle.

Not to mention the warm waters that, at low tide, form natural pools, protected by reefs, a few metres from the beach. But tourism in Maceió goes far beyond the salty waters.

The state is also known for its lagoons, hence the origin of the name Alagoas.

And it is from Maceió that the main ones are known.

The Mundaú-Manguaba complex, in the centre-south of the Metropolitan Region of Maceió, is an estuary that houses channels and islands that can be visited on tours such as the traditional ‘9 Islands’, which stops at freshwater beaches.

And, on the way back, there is still time to get lost in the shops with fillet embroidery, Intangible Cultural Heritage of Alagoas, in Pontal da Barra, where the tours leave.

Maceió Tourist Attractions

1. Beaches in and around Maceió

1.1. Main Street

Urban and with an excellent tourist structure, this six-kilometre sector is home to the city’s most popular beaches, such as Pajuçara, Ponta Verde; and the surfer Jatiúca, where the bustling gastronomic hub of the Stella Maris neighbourhood is located.

Surfers also meet at Cruz das Almas, a beach with strong waves, in the north of the city.

1.2. North Coast of Maceió

One of the highlights is Ipioca, a neighbourhood 24 kilometres from Maceió, known for its calm and warm waters, where the Mirante de Ipioca and the historic Church of Nossa Senhora do Ó, recently restored, are also located.

The northern stretch of the Maceio coast also includes Jacarecica, Guaxuma, Garça Torta, Riacho Doce, Praia da Sereia, whose rock formation between the beach and the rough sea guarantees natural pools, and Pratagi, wilder and without tourist structure.

1.3. South Coast of Maceió

Sandbanks such as Sobral and Pontal da Barra are some of the best-known sandbanks, although not very popular with tourists. Pontal da Barra is famous for the work of its lace makers and for the ‘9 Islands’ walk, in the Mundaú and Manguaba lagoons (see below).

1.4. Municipality of Marechal Deodoro

Praia do Francês is one of the most famous strips of sand among tourists visiting Maceió.

Located in the municipality Marechal Deodoro, 18 km south of the city, this beach is known for the natural pools that form with the coral reef that lies in front.

On site it is possible to snorkel, stand-up paddle, surf in the right corner of the beach and even ride on a boat with a glass bottom (Barco Cristal) that allows tourists to follow the marine life during the trip (this outsourced service can be hired at the receptive agencies that operate in Praia do Francês).

With a depth of up to 10 metres, the Canal do Francês also allows for beach dives with a cylinder, among rock formations and wrecks of small fishing boats. The recommended season for diving there is from December to May.

1.5. Gunga Beach

Located on peninsula in Roteiro, a town 31 km from Maceió, the Praia do Gunga is one of the most beautiful beaches on the Alagoas coast, where you can take buggy rides to the cliffs and nautical activities such as banana boat and raft rides to the reefs.

This well-structured beach can be combined with a visit to the neighbouring municipality of Barra de São Miguel, from where boats leave for Praia do Gunga, a 20-minute trip.

A coral reef in front of the beach is responsible for the natural pools of Barra, in the municipality of the same name.

2. Maceió Municipal Park

The Parque Municipal de Maceió is located in Bebedouro, one of the oldest neighbourhoods in the city, on the banks of the Mundaú Lagoon.

There are 84 hectares of preserved Atlantic Forest and five trails open to the public.

The Municipal Park of Maceió, inaugurated in 1978, has an area of 82.4 hectares. In the place, the fauna makes the biological diversity worthwhile, and the visitor can have the pleasure of seeing Jacarés-de-papo-amarelo, Frangos d’água, Raposas, Preguiças,  Ball armadillos, Bearded tortoises, Parrots, Hawks Hawks, Ewls, Mirim tamarins, a variety of cobra, as well as other animals.

Rua Marquês de Abrantes, s/n – Bebedouro / Maceió. From Tue to Sun from 8am to 5pm. Tel: (82) 9 8801- 3651.

3. Dives in Maceió

With visibility that can reach 30 metres and in waters at 27 degrees, the dives in Maceió take place at four different points.

The experience ranges from the Piscina do Amor (5 metres deep and aimed at baptisms and beginners) to technical dives at 65 metres.

Highlights include the Draguinha, Dragão and Sequipe wrecks, at 30 metres deep, an hour’s sail from the coast.

According to a diving instructor from Let’s Dive, the dives in Maceió are characterised by the calmest sea and no incidence of winds. “In terms of shore diving, it is one of the best in Brazil,” says Fernanda.

The best time for diving is from November to March. During the winter, especially between June and August, the sea has low visibility due to winds, rains and choppy waters. Read more: www.letsdive.com.br

4. Lagoons

4.1. Mundaú Lagoon

Between the municipalities of Maceió, Coqueiro Seco and Santa Luzia do Norte, this 23 km² lagoon stands out for its mangroves and channels that form several islands.

The archipelago can be visited on the guided tour “Nove Ilhas“, a tour to see the sunset, aboard schooners that leave from the Pontal da Barra neighbourhood, on the border with Marechal Deodoro, and stop for landings at Prainha, Ilha do Paraíso (former Ilha do Carlito) and also at Lagoa Manguaba.

4.2. Manguaba Lagoon

Located 18 kilometres south of Maceió, the municipality of Marechal Deodoro is also home to the Manguaba Lagoon, which recently gained a new waterfront equipped with bars and restaurants.

It is from the largest lagoon in the state that tourists can take walking tours of the colonial architectural complex of Marechal Deodoro, whose oldest buildings date from the 17th century.

Highlights include the Museum of Sacred Art, in the Convent of São Francisco; the Mother Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição, in rococo style; and the Marechal Deodoro House Museum, residence of the first president of Brazil 

5. Crafts

5.1. Craft Market

The crafts market is considered one of the biggest references in the subject, in the whole state of Alagoas, this market houses 250 boxes, where Alagoan pieces in leather, wood and lace are commercialised, among others.

5.2. Pontal da Barra

To the south of Maceió and with waters less suitable for bathing, the neighbourhood is known for the shops that sell the traditional fillet embroidery, handicraft work inspired by the braiding of fishermen’s nets and declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Alagoas.

Pieces such as towels and clothes can be found in several streets of the neighbourhood, where there are workshops and shops run by local lace makers, also known as filezeiras.

In the neighbourhood, where the largest concentration of shops of this kind is on Rua Alípio Barbosa da Silva, it is also possible to find pieces in cross-stitch, fibre and straw braids, and wood art. Learn more: www.inbordal.org.br

6. Galeria Karandash

The artists Dalton Costa and Maria Amélia Vieira are responsible for the collection of about two thousand pieces of contemporary and popular arts from all over Brazil, with emphasis on Alagoas production, such as drawings, engravings and paintings.

Karandash Gallery Av. Moreira e Silva (Ladeira dos Martírios), 89 (Farol – Maceió)

7. Circling around Maceió

To get to the neighbouring municipality of Marechal Deodoro, where Praia do Francês is located, the best option is to take a tour from an agency that usually includes this famous stretch of sand in its itinerary (www.wstur.com.br / www.luckreceptivo.com.br).

For those who want more autonomy, this town 20 kilometres from Maceió, can be accessed by AL-101, about 30 minutes by car. In Maceió, Silvio Viana Avenue, in Ponta Verde Beach, is closed to cars and can be used for walking and sports, on Sundays, from 8am to 3pm.

When to go to Maceió

As in the entire Northeast, summer is the best time to visit the city, although prices are higher and attractions are more crowded.

Avoid the rainy season, which usually runs from June to August, when winds and rains can spoil the tours and leave the waters stirred, compromising diving and nautical tours.

Tourism and Travel Guide for Maceió and Alagoas