Itamaracá Island: Your Ultimate Guide to Tropical Bliss in Brazil

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Itamaracá Island offers beaches with calm waters and natural pools.

Ilha de Itamaracá is a charming tourist destination located off the coast of the state of Pernambuco in Brazil. Known for its natural and historical beauty, the island offers a variety of attractions for all types of visitors.

About 50 kilometres from Recife, the island offers tourists beaches with calm waters, coconut palms, natural pools, reefs and sandbanks. It is also popular for water sports.

Forte Orange na Ilha de Itamaracá
Forte Orange na Ilha de Itamaracá

Video about Itamaracá Island

mapa da Ilha de Itamaracá
mapa da Ilha de Itamaracá

Activities and tourist attractions on Itamaracá Island

1. Beaches

  • Praia do Forte Orange: One of the most famous beaches on the island, with calm waters and white sand. It is ideal for families and offers several options of beach huts and restaurants.
  • Praia do Sossego: A quieter and less busy spot, perfect for those looking to relax in a more private setting.
  • Praia de Jaguaribe: Known for its natural pools that form during low tide, this is a great place for swimming and snorkelling.

2. Fort Orange

One of the island’s main historical attractions, Fort Orange was built by the Dutch in the 17th century and later rebuilt by the Portuguese. In addition to its historical value, it offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the region.

3. Vila Velha Historic Centre

This small village offers a glimpse into the island’s colonial past, with its colourful houses and cobbled streets. It’s a great place to walk around and take photos.

In Vila Velha, a town that arose in the 16th century and was the administrative seat of the captaincy of Itamaracá, you can see a cluster of simple masonry houses, built near the old church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição (Rua João Paulo II, s/n), and the ruins of what would have been the church of Nossa Senhora dos Pretos.

As the site is elevated, you can see the sea, the Santa Cruz canal and the Coroa do Avião.

Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Conceição da ILHA DE ITAMARACÁ
Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Conceição

4. Manatee Project

A manatee rehabilitation and conservation centre where visitors can learn about this endangered species and see some specimens up close.

Projeto Peixe-Boi na Ilha de Itamaracá PE
Projeto Peixe-Boi

5. Coroa do Avião Island

A small island near Itamaracá, accessible by boat. It is famous for its crystal-clear waters and is a great place for water sports such as kitesurfing. The island is part of the municipality of Igarassu.

It consists of a sandbank that was formed by sea currents and is currently home to the Federal University of Pernambuco’s Station for the Study of Migratory Birds and Environmental Resources, as well as small stalls serving regional food.

Coroa do Avião na Ilha de Itamaracá
Coroa do Avião

6. Trails and Ecotourism

Itamaracá Island also offers several ecological trails that allow you to explore the region’s rich biodiversity, including mangroves and restinga areas.

7. Local Gastronomy

Itamaracá’s cuisine is rich in seafood. Try local dishes such as peixadas, moquecas and crab. The seafront restaurants are excellent places to sample the regional cuisine.

8. Cultural events

The island hosts various popular festivals and cultural events throughout the year, including traditional celebrations and music festivals.

How to get there

Itamaracá Island is located around 50 kilometres from the capital Recife, and is easily accessible by road. It is also possible to reach the island by boat from specific points in the region.

Travelling Tips

  • Best Time to Visit: The best time to visit is during the dry season, from September to March, when the weather is more favourable for enjoying the beaches and outdoor activities.
  • Accommodation: The island offers a variety of accommodation options, from simple inns to more sophisticated hotels.

Itamaracá Island is a destination that combines natural beauty, history and culture, providing an unforgettable experience for its visitors.

History of Itamaracá Island

The island of Itamaracá once gave its name to one of Brazil’s hereditary captaincies and was the scene of colonial disputes in the 17th century – when Dutch invaders built Fort Orange, but were eventually expelled by the Portuguese.

Forte Orange na Ilha de Itamaracá
Forte Orange

Today, Itamaracá is home to the Peixe-Boi & Cia Ecopark, an important marine animal protection park and is undergoing a process of economic and tourist development (the three penitentiary units installed on the island are being deactivated).

The first inhabitants were shipwrecked and there are also records of the passage of the Portuguese João Coelho da Porta da Cruz and Duarte Pacheco Pereira, in 1493 and 1498 respectively.

Mapa Turistico da Ilha de Itamaracá
Mapa Turistico da Ilha de Itamaracá

In 1526, there was already a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of the Conception, under the responsibility of Father Francisco Garcia, in Vila Velha, located on the left bank of the Santa Cruz Channel.

The island prospered in the shadow of the sugar economy. In 1630, Vila Velha had a hundred houses and a Holy House of Mercy.

The Dutch invaded the island in 1631 and built Fort Orange there, at the southern entrance to the Santa Cruz channel, made of rammed earth.

The fort was named in honour of Dutch Prince Frederick Henry of Orange, Maurício de Nassau’s uncle. Itamaracá Island served as a granary for the Dutch. Later, the fort was renamed Forte de Santa Cruz, once under Portuguese rule.

In 1763, King João V bought the island for the Portuguese Crown for 4,000 cruzados.

The district was created on 1 May 1866 by Provincial Law 676. The emancipation of the island of Itamaracá took place in 1959, but was only realised in March 1962.

The municipality is currently based in Pilar, which was elevated to the category of town in 1831.

See also – The North Coast of Pernambuco has one of the most important historical sites in the region

Geography of Itamaracá Island

The municipality is located in the geoenvironmental unit of the Northeast Coastal Lowlands, with sandbanks and mangroves. The native vegetation is composed of evergreen and restinga forests.

Itamaracá is part of the group of small coastal river basins. Its main tributaries are the Paripe and Jaguaribe rivers. The watercourses are perennial and small. It also has the Pai Tomé lagoon.

Tourist Guide to Itamaracá Island in Pernambuco and the Northeast