Jequiá da Praia and Marapé Dunes

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Igrejinha colonial – Jequiá da Praia
Little colonial church – Jequiá da Praia

Dunas de Marapé is the municipality of Jequiá da Praia, 65 km from Maceió, with a population of 15 thousand inhabitants. The name Jequiá da Praia comes from an Indian origin meaning “basket with many fish”.

Bathed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Jequiá, Jacarecica and Azeda lagoons, Jequiá da Praia is an ecological retreat that until 1998 belonged to the municipality of São Miguel dos Campos.

The municipality has a rich ecosystem with a lake complex formed by 03 rivers and 07 lagoons. The Jequiá da Praia Lagoon is the third largest lagoon in Brazil.

In the village of Duas Barras, for example, you can watch the spectacular meeting of the Jequiá Lagoon with the ocean or the mangroves.

Dunas de Marapé é palco de encontro do rio Jequiá com mar
Dunes of Marapé is the stage for the meeting of the Jequiá River with the sea

In the village of Lagoa Azeda, the lagoon that lends its name to the region, with vigorous waters that make it difficult to practise nautical sports. The beaches of Pituba and Jacarecica do Sul are practically wild, presenting scenery still little explored by man.

mapa do litoral sul de Alagoas
map of Alagoas south coast

Most tourists come from the capital and need to cross the Jequiá River by boat to reach the tourist complex and the area where the river meets the sea. A place to relax and forget everything.

Barra do Jequiá Beach and Marapé Dunes

Dunas de Marapé
Dunas de Marapé

The tourist complex Dunas de Marapé is another popular destination in Alagoas.

Dunas de Marapé in the region of Duas Barras – municipality of Jequiá da Praia, about 70 km south of the capital Alagoas.

When you talk about Dunas de Marapé, you should immediately imagine a place with huge, high and golden dunes, but in fact, Dunas de Marapé is the name of the tourist complex (restaurant, bar, support structure).

Marapé is a stretch of beach that can only be reached by crossing the Jequiá River by boat. Don’t expect luxuries, the infrastructure of the place is quite simple and rustic, but nature makes up for it.

From the village of Duas Barras, it is possible to do several activities such as: boat trip through the mangrove, take a clay bath, do the Pau-de-Arara circuit through the cliffs, and for the hikers on duty, there is the ecological tour of the Caetés trail.

These are some of the best attractions to enjoy and explore Dunas de Marapé.  Remembering, the sea bath at Duas Barras Beach is good at low tide, when the natural pools of warm and crystalline water are formed. At high tide, the sea gets very rough, so the solution is the river bath.

There are some dunes, but they are small. In addition, the place enchants by the native forest and the meeting of the Jequiá River with the sea.

There are two attractions of the municipality of Jequiá da Praia, 68 kilometres from Maceió and 35 kilometres from Barra de São Miguel.

One attraction is the Barra do Jequia beach, with its white sand and very clean waters – a short distance from the mouth of the Jequiá River, which is also inviting for swimming.

The other attraction of the town is the tourist complex of Dunas de Marapé, where there are dunes and cliffs, and a good structure composed of restaurant, kiosks and pousada.

To get to the Dunas de Marapé tourist complex, take a raft from the beach across the Jequiá River.

mapa turístico das Dunas de Marapé
mapa turístico das Dunas de Marapé
  1. Car parking
  2. Dunas de Marapé Lodge
  3. Viewpoint
  4. Bar on the edge of dunes with live music
  5. Dunes restaurant with seafood self
  6. Arrival point at the harbour for crossing to the Dunas de Marapé complex
  7. Meeting of the river and the sea (happens when the tide is rising)
  8. Little shop Dunas de marapé
  9. Toca do índio ( cool down )
  10. Altar of nossa senhora

Walk through the mangrove

Among the tours in the region that the visitor can do, is the boat trip through the mangrove. You will have the opportunity to have contact with the local vegetation and see the meeting of the river with the sea. It is also possible to learn more about the environment with the guide who will accompany you.

Caetés Trail

A great option for those who value contact with nature is the Caetés Trail. It offers a beautiful landscape and a lot of tranquility. You will be able to learn about the capture of crabs and, in addition, observe more closely the elements of the fauna and flora of the region. At the end of the trail, you can also take a mud bath in the mangrove: many people believe that this practice is surprisingly capable of purifying the body and spirit.

Pau de Arara Circuit

The Pau de Arara Circuit is a tour that leaves from the car park of the Dunas de Marapé complex. The destination is the beach of Jacarecica do Sul: a wild and deserted place, also composed of reddish cliffs that are up to 15 metres high. You can not only take a swim in the sea, but also a lagoon bath at the end of the tour.

Tourism and Travel Guide of Barra de São Miguel, Gunga beach and Jequiá da Praia in Alagoas

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