The tourist destinations located in the Northeast of Brazil stand out for their expressive natural and cultural diversity, offering a unique combination of paradisiacal coastlines, exuberant landscapes and a valuable collection of historical heritage.
The North East’s culture is one of the richest and most diverse in the country, the result of the confluence of Indigenous, African and European traditions.
This diversity manifests itself in folkloric expressions, gastronomy, music and popular festivals that reflect not only the historical identity but also the socio-cultural resilience of the local population.
Cultural expressions such as forró, frevo, maracatu and xaxado are recognised as national symbolic heritage, while traditional celebrations such as São Paulo and the Olinda Carnival play an important role, such as São João and the Olinda Carnival, play a central role in the region’s tourism dynamic, attracting visitors from different parts of Brazil and abroad.
In addition to the cultural aspect, the Northeast has established itself as one of the country’s main tourist centres due to its natural wealth. Among the most emblematic destinations are the beaches of Fernando de Noronha, Port de Galinhas and Jericoacoara, as well as inland landscapes of great ecological value, such as the Chapada Diamantina, known for its geological formations and monumental waterfalls.
The northeastern hinterland, characterised by its semi-arid climate, is also important for its landscape and culture, presenting unique elements of rural life and contributing to the understanding of the socio-environmental dynamics of the region..
In terms of historical heritage, cities such as Olinda, São Luís and Salvador concentrate important examples of colonial architecture, religious art and historical urbanism, making them fundamental centres for the study of Brazil’s historical formation. The baroque churches, centuries-old mansions and cobbled streets are material witnesses to the colonial and imperial past, which, together with the hospitality of the people of the Northeast, create a tourist experience that combines memory, identity and belonging.
In this way, the Brazilian Northeast has consolidated itself as a territory of high tourist and cultural relevance, where the vectors of history, nature and popular culture intertwine in a complex and fascinating way.
Video – Main destinations in the North East
Principais Pontos Turísticos do Nordeste
Destinations and Tourist Attractions in the Northeast Region of Brazil
The most popular beaches are
- Arraial d’Ajuda and Morro de São Paulo in Bahia and
- Atalaia and Pirambu in Sergipe.
- Pajuçara and Maragogi in Alagoas.
- Porto de Galinhas and Itamaracá in Pernambuco.
- Cabedelo and Tambaba in Paraíba.
- Genipabu and Pipa in Rio Grande do Norte.
- Jericoacoara and Canoa Quebrada in Ceará .
- Coqueiro and Pedra do Sal of Piauí .
- Curupu and Atins in Maranhão.
- Tambaba, on the coast of Paraíba, was the first official naturist beach in the northeast.
The culture of the Northeast is also a major attraction for tourists, with each state having its own folklore and traditions.
Olinda, São Luís and Pelourinho (Salvador) are the main cultural attractions of the region and are considered World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
Carnival in the Northeast is one of the great attractions of the northeast, especially in the cities of Salvador and Recife.
The Salvador Carnival is the largest folk festival in the world and breaks records with more than 2,700,000 (two million seven hundred thousand) revellers over six days.
During Carnival in Salvador, dozens of Brazil’s most famous singers perform in the Trios Elétricos, such as Ivete Sangalo, Daniela Mercury, Cláudia Leite, Eliana and many others.
The Recife Carnival is considered the most culturally diverse in the country, with its giant puppets, frevo and maracatu and the largest carnival block in the world, the Galo da Madrugada..
It is also considered the most democratic carnival in the world, as revelers don’t have to pay to play.
The Fernando de Noronha Archipelago attracts national and international attention. The islands are home to jumping dolphins.
Another outstanding site is the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, a complex of dunes, rivers, lagoons and mangroves.
In Bahia, you’ll find the Costa do Sauípe, Brazil’s largest tourist complex, and the Abrolhos Archipelago, which offers excellent snorkelling and diving, as well as attractions such as the humpback whale season, which begins in July.
Piauí is home to the Sete Cidades, Serra das Confusões and Serra da Capivara national parks, with their rock formations and cave paintings, and the Parnaíba Delta on the coast.
Other highlights include the world’s largest cashew tree and the Fort Reis Magos, both in Rio Grande do Norte.
Ecotourism in the Northeast is still little explored, but has great potential.
Nevertheless, four of Brazil’s top ten ecotourism destinations are located in the Northeast of Brazil, where you can choose from islands(Fernando de Noronha Archipelago in Pernambuco), Dunes(Lençóis Maranhenses in Maranhão), high altitude Atlantic rainforest(Chapada Diamantina in Bahia) and archaeology in the caatinga(Serra da Capivara National Park in Piauí).
The Culture of the Northeastern Region is also a tourist attraction.
All the northeastern states have different folklore and traditions.
- Olinda, in Pernambuco, with traces of Dutch Brazil.
- São Luís, in Maranhão, with traces of Equinoctial France.
- São Cristóvão, in Sergipe, and its Praça de São Francisco, surrounded by imposing historic buildings.
- Salvador, in Bahia, with the remains of the political and administrative centre of colonial Brazil.
- Porto Seguro and Santa Cruz de Cabrália, also in Bahia, with the historical marks of the arrival of the squadrons that discovered Brazil..
These are some of the main historical and cultural attractions of the region, the first four of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The Barra neighbourhood in Salvador(BA) is home to the Barra Lighthouse, one of the most famous postcards in Brazil and the most famous postcard in the Northeast.
The Barra Lighthouse in Salvador has a unique geographical location on the planet, where you can see both sunrise and sunset over the sea, as it occupies the tip of the peninsula on which the city stands.
Gastronomy and Cuisine is one of the great attractions of the region.
The Cuisine of Bahia, the best known in Brazil (though not the most consumed), is that produced in the Recôncavo and along the entire coast of Bahia.
It is based on spices, with a strong seasoning based on palm oil, coconut milk, ginger, chilli peppers of different qualities and many others not used in other Brazilian states.
Some of the main dishes of Bahian cuisine are Acarajé, Abará, Caruru and Vatapá.
The cuisine of Paraiba is also well known.
Most Paraiba dishes are based on manioc and sugar cane, such as tapioca, rice pudding and sweet chorizo.
Bahia’s coastline
Bahia has the largest percentage of Brazil’s coastline, with 932 kilometres, or 12.4% of the total.
On the Bahian Coast, the Baía de Todos os Santos (Bay of All Saints ) is the largest Brazilian bay, measuring 1.5 km.The Bay of Aratu is an immense inlet that is home to the Port of Aratu, a shipyard, two of the ten most luxurious marinas in Latin America (Aratu Yacht Club and Marina Aratu) and the Aratu Naval Base, the favourite retreat of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Camamu Bay, Brazil’s third largest bay, is also a highlight. It has historical and tourist sites such as Barra Grande, Camamu and Maraú.
The Toca do Marlin Hotel, the first six-star hotel in Latin America, is located in Santa Cruz Cabrália(BA), at a strategic and exuberant point in the nature of this region, considered one of the most beautiful on the Brazilian and American coasts.
The Costa do Sauípe, located on the coast of Bahia, is the largest tourist complex in Brazil and one of the largest in Latin America.
See more in the menu above under “Bahia Tourism Guide” and “Northeast Tourism Guide“.
Northeast Tourism – Northeast Cities and Tourist Regions
