Things to see and do Sergipe And Alagoas

The Praia Pataxo is without doubt one of the most beautiful in the country. Clear sand, translucent waters and coconut trees as far as the eye can see make up the decor. For the moment, the place is spared by mass tourism. There are no groups coming from Maceió to spend the day there, the beach is rather quiet and not very populated. During low tides, natural pools are formed and the swimming is irresistible. If you stay there during the day, bring something to eat and drink (restaurants only in the pousadas Xue and Patacho).

The natural pools are one of the major tourist attractions of the Alagoas coastal fringe. Natural pools 1 km from the coast are formed at low tide. They can be reached by jangada, a kind of boat, here with motor, in 15 minutes. The waters are translucent and the place is not invaded by tourists. It really feels like diving into waters forgotten by civilization. Take a mask and a snorkel to dive near the reefs. The best ones are in Praia do Toque and São Miguel.

Going to a market is a great way to get a few snapshots of local life. Traditions and lifestyles are on display in the open air. Here, on one side, you have the most popular handicraft market with typical products for sale: ceramics, embroidery, straw objects, hammocks... The prices are very attractive! On the other side of the square you will find the fruit and vegetable market, also very nice.

The Praça São Francisco is a must in Aracaju. It is the symbol of the city. Since 2010 the square is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a group of several public and private buildings built at the time when the Portuguese and Spanish crowns were united, between 1580 and 1640, but also remarkable buildings of the 18th and 19th centuries. One can admire the Igreja do Convento de São Francisco and its museum of sacred art, or the former Palácio Provincial now transformed into a historical museum.

The name of this river and of the small village of the same name comes from an Amerindian word meaning "little armadillo". With a little luck, the excursion on the Rio Tatuamunha will allow you to observe the beautiful peixes-bois (manatees), famous in the region. The excursion to Tatuamunha is one of the most beautiful in the region, as it takes you to the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. It offers you a beautiful view of the Coral Coast and its vegetation of coconut and mango trees. The mouth of the river, called "boca do rio" offers a delightful spectacle.

It's a nice tour of historical places and beautiful coconut beaches in the middle of the greenery. The most popular excursion is the one that takes you to the other side of the river, towards Japaratinga. You can also go there to see the sunset on the Manguaba river. You can start this beautiful walk at the beach of Bitingui and walk about 1h30 passing by the beaches of Barreiras do Boqueirão (where there are several restaurants on the seaside), Boqueirão (more deserted) and Pontal, finally, where the beach meets the river Manguaba.

One of the attractions of this small state of the Nordeste is certainly its magnificent natural pools. During low tides, it is enough to go on one of the jangadas (kind of sailing boats) which are at the edge of the beach, directed by local fishermen, to go to the natural swimming pools of Pajuçara a little further in the sea. The transparent water makes us think we are immersed in a large pool, surrounded by multicolored fish. It's a pity that we are not the only ones to enjoy the idyllic setting...

The São Francisco River has a strong symbolic importance in Brazil, it is called the "River of National Unity" in memory of the time, during the Second World War, when the only way to transport food and manufactured goods between the south and the north of the country was to use the blue waters of the river, as the maritime routes were cut off by German U-boats, Brazil having chosen to side with the Allies.

Known as the Velho Chico, the river rises in Minas Gerais and flows through the states of Bahia, Pernambuco, Sergipe and Alagoas. Between these last two states is the mouth of the São Francisco River and the trip is worthwhile for those staying in either state. The trip begins with a journey from Maceio to Pitaçabu (140 km), in the south of the state, from where the boats leave for the mouth of the river. Stops for swimming and for admiring the landscape are planned. For those who spend their holidays in Maceió, for example, it is easier to go to the town of Piaçabuçu, in the Alagoas, from where the boat trips to the meeting of the waters depart.

The scenery along the river is beautiful and makes for an outdoor excursion. During the trip, it is possible to observe the beautiful forest and the local communities that live from fishing. The meeting of the waters is not as spectacular as that of the Rio Negro and the Solimões, because the river and the sea do not have such different colors, but the place has a unique beauty.

The Galès are one of the major attractions of this coral coast which runs from the state of Sergipe to Pernambuco. These natural pools, the galés, are located 6 km from the coast and can be reached in 25 minutes by catamaran (departures every hour from the docks, masks and snorkels provided). They are real natural aquariums with fish, shellfish, molluscs and corals that can be seen in the clear waters. The excursions last about 2 hours. Preferably at low tide and in the early hours of the morning. The waters are even clearer in the summer.

Located in this historic village, the Igreja do Convento de São Francisco, which dates from 1693, houses the small Museu de Arte Sacra, a collection of sacred art considered the third most important in Brazil, with about 500 objects on display. Some of the pieces are of great finesse. Lovers of sacred art will appreciate this beautiful work. The cloister of the convent is also worth seeing. For a little, one would think of Olinda or Salvador de Bahia.

The oldest museum in Sergipe has a rich and diverse collection of objects and relics important in the history of the State of Sergipe. Paintings, art objects and historical documents are on display. There are furniture from the 19th and 20th centuries, various paintings, busts of Sergipe personalities, coin collections, as well as rare objects and photos of "cangaço" characters (honorary bandits from the Nordeste like Lampiao).

The city has some very nice beaches in its surroundings. The urban beaches are polluted and swimming is not recommended. If you can't go too far away, go to Ponta Verde (5 km away) and Jatiúca (6 km away). These beautiful beaches are very popular. By bus: take direction Riacho Doce (North).

To the north: Go even further north, there is plenty to choose from: Jacarecica (9 km), Guaxuma (12 km), Garça Torta (15 km), Pratagi (17 km), terminus at Riacho Doce (16 km).

To the south: Praia do Francês and Barra de São Miguel, sublime!

The quilombo of Palmares is a major place in post-colonial Brazil. The curious traveller who passes through Salvador cannot miss the statue of the "hero" of negritude: Zumbi de Palmares, an African king enslaved in Brazil. He managed to escape with many maroons and built a city in the northern hinterland. From the beginning of the 17th century, the slaves who managed to escape from the fazendas (farms) and engenhos (small sugar cane processing factories) began to gather in safe places where they could move freely, these communities are known as quilombos.

The largest and most famous quilombo in Brazil, the one "governed" by Zumbi dos Palmares, was established in the Serra da Barriga, 80 km from Maceió. It brought together runaway slaves, Indians and a few outcast whites, who resisted fiercely for almost 100 years, like the Canudos rebels not far from here, before finally being wiped out by the Portuguese crown army in 1694. The story goes that Zumbi fell after being betrayed by one of his own.

Unfortunately, the remains of the quilombo are not promoted: no guards, no means, and you will have to rent a vehicle. On the spot, guides offer, "voluntarily", to guide you. More than a visit, it is a small adventure for those who are particularly interested in this page of Brazilian history.

Housed in a beautifully restored colonial building, this museum is named after a doctor who bequeathed to the University of Alagoas his collection of an infinite number of handicrafts from popular culture. This museum is dedicated to anthropology and regional folklore, of infinite richness. Popular toys, objects made of vegetable fiber (caçuás, baskets, abanos, hats, etc.), utilitarian ceramics from the Kariri Xocó ethnic group, from Alagoas, pieces of the Afro-Brazilian cult, elements of popular Catholicism, lace and embroidery

The museum of the Historical and Geographical Institute of Alagoas is located in the city centre of Maceió. It exhibits to the public part of the historical, archaeological and ethnographic collection of the institute. This museum offers a collection focused on the culture of the natives: ornaments, bows and arrows, native accessories and weapons that belonged to the bandit Lampião... an interesting journey through time, too bad that the place suffers from a cruel lack of maintenance.

Aracaju is a destination that offers many pleasant beaches, suitable for swimming or surfing, for the more athletic. There are urban beaches south of the city center: Praia dos artistas, 7 km away, with its waves suitable for surfing, is nicknamed "Havaizinho", the little Hawaii. But also Praia Atalaia, at 9 km, Praia Aruana, at 11 km, Praia do Robalo, at 13 km...

The further you go down, the more quiet and preserved they are, like Praia do Refugio (18 km from the center), the wildest of all.

The José Inacio Art and Culture Centre is a beautiful pavilion that houses an exhibition of local crafts. This space was named after the artist José Inacio de Oliveira, known by his pseudonym José Inacio. You can admire the works of José Roberto Freitas or Beto Pezão, who make figurines with huge feet. All the local crafts are represented: hammocks, sculpture, traditional pottery, calabash dolls... Unfortunately the space is underused.

This large building seems to observe the coast of Alagoas. Built in the 20th century, and located on the Nossa Senhora da Piedade hill in the town of Porto de Pedras, this lighthouse offers a beautiful view of the Coral Coast, especially at sunset. The structure of the Porto de Pedras lighthouse is a truncated reinforced concrete tower, with white and black horizontal stripes, 90 meters high and 36 meters in focal height. It was inaugurated in 1933. It was the first lighthouse to operate with an acetylene gas system. It was electrified in 1973.

The boats leave from Piaçabuçu, the last village before the river meets the sea. Known as the Velho Chico, the river originates in Minas Gerais and flows through the states of Bahia, Pernambuco, Sergipe and Alagoas. Between these last two states is the mouth of the São Francisco River and the trip is worthwhile for those who stay in one of these two states. The landscape, superb, is made of dunes and lagoons. On the program, short breaks for swimming and lunch. The movie "Espelho d'agua" sublimates these landscapes.