FOZ DO SÃO FRANCISCO

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.