Beach sights in The Northeast
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Ponta Negra
Ponta Negra, at the far south end of the city, is the nicest beach in Natal - nearly 3km long and full of hotels, pousadas, restaurants, beach bars, surfers and sailing boats. On weekends it gets pretty packed: the northern part of the beach, with its pedestrian-only walkway, is less crowded. The surf here is consistent if small: you can rent boards from a few places along the beach for around R$25 a day. At the south end of the beach is Morro da Careca, a spectacularly high sand dune with a steep face that drops straight into the sea. Access to the dune has been closed off to prevent further erosion and damage to the primary Atlantic rain forest that covers it.
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Beaches
The waters of Morro's four conveniently named main beaches are mostly calm, shallow and warm, and their sands are narrow and swallowed by the high tides.
Tiny Primeira Praia is lined with pousadas and has a decent surf break. Deep Segunda Praia (500m) is the 'action' beach with pousadas, restaurants, nightclubs and a sea of tables and chairs. Pousadas and anchored boats dominate one end of Terceira Praia (1km). Once you pass a pair of restaurants, Quarta Praia (2km) is a long, lovely stretch of sand graced by tall, swaying palms. For even more isolated peace, continue on at low tide to Praia do Encanto (5km) or further down the island to Garapuá, which has one pousada.
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Praia do Futuro
Fortaleza's best beach, Praia do Futuro is a clean length of sand that stretches 5km (3.1mi) south along Av Dioguinho to the Clube Caça e Pesca (Hunting and Fishing Club). It is easily the city's best beach, though it's a fair way from most hotels. Barracas (kiosks) serving crab and beer line the beach, which gets packed on weekends. It doesn't start getting really nice until you're at least 1km (0.6mi) away from the industrial port.
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Praia de Ponta Verde
The most popular and beautiful of the city beaches is Praia de Ponta Verde. Protected by an offshore coral reef, Maceió's ocean waters are calm and a deep emerald color.
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Beaches
Separating the peninsula from the mainland is the island-riddled Baía de Camamu, Brazil's third-largest bay. One long, dirt road (often impassable after rain) heads down the peninsula, providing access to stunning beaches with crystal-clear water, such as Praia Taipús de Fora (7km, rated among Brazil's top beaches), and a handful of very small fishing villages. Pricey excursions to Lagoa Azul, viewpoints, bay islands and down the Rio Maraú are offered by local providers.
Other lovely destinations are accessible on foot. At the base of the village lies the 2km-long Barra Grande beach, where the calm waters are fine for swimming. A short walk along the beach leads to the…
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Beaches
The coast south of Itacaré is characterized by rough surf (better for surfing than swimming) and cove beaches separated by hills covered with rain forest. Some beaches, such as idyllic Prainha (reachable by trail from Praia do Ribeira), are private and charge entrance fees. Praia da Concha is an ordinary city beach. Resende, Tiririca and Ribeira beaches lie within 1.5km south of town and are frequented by surfers.
Highly recommended are the paradisiacal Engenhoca, Havaizinho and Itacarezinho beaches, 12km south of town.
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Porto Seguro Bay
North of town is one long bay dotted with barracas and clubs with invisible divisions creating Praia Curuípe (3km), Praia Itacimirim (4km), Praia Mundaí (6km) and Praia Taperapuã (7km). The sands are white and fluffy, backed by green vegetation and lapped by a tranquil sea. Tôa Tôa (Praia de Taperapuã), Axé Moi (Praia Mundaí) and Barramares (Praia de Taperapuã) are the biggest beach clubs and all have MCs and dancers leading crowds through popular dances.
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Beaches
Praia Mucugê is Arraial's main tourist beach and is crowded with barracas and blasted by music. As you continue south, Praia do Parracho is also built up, but with beach clubs and a few condominium complexes. Both of these beaches are sheltered by offshore reefs. Around the point, beautiful Praia Pitinga has red striped sandstone cliffs, pretty, calm waters and a few barracas. South of Pitinga, Praia da Lagoa Azul and Praia Taípe are backed by tall cliffs, and face stronger waves.
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Beaches
Praia Ponta da Areia (2km north of Bom Despacho) is a thin strip of sand with clear, shallow water, and with barracas serving good seafood. Praia da Penha (10km south of Bom Despacho) has excellent views of Salvador. Praia Barra Grande (7km further south) is Itaparica's finest public beach with clear water and weekend homes, and lies in front of its namesake village. Bahians, who love a beach with lots of people on it, consider Praia Cacha Pregos (20km further south) the island's best.
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Praia Porto da Barra beach
Praia Porto da Barra beach is rather like the Pelourinho: small, picturesque, usually crowded, loaded with vendors selling everything imaginable, and roughly half those present are foreigners. The bay's waters are clear and calm, and the people-watching is fantastic. To the left of the lighthouse, Praia do Farol da Barra has a beach break popular with surfers. Barra's waterfront is lined with bars and restaurants and is well lit at night, but it gets a bit sleazy in the later hours.
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Beaches
City beaches are dirty. Your best bet is to head south, but even then you'll find that area's beaches are best for a futebol game (broad and flat), and it takes kilometers for the water to lose the muddy color of the river outflow. Praia dos Milionários (7km) has some barracas and is popular with locals, as is the prettier Praia Cururupe (12km), where a small river curves into the sea.
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Beaches
When the locals go to the beach, most head north for Praia Grauçá (10km) or the more isolated Praia Iemanjá (20km). Both have calm water colored brown with river silt. Reachable by boat are Praia Pontal do Sul (across Rio Caravelas) and the island beach Coroa da Barra (30 minutes offshore).
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Praia de Calhau
The best local beach, Praia de Calhau , is broad and attractive, with hard-packed sand perfect for soccer games. It is popular on weekends. The large circular barracas along the beach cater to late-night partiers throughout the week. The calm far end of the beach is known as Praia do Caolho.
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Barra Velha
Horseback riding along the beach to Barra Velha, the Pataxó Indian village, is an option if walking or boating the 6km isn't appealing. When going to the village, bring lots of water and small bills. On April 19 the village celebrates the Festa do Indio with traditional games and dancing.
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Beach
The town ends at the edge of an enormous expanse of tall white sand dunes, beyond which the wide flat sands of the Bahian coast stretch to the south. It's about a 1½km walk to the ocean (or a R$10 dune-buggy ride), which has a handful of simple barracas strung with hammocks.
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Praia do Espelho
Rated among Brazil's top-10 beaches, Praia do Espelho is 27km south of Trancoso and 14km north of Caraíva. Protective offshore reefs create calm, warm, transparent waters, while reefs closer to shore create natural pools at low tide. The shore is thick with coconut palms.
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Praia do Espelho
Rated among Brazil's top-10 beaches, Praia do Espelho is 14km north of Caraíva. Protective offshore reefs create calm, warm, transparent waters, while reefs closer to shore create natural pools at low tide. The shore is thick with coconut palms.
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Boa Viagem
The only beach worth visiting in Recife is at Boa Viagem. It's a busy urban beach, packed on weekends and a good place to watch or play beach sports, but very few people enter the water, which is unclean and subject to shark attacks.
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Peninsula de Maraú
The principal excursion offered by travel agencies is up the Peninsula de Maraú, with stops at Lagoa Azul and Praia Taipús de Fora. A word of advice: maximize your comfort by assuring that the vehicle's seats face forward.
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Praia da Barreira d'Água
South of the lighthouse, the coast road Via Costeira continues 7km south to Ponta Negra, passing the calm Praia da Barreira d'Água with its resort hotels.
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Praia dos Artistas
Praia dos Artistas is an urban beach with good surfing waves. It used to be the hub of Natal nightlife but is now pretty sketchy after dark.
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Praia Ponta D'Areia
Praia Ponta D'Areia is the closest beach to the center and is the busiest, with bars and restaurants for beach food. It can be polluted.
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Praia São Marcos
Two kilometers past Praia Ponta D'Areia, Praia São Marcos is frequented by younger groups and popular with surfers.
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Praia Olho d'Água
Praia Olho d'Água has plenty of houses and kiosks and is backed by cliffs and dunes.
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Praia do Meio
Praia do Meio , is an urban beach with reefs and a lot of people getting drunk.
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