Genipabu’s dunes, Olinda and Pajuçara’s sailing rafts

A buggy ride over the Genipabu dunes and the Forte dos Reis Magos in Natal; the baroque centre of João Pessoa and the Picãozinho pools at low tide; the Bairro do Recife, Olinda and the Brennand workshops; and Maceió, with a sail raft out to the natural pools of Pajuçara and the beach at Gunga.

Day by day Open the itinerary in the app

Natal → João Pessoa → Recife and Olinda → Maceió · 13–16 days

The route on the map, in the itinerary’s order.

BrazilNatal
Days
3–4
When
Jan · Sep–Dec
Per person/day
Explore costsGuide estimate
Cost scope
Per person per day: accommodation, meals, urban transport, visits and a small allowance for extras. Flights excluded; larger purchases vary. Editorial estimate, not a quote.
BrazilJoão Pessoa
Days
3
When
Sep–Dec
Per person/day
Explore costsGuide estimate
Cost scope
Per person per day: accommodation, meals, urban transport, visits and a small allowance for extras. Flights excluded; larger purchases vary. Editorial estimate, not a quote.
BrazilRecife and Olinda
Days
3–4
When
Oct–Dec
Per person/day
Average 1,110 BRLMid-range · per person/day
Cost scope
Per person per day: accommodation, meals, urban transport, visits and a small allowance for extras. Flights excluded; larger purchases vary. Editorial estimate, not a quote.
BrazilMaceió
Days
4–5
When
Jan–Mar · Sep–Dec
Per person/day
Explore costsGuide estimate
Cost scope
Per person per day: accommodation, meals, urban transport, visits and a small allowance for extras. Flights excluded; larger purchases vary. Editorial estimate, not a quote.

Who it is for

For anyone who wants to drive the coast between four state capitals, with beaches, natural pools and a historic centre at every stop.

Not for anyone travelling from April to July, the rainiest months in all four capitals, peaking in June.

The strategy

The trip runs down the coast from north to south, and a car hired in Natal covers both the legs and the outings beyond the cities; dropping it off in another city usually carries a fee, so check first. Natal to João Pessoa takes two to three hours; João Pessoa to Recife is about 120 km; Recife to Maceió about 260 km on the BR-101, or along the Costa dos Corais through Maragogi. Plan the days around the tide table: Picãozinho, Pajuçara and the Galés of Maragogi only work at low tide, and the Galés need booking. The flight home leaves from Maceió airport, in Rio Largo, about 24 km from the seafront. From September to January there is little rain at all four stops.

What you will see

Forte dos Reis Magos, Natal. The fortress where the city was born.
Centro Cultural São Francisco, João Pessoa. The Franciscan complex includes the Church and Convent of Santo Antônio, the Capela Dourada, a cloister, the Museum of Sacred Art and the churchyard with its cross.
Paço do Frevo, Recife and Olinda. A reference center dedicated to frevo, opened in 2014 on Praça do Arsenal da Marinha, in the Bairro do Recife.
Pajuçara Natural Pools, Maceió. Over the reefs in front of Pajuçara Beach, low tide leaves pools of clear, shallow water, with small fish, sponges and crustaceans.

Day by day