# Maceió: map, what to do and when to go

Capital of Alagoas between the Atlantic and Mundaú Lagoon, with natural pools on the Pajuçara reefs, sailing rafts, the filé lace of Pontal da Barra and the base for Gunga and the Costa dos Corais.

Canonical: https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/maceio/
Language: en. Extended author commentary and itinerary notes may remain in Portuguese. Dates below belong to individual sources; this is not live availability.

## Direct answer
- **Maceió: How do you get from the airport to the waterfront?** The airport is in Rio Largo, about 24 km from the waterfront; in March 2026, a guide estimated a taxi to the waterfront at about R$ 80 and a ride-hailing car at about R$ 50.
- **Maceió: How many days should you stay?** I'd stay four days, built around the tide table: Pajuçara, the city, the south coast with Gunga, and Maragogi.
- **Maceió: How do you do the Galés at Maragogi?** Maragogi is about 130 km north, 2 to 2.5 hours by car, and the catamaran to the Galés only goes out at low tide, between 0.0 and 0.6, and lasts about three hours; book ahead and check the tide before picking the day.

## Pajuçara: natural pools at low tide and the waterfront
The day before, check the tide table for the low tide time and whether it falls below 0.5 m; if it doesn't, swap this day with day 2.
- Pajuçara Natural Pools
- Pajuçara Crafts Fair
- Ponta Verde Beach
- Galés Natural Pools

## Centro, Jaraguá and Pontal da Barra
In the morning, go to the Museu Théo Brandão, on Avenida da Paz, to learn about the folguedos of Alagoas; check the hours first on the UFAL website.
- Pontal da Barra
- Museu Théo Brandão
- Museu Palácio Floriano Peixoto
- Teatro Deodoro

## South coast: Gunga Beach and Praia do Francês
Leave in the morning by car or on a tour along AL-101 Sul toward Roteiro.
- Gunga Beach
- Praia do Francês

## Pajuçara Natural Pools
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/maceio/#g-lugar-piscinas-naturais-pajucara
One to two hours
Over the reefs in front of Pajuçara Beach, low tide leaves pools of clear, shallow water, with small fish, sponges and crustaceans. You get there by sailing raft, leaving from the sand near the crafts fair: the crossing takes 15 to 25 minutes, depending on the wind, and you stay between an hour and an hour and a half, before the tide rises again. The guides recommend going with the tide below 0.5 m and choosing a licensed raft captain, with life jackets for everyone. With strong wind or a rough sea the trip may be canceled. Do not step on the coral or feed the fish.
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## Pajuçara Crafts Fair
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/maceio/#g-lugar-feira-de-artesanato-da-pajucara
Up to half an hour
On Pajuçara's beachfront avenue, the fair brings together stalls of Alagoas crafts, such as filé lace and ceramic pieces, and sweet and savory tapioca. It is the most practical place to see the state's crafts gathered together, and it sits next to where the rafts board.
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## Ponta Verde Beach
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/maceio/#g-lugar-praia-de-ponta-verde
One to two hours
The point between Pajuçara and Jatiúca, with the Ponta Verde Lighthouse, the Marco dos Corais and a waterfront with a bike path for walking or cycling. It is a walk from where the rafts board, which makes it a good beach for the rest of the day after the pools.
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## Pontal da Barra
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/maceio/#g-lugar-pontal-da-barra
Maceió · One to two hours
A neighborhood listed as heritage by the state and the traditional hub of the filé lacemakers, the handmade lace most identified with Alagoas, on the shore of Mundaú Lagoon. From there leave the schooner tours of the lagoon's nine islands, formed by sediment from the Mundaú and Paraíba do Meio rivers. Since the end of 2023, navigation has been banned, indefinitely, on the stretch of the lagoon near the Mutange mine: confirm with the operator whether the tour is running and where it goes.
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## Museu Théo Brandão
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/maceio/#g-lugar-museu-theo-brandao
Maceió · Up to half an hour
The Théo Brandão Museum of Anthropology and Folklore, part of the Federal University of Alagoas, has occupied an eclectic building on Avenida da Paz since 1977. It holds the folk art collection donated by the folklorist Théo Brandão, pieces by Alagoas artists, creations from Alagoas's popular festivals, recordings of regional music and folguedos, and films about the state's folklore traditions. It is a good introduction to Alagoas culture. Check the hours on the UFAL website.
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## Museu Palácio Floriano Peixoto
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/maceio/#g-lugar-museu-palacio-floriano-peixoto
Maceió · Up to half an hour
The former seat of the Alagoas government, in the Centro, holds furniture from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, silverware, crystal and paintings by Rosalvo Ribeiro and other Alagoas artists. Worth it for those already in the Centro; check the hours before going.
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## Teatro Deodoro
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/maceio/#g-lugar-teatro-deodoro
Maceió · Up to half an hour
The state theater, built between 1905 and 1910 and opened on November 15, 1910, has a neoclassical facade with the Latin phrases “Castigat ridendo mores” and “Ars longa, vita brevis.” To see the interior, the best way is to attend a performance from the schedule.
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## Gunga Beach
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/maceio/#g-lugar-praia-do-gunga
Half a day or more
In the municipality of Roteiro, about 35 km from Maceió, Gunga is a white-sand peninsula covered by a large coconut grove, between the calm waters of Roteiro Lagoon and the sea, which is sheltered by reefs at the start of the beach. You get there by car along AL-101 Sul or by speedboat from Barra de São Miguel, on a trip of about an hour with stops at a natural pool and a sandbank. On the beach there are stands and restaurants, with a charge for use of umbrella and chair; by buggy or quad bike you can go to the cliffs, on a route of about 13 km round trip. The Mirante do Gunga, on AL-101, is on private property and charges a small fee.
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## Praia do Francês
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/maceio/#g-lugar-praia-do-frances
Marechal Deodoro · One to two hours
In the municipality of Marechal Deodoro, on the way between Maceió and Gunga. The left end is sheltered by the reefs, with calm sea, natural pools, bars and restaurants; the right side has strong waves and is sought out by surfers.
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## Galés Natural Pools
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/maceio/#g-lugar-piscinas-naturais-gales
Half a day or more
The Galés of Maragogi are reef formations that, at low tide, form natural pools a few kilometers off the coast, inside the Costa dos Corais Environmental Protection Area, managed by ICMBio, where visits are controlled. Maragogi is about 130 km from Maceió by road, 2 to 2.5 hours by car. The catamaran trip takes about three hours in total and only goes out at low tide, between 0.0 and 0.6; in June 2026 it cost R$ 90 to R$ 180 per person, depending on the season and the agency, and there is a per-person conservation fee that sometimes comes included and sometimes is charged separately. Ask what is included, book ahead and check the tide beforehand.
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## Ipioca Beach
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/maceio/#g-lugar-praia-de-ipioca
Half a day or more
On the north coast of the municipality, about 20 km from the Centro, Ipioca has about 8 km of beach with coconut trees, inns and resorts, and the Church of Nossa Senhora do Ó, the second oldest in Alagoas. It makes sense for those with a car who prefer to stay away from the urban waterfront.
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**Maceió: How do you get from the airport to the waterfront?**
The airport is in Rio Largo, about 24 km from the waterfront; in March 2026, a guide estimated a taxi to the waterfront at about R$ 80 and a ride-hailing car at about R$ 50.

**Maceió: How many days should you stay?**
I'd stay four days, built around the tide table: Pajuçara, the city, the south coast with Gunga, and Maragogi. With three days, I'd leave Maragogi for another trip; with two, I'd keep Pajuçara and Gunga.

**Maceió: How do you do the Galés at Maragogi?**
Maragogi is about 130 km north, 2 to 2.5 hours by car, and the catamaran to the Galés only goes out at low tide, between 0.0 and 0.6, and lasts about three hours; book ahead and check the tide before picking the day.

**Maceió: Is the nine-islands tour on Mundaú Lagoon running?**
Since the end of 2023, navigation has been banned, indefinitely, on the stretch of the lagoon near the Mutange mine. Before booking, confirm with the operator that the tour is running and where it goes.

**Maceió: When is the best time to go?**
September to March; April to August brings most of the rain, with May and June the rainiest months, and December to February is the busiest and most expensive season.


## In the Nilo app
- Plan these 4 days on the map: https://nilopelomundo.com/en/app/guide/maceio/?utm_source=llm&utm_medium=markdown&utm_content=door-itinerary
- Mark your hotel on the map: https://nilopelomundo.com/en/app/map/maceio/?utm_source=llm&utm_medium=markdown&utm_content=door-stay

## Full editorial guide (Portuguese)
https://nilopelomundo.com/llm/maceio.md