Miraviva

Brazil's Northeast Coast

  • Pipa Ponta Madeiro

    Pipa Ponta Madeiro

  • Dancers in Sao Luis

    Dancers in Sao Luis

  • Lencois Maranhenses

    Lencois Maranhenses

  • Olinda

    Olinda

  • Lencois Maranhenses

    Lencois Maranhenses

  • Olinda Carnival

    Olinda Carnival

New hotels have opened up this extensive coastline

Until recently, many of the beaches and small fishing villages to the north and south of Recife were only visited by backpackers or those with time to explore ‘off the beaten track’.

But over the last few years, major improvements to the coast road and better air transport connections have made the north east coast more accessible and this has resulted in the opening of a number of top class hotels. Initially these targeted the domestic tourist market from Sao Paulo but increasing numbers of European visitors are taking advantage of the fact that Recife is the closest international airport to Europe and are discovering the attractions of this coastline for themselves.

The historic town of Olinda, located immediately to the north of Recife, is another UNESCO World Heritage Site with cobbled streets, brightly coloured houses with artistic murals and colonial churches. It is famous for its annual carnival which is characterized by colourful and noisy street parades and free admission, making it one of the most popular in Brazil.

Much of the coastline is shared with small fishing communities and tourist development has been mostly been sympathetic with small hotels and pousadas set back from the beach amongst the palm trees. Just south of the city of Natal, the town of Pipa has long been popular with surfers and it retains a hip and laid-back cosmopolitan atmosphere. There are a wide range of clothes shops, restaurants and bars and a long stretch of beautiful sandy beach with clear water. However, the Atlantic rollers can be lively at times and swimmers must take care.

For some of the best diving in the world head for Fernando de Noronha, an archipelago of 21 islands some 350 kilometres from the Brazilian coast which is now a marine park where eco-tourism is carefully controlled.

For more information on a tailor-made holiday on the beautiful Northeast coast, give us a call or send us a message.

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