Travel guide for MARAGOGI, AL

Information

Climate

Maragogi is about nine degrees from the equator with a tropical climate. October to April are the best months to visit. But, the beaches are waiting for you all year round. Rainy season June through August means less sun, but still warm temperatures and ever changing beauty.

Location

I never tire of Maragogi, Alagoas, Brazil and the Coral Coast. The area has 130 Kilometers of tropical reefs and the 22 miles of pristine beaches in Maragogi are on a large lagoon of warm transparent waters. Relaxation is the key to enjoying the many sights and adventures of this unique paradise in Brazil´s Northeast.

Money Issues

As in all Brazil, credit cards are accepted and the local Bank of Brazil office has electronic tellers that take the "Plus" system and dispense Brazilian Reales from your credit and debit cards with a daily max of 1,000 Reales.

How to get there

Recife is the closest international airport. From there one can rent a car, get a car and driver or pick up a bus right on the street that passes the airport. Real Alagoas is the company that has regular service on the coastal road to the next state capitol, Maceio. Its buses pass the airport and stop in Maragogi. Be wary of unknown drivers that offer to take you. For most international travelers, it will be necessary to change planes, but the trip is worth it. From the Recife airport it is less than a two hour drive to Maragogi on a good road. Buses that stop take about 3 hours.

While there

Accomodation

In the municipal area there are three well structured resorts and innumerable small inns (pousadas) that are delightful. A good summary of what Maragogi offers (in Portuguese) can be found at www.maragogi.com. At this same site there is a complete travelogue in English as well as contact information to get more information.

Amusement

In addition to the spectacular beaches and the reefs, there are nature trails and excursions to smaller more deserted beaches south of the municipality. The Visgueiro Tree - Ecological trail just outside Maragogi takes you through lush tropical fruit trees and cane fields to a huge centuries old Visgueiro tree in what remains of the “Mata Atlantica” forest. A tree that nine people are needed to encircle its trunk! At the end of the trail you can refresh yourself at some small waterfalls.

Beaches

The real difference of Maragogi from other Brazilian beach locations is its variety of beaches. It is the combination of long, hard packed dazzling sand beaches and a magnificent tropical reef that frames a wide, transparent lagoon. At low tide, clear pools with tropical fish appear along the reef. The major tourist attraction is a group of pools called the "Galés" that receive catamarans from the City of Maragogi and surrounding cities. Trips to snorkel or scuba dive the reefs can be interspersed by excursions on the wide and secure reefs themselves or a sail (or even fish) on the local “jangada” sailing rafts. The city has eight different beach communities and there are another five nearby small towns that can be visited with their own wonderful beaches, many of them deserted. All are calm and protected waters due to the full reefs that stand far off the coast. Sorry, no surfing here. The least known are the best beaches! One is the only four star beach in this whole region per the famous "Quatro Rodas" Guide of Brazil. It is Patacho just beyond the city of Porto de Pedras. My favorate beach is Antunes and Xareu, north of Maragogi City. Bring water and a snack since these beaches are very rustic. Your hotel or inn can provide several alternatives to get you there. Some of the larger resorts and tourist agencies in Maragogi have catamarans that take you along these beaches, but there are many beach buggies available for these trips as well. Cheaper public transportation with the local vans exists as well.

Not to miss

Venture out from the City to the outlying beaches. See the beach section for some ideas and transportation suggestions. If you are lucky to be in Maragogi at the full or new moon. The few days of very low tides allow you to go to points on the Antunes Beach that allow you to WALK out to the reef and the tropical pools. Use tennis shoes or other appropriate footware to protect against the sea urchens and sharp coral rocks once you get there. Check with your hotel or inn for the tides and with the local fishermen as to when you have to start back. This is THE most unique experience in this region, but requires good sense and care. The reefs are not as fragile as the caribbean variety, so there is much less danger of sharp live coral, but footing can be treacherous. Still, the walk out to the beach is on sand and algas. The pools are amazingly warm and transparent. Stand quietly and watch the small tropical fish of all colors come out from under the surrounding rooks.

Wish it had

For those of you that need to have good English language support, guides and assistance, Maragogi is not the place. A few of the inns (pousadas) have good language services as do some or the resorts. The best bet for English is Katja at the Dolfin Pousada which is a simple, but very friendly guest house. She also speaks fluent German and good Spanish. Maragogi is an easy to reach out of the way paradise. Be aventurous and take advantage of the place.

Impressions

I never tire of Maragogi. It has an ever changing natural beauty dominated by the colors of its wide lagoon and coconut tree lined beaches. Using public transportation and rented beach buggies, you can reach truly deserted beach paradises. It is a great place to relax, walk the beach and to collect lovely shells. At the low tides of the new and full moon it is possible to walk to the reefs in safe shallow water. But, remember to bring beach shoes or sneakers so that you protect your feet!! The small pools formed up on the reef are mini-aquarium that where tropical fish are ever present. I always come back to the beaches of Maragogi and to interact with its happy people. Hope to see you there.