Brazil's North-East Region
The Ultimate Brazil Travel Guide: Porto de Galinhas
Snorkel in Porto de Galinhas' famous natural tide pools teeming with colorful marine life
Porto de Galinhas, located in Pernambuco, is a popular beach town known for its natural pools formed by coral reefs and crystal-clear waters. The town offers excellent opportunities for snorkeling, diving, and paddle boarding, especially in the famous Piscinas Naturais (natural pools). Porto de Galinhas also has a lively village with restaurants, shops, and a strong focus on eco-tourism.
Top 8 Things to See & Do in Porto de Galinhas
Explore the natural pools: Accessed by foot or jangada (wooden raft boats) during low tide, these pools form in the coral reefs just off the main beach. The clear water allows for good visibility of tropical fish and marine life.
Walk along Porto de Galinhas Beach: The main beach stretches for several kilometres and has many restaurants, beach clubs and shops. The central section is the departure point for many jangada tours.
Relax at Muro Alto Beach: This beach is protected by a long natural reef wall, creating calm water suitable for stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking. It is located about 8 kilometres from the town centre.
Visit Pontal do Maracaípe: Located at the mouth of the Maracaípe River, this area is known for its mangroves and is a feeding ground for seahorses. Local boat operators offer small tours to spot the seahorses in their natural habitat.
Go snorkelling at Praia do Cupe: This beach has a mix of calm and rougher areas depending on the section of reef. The area known as Pontal do Cupe offers good snorkelling conditions during low tide.
Visit Praia de Maracaípe: This beach has stronger waves and is popular with surfers. It also has sunset views and access to the Maracaípe mangroves for ecological tours.
Take a buggy ride along the beaches: Local drivers offer buggy tours covering several beaches in a single day, often including Muro Alto, Pontal do Cupe, Praia de Maracaípe, and Pontal do Maracaípe.
Visit Praia de Serrambi: Located about 12 kilometres from Porto de Galinhas, this beach has calm waters and is suitable for swimming and diving. Offshore reefs protect the bay, creating natural pools at low tide.
How long to spend in Porto de Galinhas
It is recommended to spend at least 2-3 days in Porto de Galinhas, to take a boat tour to the natural pools and to explore a variety of the areas beaches.
Where to stay in Porto de Galinhas
The most popular areas for tourists to stay in Porto de Galinhas are the central village area, Muro Alto and Maracaípe. The central village area offers direct access to the main beach, natural pools, restaurants, shops and tour operators. Muro Alto is known for its calm reef-protected waters and resorts, attracting families and those seeking all-inclusive stays. Maracaípe is popular with surfers and travellers looking for a quieter setting, with beach bars and access to the Pontal de Maracaípe mangroves.
Find cheap accommodation for your stay in Porto de Galinhas.
Where is Porto de Galinhas, Brazil
Quick Facts about Porto de Galinhas
Population of Porto de Galinhas
The district of Nossa Senhora do Ó, which includes Porto de Galinhas and neighbouring beaches, has a population of 47,019 (IBGE, 2022). However, the town population increases dramatically during the peak tourist season.
Nickname
People from Porto de Galinhas do not have a specific nickname, however people from Pernambuco State are called pernambucanos.
Closest airport
The closest airport is located in Recife (REC)
Main bus terminal
Rodovia Tronco - Porto de Galinhas (busses to Recife)
Main port
There is no port in Porto de Galinhas, boats to the natural pools depart directly from the beach
How to get to Porto de Galinhas
How to get to Porto de Galinhas from Recife Airport:
The easiest way to reach Porto de Galinhas is to take travel from Recife Airport. Take bus number 195, with a pickup spot conveniently inside the airport. Exit the arrivals area at Exit A4 and cross the first road to the central traffic island. There are seats and a sign for the bus to Porto de Galinhas.
Busses run approximately every hour from 5.50am to 6.30pm on weekdays, and from 6am to 9.50pm on weekends. The trip takes 1.5-2 hours depending on traffic. You will pay the fare to the driver so make sure to have small notes.
See all bus connections and find cheap tickets to Porto de Galinhas
BlaBlaCar, a carpooling app, is also a cheap and convenient way to get around. It is commonly used around the the northeast coast of Brazil and there are usually several rides available.
How to get to Porto de Galinhas from Downtown Recife:
There are two public busses connecting Porto de Galinhas and Recife, 191 and 195.
195 - with air conditioning, costing R$24.75
191 - without air conditioning, costing R$21.50
Both buses depart Recife from Cais de Santa Rita, and run approximately once per hour. Bus 195 also passes via Boa Viagem and the airport. Bus 195 passes through from Boa Viagem, via Avenida Herculano Bandeira and Avenida Domingos Ferreira. It is possible to catch the bus from several stops on these roads, including at Av. Herculano Bandeira 425, Av. Herculano Bandeira 813, and others.
The current official timetable can be found here. Type 195 or 191 in "Codigo", then click "Buscar quadro".
In addition to the public bus, Progresso runs a private bus from the bus stop at Avenida Dantas Barreto, 884 in downtown Recife. The trip takes around 1-1.5 hours. The ticket can be purchased online in advance. There are also private transfers with hotel pick-up available.
Top tours of Porto de Galinhas
How to get around Porto de Galinhas
The town is small and easy to walk around, however Uber is also available if you are heading out further from town.
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