Northeast Coast Road Trip: Maceió to Natal
Drive north across four states to experience natural pools, coconut groves, historic towns, South America's easternmost point, and massive dunes.
A coastal road trip linking Alagoas, Pernambuco, Paraíba, and Rio Grande do Norte. Driving segments are mostly kept to 2–3 hours, with natural pool visits scheduled around the tides. Stops in Recife and Olinda offer a cultural break from the beaches. Perfect for travelers with plenty of time who want to experience a variety of coastal landscapes. This route skips inland areas and Maracajaú on the north coast.
April to July is the rainy season. Natural reef pools are tide-dependent and only worth visiting at low tide.
Day by day
Day 1 · Arrive in Maceió & Coastal Stroll
Maceió（Pajuçara Beach、Jaraguá Historic District）
Pick up your car and drive to Pajuçara (approx. 40 mins). Walk along the beachfront promenade to the old port area in the afternoon.
Stay: Pajuçara
Day 2 · Pajuçara Reef Pools & Lagoon
Maceió（Pajuçara Natural Pools、Lagoa Mundaú & Pontal da Barra）
Take a traditional raft (jangada) to the offshore reef pools in the morning (approx. 20 mins), then take a boat tour of the nine islands of Mundaú Lagoon in the afternoon.
The reef pools are only accessible at low tide; check the tide tables in advance.
Stay: Pajuçara
Day 3 · South Coast: Gunga & Francês
Maceió（Praia do Gunga、Praia do Francês、Massagueira）
Drive south for about 1 hour to Gunga Beach. On the way back, stop at Praia do Francês and Massagueira before returning to Maceió.
Stay: Pajuçara
Day 4 · Ecological Coast to São Miguel dos Milagres
Maceió（Praia do Carro Quebrado、Manatee Sanctuary (Rio Tatuamunha)、Praia do Patacho）
Drive north along the AL-101 for about 100 km (approx. 2 hours), stopping at beaches and the manatee sanctuary along the way.
Stay: São Miguel dos Milagres
Day 5 · Maragogi Catamaran & Reef Pools
Maceió（Galés de Maragogi、Praia de Antunes）
Drive north for about 40 km (approx. 1 hour) to Maragogi. Take a catamaran tour to the natural pools for half a day, and spend the afternoon on the beach.
Catamaran departure times change daily with the tides; confirm your booking the day before.
Stay: Maragogi
Day 6 · Praia dos Carneiros Coconut Groves
Porto de Galinhas（Praia dos Carneiros）
Drive north for about 50 km (approx. 1 hour) to the Tamandaré area. Spend the afternoon on the beach or take a boat trip.
Stay: Praia dos Carneiros
Day 7 · Porto de Galinhas Rafts & Seahorses
Porto de Galinhas（Porto de Galinhas、Pontal de Maracaípe）
Drive north for about 1 hour to Porto de Galinhas. Take a raft to the reef pools, then head to the Maracaípe river mouth at dusk.
Stay: Porto de Galinhas Town Center
Day 8 · To Recife & Old Town
Recife & Olinda（Recife Antigo、Kahal Zur Israel Synagogue、Paço do Frevo）
Drive north for about 60 km (approx. 1–1.5 hours). Park and explore Recife Antigo (Old Recife) on foot, then head to Olinda for the evening.
Stay: Olinda Old Town
Day 9 · Olinda Historic Center & Ceramic Studio
Recife & Olinda（Historic Centre of Olinda、Alto da Sé & Olinda Cathedral、Oficina Brennand）
Explore Olinda on foot in the morning. After lunch, drive about 40 minutes to the Brennand Ceramic Studio, returning to Olinda's historic center for the evening.
Stay: Olinda Old Town
Day 10 · To João Pessoa & the Easternmost Point
João Pessoa（Centro Cultural São Francisco、Ponta do Seixas、Tambaú Beach & Seafront）
Drive north along the BR-101 for about 120 km (approx. 2 hours). Visit the historic center, then head to Ponta do Seixas before checking into your beachfront hotel.
Stay: Tambaú
Day 11 · Picãozinho Reef Pools to Pipa
João Pessoa（Picãozinho Natural Pools） → Pipa（Avenida Baía dos Golfinhos）
Take a boat to the Picãozinho reef pools in the morning, then drive north for about 110 km (approx. 2 hours) to the town of Pipa.
The reef pools depend on low tide; if the timing doesn't work, head straight north to Pipa.
Stay: Pipa Town Center
Day 12 · Pipa Cliffs & Dolphin Bay
Pipa（Pipa Beach、Dolphin Bay、Madeiro Beach、Chapadão Cliffs）
Walk or take a taxi to the clifftop viewpoints. At low tide, you can walk along the beach to Dolphin Bay (Baía dos Golfinhos).
The beach path is cut off at high tide; keep track of the tide times for your return.
Stay: Pipa Town Center
Day 13 · North to Natal & Ponta Negra
Natal（Pirangi Cashew Tree、Morro do Careca、Ponta Negra Beach）
Drive north along the coast for about 85 km (approx. 1.5 hours), stopping at the giant cashew tree (Cajueiro de Pirangi). Spend the afternoon on the beach.
Stay: Ponta Negra
Day 14 · Genipabu Dunes & Departure
Natal（Genipabu Dunes、Pitangui Lagoon、Jacumã Lagoon）
Before returning your car, hire a buggy to tour the north coast dunes (approx. 6 hours), crossing rivers on manual ferries and visiting lagoons. Head to the airport in the afternoon.
Book a flight departing in the late afternoon or evening. Buggy tours in the dunes must be conducted by licensed drivers (credenciados).