Tourism in Porto de Galinhas – Discover the Paradise of Ipojuca PE

Find out now what Tourism is like in Porto de Galinhas and learn everything about the paradise of Ipojuca, in the interior of Pernambuco.

Tourism in Porto de Galinhas began in the 90s and since then has attracted visitors from all corners of our country and abroad. Beach, crystal clear waters, peace and paradisiacal settings are guaranteed.

In the village there are several options for inns, the beach and natural pools are very close to the center. The area is busy all day long and finding an empty place for photos is almost impossible.

Want to know more about the destination? So, continue reading and find out everything about what tourism is like in Porto de Galinhas and what you can't miss during your trip. Check out!

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Where is Porto de Galinhas and how to get to Paraíso?

Contrary to what many think, Porto de Galinhas is not a city, but a small village in the interior of Pernambuco in the Northeast. The district – as many residents call it – is part of the city of Ipojuca, in Pernambuco, and is approximately 49.6 km away from the capital Recife.

The main access point is through Guarapes International Airport, in Recife. From there, the path follows the road, via BR 101, lasting approximately 50 minutes. There are several options to get to your destination such as Uber, rental cars and transfers.

In fact, when disembarking there are countless drivers waiting for tourists and some taxi drivers even offer trips at Uber prices. In other words, we can say that it is practically impossible for you to get lost at Recife airport and wait hours for transport.

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Why does Porto de Galinhas have this name?

The story of the origin of Porto de Galinhas is not as beautiful as it seems, as the reason is due to slavery and illegal landing on the shores of the sea. Previously around the 15th century, the region was known as Puerto Rico due to sugar production and a large export of Pau-Brasil.

Therefore, when the ban on slavery arrived in Europe, the Portuguese found a way to circumvent the system. Since then, the region became the main stage for the sale of illegal slaves in our country. Most of them traveled on cargo ships, hidden under the chickens of Angola and theThe Portuguese announced their arrival with the code “There’s a new chicken in Porto”.

Over time, the name stuck and the region became known as Porto de Galinhas, from the 90s onwards the place became a tourist spot. The place was chosen by the magazine Travel and Tourism, from publisher Abril, for 10 consecutive times as best beach in Brazil. 

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What is tourism like in Porto de Galinhas?

One of the main sources of income for the municipality of IPOJUCA is tourism, probably with this information alone you can already imagine what tourism is like in Porto de Galinhas. The entire village is surrounded by inns, houses for rent and some hotels on the seafront.

Both in the center and on the main beach, the most common situation is that you find someone selling something and there is everything! Every day is busy and it is rare to be able to find the beach or village deserted. 

Porto de Galinhas has a complete infrastructure to serve customers, there are several bars, restaurants, shops, banks, tourism agencies and even a sophisticated restaurant at the top of the lighthouse to celebrate special moments.

Many tourists tend to take advantage of the excitement and get to know the region's tourist attractions, such as a trip to Carneiros Beach, Maragogi, Recife and Olinda, between others. Packages are generally sold in the center and on the beach, and the person responsible for the tour picks up tourists directly at the inn.

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What can't you miss doing in Porto de Galinhas?

The tourist village of IPOJUCA is full of tourist attractions and if you are unprepared, you will miss out on many adventures, as happened to me during the trip. But the cool thing about it all is that I managed to explore a lot of places and discover a lot of new things. So, during your tour you need to stop at the following tourist attractions:

Stroll through the center of Porto de Galinhas

The center of Porto de Galinhas is one of the main access points for beaches and natural pools, it is also the place where you will find the best bars and restaurants. Other than that, the tiled and colorful streets will delight your eyes, after all the entire place is decorated with chickens, rafts, chapels and yields many beautiful photos to keep as souvenirs.

Diving in the natural pools

In fact, the natural pools are the most desired place on the trip, however, you need to keep an eye on the tide. Because, when it is high, it covers the entire scene and the waves are usually a little strong.. The main access point is via Porto de Galinhas beach and from there the route continues via rafts.

Enjoy the sea at Porto de Galinhas beach

The sea at Praia de Porto de Galinhas will certainly dazzle your eyes, as it is stunning. The beachfront is full of tents, umbrellas and many street vendors.

The sea water is very warm and during low tide it is crystal clear, perfect for diving and relaxing. Generally,  Where the natural pools are located, the place is busier, full of tourists, rafts and rocks in the water. The more distant shores are calmer, with a longer stretch of sand and no rocks.

Take a walk along Maracaípe beach

Maracaípe beach is next to Porto de Galinhas Beach and is not very popular, due to the strong waves, if you like surfing, the place is very suitable. Now, if you don't like rough seas, a walk along the shore is wonderful. This is because Maracaípe is very quiet, perfect for resting and listening to the sound of the sea. 

Along the way, you will also find several photo spots, such as the heart of Maracaípe, coconut trees and even a wedding altar. 

Visit Pontal de Maracaípe

This is one of the places in Porto de Galinhas that is little known on the internet and I found it by chance during my walk. At the end of the beach you will find Pontal de Maracaípe with a very quiet and little frequented coastline. 

There are two parts: one with waves, suitable for swimming and an extensive strip of sand and the other without any waves in the form of a lake. Both are wonderful for taking a bath, relaxing and drinking coconut water. 

In Pontal you will find stalls and street vendors, but there is no restaurant nearby. So, if your intention is to spend the day, take light foods, such as natural snacks and fruits.

Tour at Praia dos Carneiros

According to some residents, Praia dos Carneiros was a hidden destination with few visitors. The place has recently become famous and there are currently beautiful inns with views of the sea.

The beach is part of the municipality of Tamandaré, close to Ipojuca, normally the tours are in the form of excursions and the person in charge picks up the tourists from the inn to the boarding point. Afterwards, the route continues along the sea via the punt, with stops at all the tourist attractions such as the Little Church of Saint Benedict, clay bath It is natural pools.

Take time to visit the beaches of Cupe, Muro Alto and Maragogi

Do what I didn't do! Time in Porto de Galinhas is scarce and flies by, so take the time to visit the beaches of Cupe, Muro Alto and Maragogi. 

Muro Alto and Praia do Cupe are a little far from the center of Porto and you can get there by car, Uber or Bugue ride. The main way to get to Maragogi is through tours sold on the beach, such as the package for Praias dos Rameiros.

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What you should know before going to Porto de Galinhas

Much is said about tourist attractions, paradisiacal beaches, natural pools, among others. But there are some important details to know to avoid having your trip frustrated. Luckily, I separated some important items, check it out!

👉Porto de Galinhas gets dark early

If you are from the interior of São Paulo, you will certainly feel this difference on your skin! In Porto de Galinhas, sunrise and sunset happen very early. Around 7 am the sun is shining brightly and at 4 pm it starts to get dark, at 6 pm it's practically night, so, to make the most of your day, wake up very early!

👉The region is very hot

The region is very hot, even on cloudy and rainy days! Sunny days are wonderful, but you need to be very careful with your skin. Use sunscreen frequently to avoid burning and there is one detail: You will get a good tan even if you don't spend much time in the sun.

👉The tide changes very quickly

The tide usually changes very quickly and has a period of 6 hours. Therefore, Don't schedule your trip to the natural pools for the next day, enjoy today and carefully follow the tide tables. A tip is to observe the place from the top of the lighthouse, where you can have a panoramic view of the entire region.

👉Predicting the weather is almost impossible

With data on the internet, we see that the rainy season begins in autumn and winter. However, being able to predict the weather is almost impossible, because the meteorology on a given day can predict rain all day and wonderful sunshine and vice versa. 

In other words, during your stay, anything can happen and the rain is very common, a back and forth. At the same moment it can be sunny and 5 minutes later it's raining, or you can wake up on a rainy day and in a few hours enjoy a sunny day.

👉You find photographers everywhere

Whether in the center, on the beach or on walks, you will find several photographers and in some cases the photos come out perfect. The cost is very low, some can take 5 photos for R$10.00.

👉Some photos may not turn out as expected

Even though there are photographers everywhere, some photos may not turn out as expected, as happens on trips to natural pools. 

One of the photos that most tourists want are those of the corals in the pools, but sometimes the photos are not very clear. Therefore, The ideal is to buy a protective case to photograph underwater and not lose that memory.

👉Stay shopping for swimwear in the center of Porto de Galinhas

Another detail you need to know is regarding swimwear, you can buy them directly in Porto de Galinhas. In the village there are several stores with wonderful pieces at a good price.

👉Save money to buy crafts

A fundamental factor in tourism in Porto de Galinhas involves local cultural crafts. It will be impossible to look at a stall or a store window and not fall in love. After all, you can find beautiful pieces of decoration – including pans and cutlery – most involving chickens and rafts. 

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Conclusion

Tourism in Porto de Galinhas is perfect! Everywhere you find paradisiacal settings, with crystal clear and warm waters. If I could sum up the trip in one sentence, it would be: “I don’t know how to stop looking at you”. It is impossible to stop looking and admire the perfection of this place.

Even though the beach is very busy, there is no trash thrown on the shore or in the sea, very different from what happens on the beaches of São Paulo. This was something that I really admired and everyone should be aware of. Furthermore, people from the Northeast are polite, charismatic people and always help tourists with everything.

Did you like to know about the destination? Then Take advantage now to discover the best tourist packages for Porto de Galinhas. Click the button below and check out all the details of the main agencies in Brazil!