Contents 27
Distances in the Nordeste are huge: rather than covering the whole coast, pick two or three areas, for example Salvador and Chapada Diamantina, Recife and the Pernambuco beaches, or Fortaleza, Jericoacoara and the Lençóis. Link them with domestic flights to Salvador, Recife, Fortaleza or São Luís, then buses, a car or a 4x4 on the ground.
Overview
Brazil's Nordeste covers nine states, from Bahia to Maranhão, along more than 3,000 km of Atlantic coast. The region holds some of the country's most iconic sites: the historic centre of Salvador (UNESCO-listed in 1985), the Fernando de Noronha archipelago, the dunes and lagoons of Lençóis Maranhenses National Park (UNESCO 2024) and the beach village of Jericoacoara.Travellers come for warm-water beaches, the natural pools of Porto de Galinhas, the Afro-Brazilian culture of Bahia and inland national parks such as Chapada Diamantina.
Brazil's Nordeste covers nine states, from Bahia to Maranhão, along more than 3,000 km of Atlantic coast. The region holds some of the country's most iconic sites: the historic centre of Salvador (UNESCO-listed in 1985), the Fernando de Noronha archipelago, the dunes and lagoons of Lençóis Maranhenses National Park (UNESCO 2024) and the beach village of Jericoacoara.
Travellers come for warm-water beaches, the natural pools of Porto de Galinhas, the Afro-Brazilian culture of Bahia and inland national parks such as Chapada Diamantina. This guide brings together 16 essential places with their coordinates and verified practical tips.
16 places to take with you
In the guide's order, ready for Google Maps or your GPS.
Book the activities from this guide
Our picks for Nordeste, well rated and free to cancel.
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Sunset on the Lençóis dunes by 4x4
€53 per person (GetYourGuide price 2026)
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Guided walking tour of the Pelourinho
€53 per person (GetYourGuide price 2026)
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Salvador de Bahia
Brazil's first capital, from its founding in 1549 until 1763, Salvador keeps its historic centre in the Pelourinho, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985: sloping cobbled streets, colourful colonial façades and baroque churches.
The city is built on two levels, linked since 1873 by the Elevador Lacerda, a public lift about 72 m high running from the upper town down to the port. Below is the Mercado Modelo; above, the capoeira and Afro-Brazilian rhythms that define the city. At the table: moqueca and acarajé, a black-eyed-pea fritter fried in dendê oil.
Fernando de Noronha
About 354 km off the Brazilian coast, the Fernando de Noronha archipelago, part of Pernambuco, is 70% protected by a marine national park created in 1988. Clear water, volcanic cliffs and some of Brazil's richest sea life make it the country's top diving and snorkelling destination.
People come for the park's protected beaches, dolphin and turtle watching, and supervised swims at the most fragile sites. Access is by plane from Recife or Natal, and staying here costs extra: park fees and a daily environmental tax come on top of travel.
Lençóis Maranhenses National Park
In Maranhão, the Lençóis Maranhenses line up white sand dunes between which the rain fills hundreds of freshwater lagoons every year. The national park, a UNESCO site since 2024, is explored by 4x4 from Barreirinhas, its gateway town.
The rains fall mainly from January to May; the lagoons are fullest from June to September, peaking in June-July. You walk from dune to dune and swim in the lagoons, then climb a dune for the sunset.
Jericoacoara
In the heart of a national park on Ceará's west coast, Jericoacoara is a village of sand streets about 300 km from Fortaleza, around four hours' transfer, with a 4x4 for the last stretch.
Every evening the village climbs the Duna do Pôr do Sol, one of the few spots on the Ceará coast where the sun sets over the sea. At low tide, a half-hour beach walk leads to the Pedra Furada, a rock arch that lines up with the setting sun around July-August. The nearby lagoons, including Lagoa do Paraíso, are reached by buggy.
Recife and Olinda
Recife, capital of Pernambuco, is built around its old port and Marco Zero on Praça Rio Branco, the city's symbolic ground zero. The Instituto Ricardo Brennand, housed in a medieval-style castle, shows collections on Brazil's Dutch period and old European weapons.
Six or seven kilometres north, Olinda, whose historic centre has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982, climbs a hill facing the sea with its churches and colonial houses. The two are easily combined in one day.
Chapada Diamantina
In the heart of Bahia, Chapada Diamantina National Park, created in 1985, covers plateaus of 500 to 1,000 m topped by peaks of 1,600 to 1,800 m, with canyons and waterfalls, across the municipalities of Lençóis, Palmeiras, Mucugê, Ibicoara and Andaraí. The small town of Lençóis is the usual base.
Cachoeira da Fumaça, in Palmeiras, drops about 340 m, one of Brazil's highest waterfalls: the water turns to mist before reaching the ground, hence its name, 'smoke falls'. It is reached by a 6 km walk from Vale do Capão, or a three-day trek from Lençóis.
Porto de Galinhas
Some sixty kilometres south of Recife, about 1 hr 30 by road, Porto de Galinhas is known for its natural pools: at low tide, the coral reef about 200 m offshore holds calm, warm pools where you swim among the fish.
You reach them by jangada, the fishermen's traditional sailing raft, on an outing of about two hours including thirty to forty-five minutes in the pools. It all depends on the tide table: the best outings are at the lowest low tides.
Praia do Pipa
About 80 km south of Natal, Pipa, in the municipality of Tibau do Sul, alternates beaches and tall reddish cliffs. The Chapadão, at the top of the cliffs, is a lookout over Praia do Amor.
North of the main beach, Baía dos Golfinhos is reached on foot around the rocks, only from low to mid tide: dolphins often come close to shore there, especially early in the morning. The village, lively at night, makes a good base for a few beach days.
Praia dos Carneiros
In the municipality of Tamandaré, about 1 hr 30 by road south of Recife and 55 km from Porto de Galinhas, Praia dos Carneiros lines calm water sheltered by reefs, with sandbanks that appear at low tide.
Its best-known image is the small São Benedito church, set right on the sand among the coconut palms, one of the most photographed spots on the Pernambuco coast and a popular wedding venue.
Canoa Quebrada
A fishing village in the municipality of Aracati, about 165 km from Fortaleza, Canoa Quebrada is known for its red-toned cliffs and dunes, protected since 1998 by an environmental protection area.
The village symbol, a moon and a star, is carved into the cliff and painted all over town. Its main street, nicknamed 'Broadway', is officially Rua Dragão do Mar, after Francisco José do Nascimento, the jangada sailor who refused in 1881 to ship enslaved people.
Lagoa do Paraíso
Near Jijoca de Jericoacoara, Lagoa do Paraíso is a freshwater lagoon so shallow you can wade far from shore. It is one of the postcard images of the Jericoacoara area, with hammocks strung over the water and beach bars serving grilled fish and drinks.
It is reached from Jericoacoara village by 4x4, buggy or quad bike in about twenty-five minutes, often combined with other lagoons nearby.
Barra Grande
On the Maraú peninsula, some forty kilometres long between the Atlantic and Camamu Bay south of Salvador, Barra Grande is reached by road to Camamu, then by speedboat across the bay in about thirty minutes (hourly departures during the day).
At low tide, neighbouring Taipu de Fora beach reveals natural pools among the most beautiful in Brazil. A beach of about 7 km links it north to Ponta do Mutá, where the calm water suits swimming and sunset watching.
Ubajara National Park
On the edge of the Serra da Ibiapaba in Ceará, Ubajara National Park protects a highland cloud forest, waterfalls and Ubajara Cave, known since the early 18th century when Portuguese settlers searched it for minerals.
The cave has nine chambers over 1,120 m, of which 420 m are lit and open to visitors. You go down by cable car over a 535 m drop, or on foot along the 4 km Cafundós trail.
Paulo Afonso Falls
On the São Francisco River, between Bahia and Alagoas, the Paulo Afonso Falls drop in several tiers over about 84 m. Since the hydroelectric complex was built from 1948, they are usually dry, except when the spillway gates open after heavy rain.
Downstream, the Rio São Francisco Natural Monument, created in 2009, protects the canyons around the Xingó dam reservoir near Canindé de São Francisco (Sergipe); tour boats run through them.
Aracaju
Capital of Sergipe since 17 March 1855, when it replaced São Cristóvão for its port, Aracaju lies about 350 km north of Salvador. A planned city, it is home to nearly a third of the state's population.
Its seafront, the Orla de Atalaia, lines up a promenade, beaches and restaurants: a quiet, inexpensive stop on the road between Salvador and Recife.
Penedo
On the bank of the São Francisco River in Alagoas, Penedo is a colonial town whose historic centre keeps 17th- and 18th-century churches and mansions. The Convent of São Francisco and the church of Nossa Senhora dos Anjos are known for their Portuguese azulejos and rococo woodwork.
In October 2023, Penedo joined UNESCO's Creative Cities Network as a City of Film. It is visited in a day, often with a boat trip on the river.
Sunset on the Lençóis dunes by 4x4
You leave Barreirinhas in the early afternoon in the back of a 4x4, for about fifty minutes of sandy track to the edge of the dunes. Wooden steps lead up the first dune; you then walk from lagoon to lagoon to Lagoa Bonita, where you swim in fresh water. You finish on top of a dune for the sunset, as the lagoons turn dark blue.
Allow five hours for €53 per person on GetYourGuide, with free cancellation. Come from June to September, when the lagoons are full; bring water, a hat and shoes that come off easily, as you walk barefoot on the sand.
- 5 hrs
- €53 per person (GetYourGuide price 2026)
Guided walking tour of the Pelourinho
Two and a half hours on foot through Salvador's historic centre, from the Rio Branco palace and the Elevador Lacerda, which has linked the upper town to the port since 1873, to the lanes of the Pelourinho and its 17th- and 18th-century mansions. The guide tells the story of Brazil's first capital and the mix of African, Portuguese and Indigenous cultures that shaped it; the highlight is walking down to the squares where the drums echo.
Expect €53 per person on GetYourGuide, with free cancellation. Do it by day, early in your stay: it gives you your bearings to come back to the district on your own.
- 2.5 hrs
- €53 per person (GetYourGuide price 2026)
Buggy from Jericoacoara to the lagoons and Tatajuba
The buggy is the classic way to explore around Jericoacoara: east to the lagoons, including Lagoa do Paraíso and its hammocks in the water, or west to Tatajuba beach and the Guriú mangroves, where you cross the river on a ferry raft. At low tide you race along the beach, the sea on one side and the dunes on the other.
Trips are booked in the village with approved buggy drivers, by the day or half-day; agree the route and price before leaving, and bring cash for the ferry rafts and beach bars.
- Full day (about 6 hrs)
- negotiate on site with an approved buggy driver
Getting there
Flying is the most practical way to cover this vast region. The main hubs are Salvador (SSA), Recife (REC) and Fortaleza (FOR); São Luís (SLZ) is the gateway to Lençóis Maranhenses, followed by a road to Barreirinhas.
Flying is the most practical way to cover this vast region. The main hubs are Salvador (SSA), Recife (REC) and Fortaleza (FOR); São Luís (SLZ) is the gateway to Lençóis Maranhenses, followed by a road to Barreirinhas. Fernando de Noronha is reached by flights from Recife or Natal.
On the ground, combine domestic flights, long-distance buses, car hire and transfers. Some sites are only reachable by 4x4 or buggy over sand: this is the case for Jericoacoara (from Jijoca) and several Ceará lagoons. Book these transfers with licensed local operators.
Many travellers combine the Nordeste with Rio de Janeiro, a few hours' flight from the region's main hubs.
What to do
Swim in the Lençóis lagoons, walk Salvador's Pelourinho, watch the sunset from Jericoacoara's dune and swim in the natural pools of Porto de Galinhas.
- Dunes and lagoons: the Lençóis Maranhenses by 4x4 from Barreirinhas, June to September.
- Colonial towns: Salvador's Pelourinho, Olinda, Penedo.
- Beaches and natural pools: Porto de Galinhas, Carneiros, Pipa, Taipu de Fora.
- Nature: the waterfalls of Chapada Diamantina, Ubajara Cave, the São Francisco canyons at Xingó.
- Fernando de Noronha: snorkelling and diving in the marine park.
Climate & seasons
When to go to Brazil?
Monthly averages over the past 5 years (Open-Meteo).
Best months
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
- October
Avoid
- November
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our take | ||||||||||||
| Weather | ||||||||||||
| High | 33° | 34° | 33° | 32° | 30° | 29° | 29° | 30° | 33° | 35° | 35° | 35° |
| Rain (mm) | 70 | 57 | 81 | 62 | 53 | 33 | 24 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 27 | 44 |
| Beach | Beach January | Beach February | Beach March | Beach April | Beach May | Beach June | Beach July | Beach August | Beach September | Beach October | Beach November | Beach December |
| City sightseeing | City sightseeing June | City sightseeing July | ||||||||||
| Safari & savanna | Safari & savanna June | Safari & savanna July | Safari & savanna August |
What to do by season (autumn)
-
Beach
Warm air and water, little rain.
When to go
On the coast (from Bahia to Ceará), the driest and sunniest period runs roughly from September to February, ideal for the beaches. For Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, aim instead for June to September: the rains fall from January to May, and the interdune lagoons are then full, peaking in June–July.Note, however, that on the east coast (Bahia, Pernambuco, Alagoas) the rain falls mostly from April to July, so June-August suits Ceará and Maranhão, with the Lençóis, better than Salvador or Recife.
On the coast (from Bahia to Ceará), the driest and sunniest period runs roughly from September to February, ideal for the beaches. For Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, aim instead for June to September: the rains fall from January to May, and the interdune lagoons are then full, peaking in June–July.
Note, however, that on the east coast (Bahia, Pernambuco, Alagoas) the rain falls mostly from April to July, so June-August suits Ceará and Maranhão, with the Lençóis, better than Salvador or Recife. Conditions vary year to year: confirm lagoon levels with ICMBio before booking. Salvador's Carnival (February) and the São João festivities (June) are highlights worth planning around.
Where to stay
One base per area: Pelourinho or Barra in Salvador, Boa Viagem in Recife, Barreirinhas for the Lençóis, Jericoacoara village, Lençóis for the Chapada.
- Salvador: the Pelourinho for the historic centre, Barra for the beach and quieter evenings.
- Recife and Olinda: Boa Viagem, Recife's beach district, or a pousada in central Olinda.
- Lençóis Maranhenses: Barreirinhas, the starting point for 4x4 trips.
- Jericoacoara: the car-free village itself, to enjoy the sunset dune.
- Chapada Diamantina: the town of Lençóis (Bahia), the hiking base.
As a rough guide, simple pousadas cost about R$70-150 per person per night, and prices can rise by up to 60% during Brazilian holidays; May, June, August, September and October are the cheapest months.
Safety
According to France Diplomatie, tourists are regularly victims of theft, sometimes violent, especially in large cities. Stay vigilant: avoid displaying jewellery, phones and valuables, carry only what you need and use hotel safes.Prefer taxis and ride-apps over hailing on the street at night, avoid isolated areas and night-time travel, and do not resist during a robbery.
According to France Diplomatie, tourists are regularly victims of theft, sometimes violent, especially in large cities. Stay vigilant: avoid displaying jewellery, phones and valuables, carry only what you need and use hotel safes.
Prefer taxis and ride-apps over hailing on the street at night, avoid isolated areas and night-time travel, and do not resist during a robbery. The Nordeste is among Brazil's regions with higher homicide rates: seek local advice and follow up-to-date travel guidance.
Formalities
EU and UK citizens need no tourist visa for stays under 90 days (maximum 90 days per 180-day period, non-renewable). Since 10 April 2025, US, Canadian and Australian citizens need an e-visa, applied for online before travel.
EU and UK citizens need no tourist visa for stays under 90 days (maximum 90 days per 180-day period, non-renewable). Since 10 April 2025, US, Canadian and Australian citizens need an e-visa, applied for online before travel. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your return date, and a return or onward ticket is required. The currency is the Brazilian real (BRL, R$).
On health, yellow fever vaccination is recommended before travelling to Brazil. Keep routine vaccines up to date; hepatitis A and typhoid depend on your trip. Protect yourself against mosquitoes: dengue, Zika and chikungunya are present in the Nordeste, as is the Oropouche virus, which has surged since 2024. Check up-to-date information on the France Diplomatie website before departure.
FAQ
EU and UK citizens need no visa for up to 90 days per 180; since 10 April 2025, US, Canadian and Australian citizens need an e-visa. Your passport must be valid for 6 months beyond your return date, and a return or onward ticket is required.
Do I need a visa for Brazil?
EU and UK citizens need no tourist visa for stays under 90 days (max 90 days per 180, non-renewable); since 10 April 2025, US, Canadian and Australian citizens need an e-visa, applied for online before travel. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your return date, and a return/onward ticket is required.
When is the best season to visit the Nordeste?
For the beaches (Bahia to Ceará), the dry, sunny season runs roughly September–February. For Lençóis Maranhenses, aim for June–September when the lagoons are full. June-August suits Ceará, Maranhão and the Lençóis; to combine full lagoons with a drier east coast, September is the best compromise.
Is the Nordeste safe?
Tourists are regularly victims of theft, sometimes violent; stay vigilant, especially in big cities. Avoid displaying jewellery, phones and valuables, prefer taxis and ride-apps at night, and never resist during a robbery.
How do you get around the region?
Flying is most practical: the main hubs are Salvador (SSA), Recife (REC) and Fortaleza (FOR), plus São Luís (SLZ) for Lençóis Maranhenses. Locally, transfers, buses and buggies/4x4 fill the gaps (e.g. the Jericoacoara dunes).
How do you access Fernando de Noronha and what taxes apply?
Access is capped by visitor quotas: book early. You must pay the environmental tax (TPA, based on length of stay) and the ICMBio marine-park admission (about R$384 for foreigners, the rate in force since October 2025, valid 10 days). Prices change: check the official site parnanoronha.com.br.
When can you see the lagoons full at Lençóis Maranhenses?
The lagoons are usually full from June to September, right after the rainy season (January–May), peaking in June–July. Conditions vary year to year: confirm with ICMBio before booking.
What currency should you use and what budget to plan?
The currency is the Brazilian real (BRL, R$). Cards work in city hotels and restaurants, but keep cash for buggies, beach barracas and remote villages. As a rough guide (Brazilian sources, 2026), allow R$70-150 per person per night in a simple pousada and R$150-250 a day excluding transport; Fernando de Noronha costs much more, fees included.
What vaccinations should you plan for Brazil?
Yellow fever vaccination is recommended before any trip to Brazil. Keep routine vaccines up to date; hepatitis A and typhoid depending on the trip. Protect yourself against mosquitoes (dengue, Zika, chikungunya, Oropouche).
Sources
The figures in this guide come from the sources below, checked on the publication date.
- whc.unesco.org
- whc.unesco.org
- whc.unesco.org
- www.gov.br
- www.gov.br
- www.gov.br
- www.gov.br
- www.diplomatie.gouv.fr
- www.diplomatie.gouv.fr
- www.diplomatie.gouv.fr
- visitbrasil.com
- travel.state.gov
- en.wikipedia.org
- www.parnanoronha.com.br
- en.wikipedia.org
- en.wikipedia.org
- en.wikipedia.org
- en.wikipedia.org
- en.wikipedia.org
- en.wikipedia.org
- en.wikipedia.org
- en.wikipedia.org
- en.wikipedia.org
- marsheviagens.com
- www.gov.br
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