Quiet and Peaceful Beaches in Thailand Built on the profits of the sugar cane industry, Maceio is the capital city of the northern Brazilian state of Alagoas. Its primary draw is the 13 miles of urban beaches that line the serpentine oceanfront, and as a gateway to the powder sand beaches to the north and south. Just off the coast, rocky reefs form shallow natural pools, providing fantastic opportunities for snorkeling and swimming.
Although quieter than Brazilian coastal cities such as Rio and Recife, it is precisely this laid-back charm that draws people to its beachfront promenade lined with palm trees and thatched-roof restaurants, many of which stay open well into the night.
Getting There While some flights from Europe arrive at Maceio's Zumbi dos Palmares international airport, connected to the city center by a bus that stops at the popular beach districts of Ponta Verde and Pajucara, North American visitors usually need to connect via domestic flights from Rio or Sao Paulo. If you are on an extended visit to Brazil, the airport has good connections with other cities such as Brasilia, Florianopolis and Salvador.
Alternately, you can catch a bus from Recife, about miles north of Maceio. An executive bus leaves Recife three times daily, and less luxurious coaches depart every two hours for the approximately four-hour journey.
Attractions Maceio is all about the beach, especially around the northern neighborhood of Ponta Verde and at Pajucara Beach. The former is home to a boardwalk lined with beach bars and many of the city's better oceanfront hotels, while the latter hosts a nightly craft market poetically named "Chiero da Tierra," or scent of the earth.
