Top Things to Do in Porto de Galinhas, Brazil

Natural Pools

Not to be dramatic, but this may have been one of the highlights of my life. I think it’s partly because I almost never go in the water (being a bad swimmer and having curly hair means I pretty much just stick to sunbathing when I’m at the beach), but I knew this was something I couldn’t miss. 

The natural pools (or piscinas naturais de Porto de Galinhas) can be found at the main Porto de Galinhas beach, and they appear at low tide (check here for daily times). Standing in the middle of the ocean on the reef was such an unforgettable experience. The water here is so clear also, so a lot of people will snorkel in the natural pools to see all the colorful fish.

(While writing this, I did unfortunately learn that standing on the coral can be damaging to the natural environment. So either skip the standing part, or at the very least, make sure you stay within the boundaries that are set, and not go into any blocked off sections.)

To get here, due to my aforementioned poor swimming skills, I pretty much hung on to my now-husband for dear life as he swam us out to the pools. That may be part of why the memory of coming here still sticks out to me so much, to be honest. But there is actually a much easier (and more common) way of reaching the pools, which is to take a jangada ride.

Jangadas are traditional, flat-bottomed boats with a single sail, that you’ll see all over the beach here. They were originally fishing boats, but today, they’re commonly used to visit the pools. 

⛵Based on my research, they cost $60 BRL, which at the time of writing, is around $10.65 USD. You can buy your ticket right in front of the beach.

Enjoy Local Food

As a seaside town, you can definitely expect to find a lot of fresh seafood, as well as Northeastern Brazilian cuisine. 

Coming from the U.S., I found prices to be overall pretty affordable. 

One night, we did end up buying some fresh fish and produce from a local grocery and cooking in our hostel, to stick to more of a budget. (I’m usually quite anti-cooking on my vacations, but this was part of a multi-week trip to Brazil so I definitely couldn’t be eating out for every meal!)

But despite being a small town, there are a bunch of great places to eat. 

Here are some restaurants to check out:

• Barraca — This is one of the best places in town for seafood and traditional Brazilian food like bobo de camarao (a type of dish stew), and other regional dishes like carne de sol, a style of preparing steak in the Recife area. The decorations and overall atmosphere are also unmatched. This is also one of the higher priced options here, but many of their dishes are larger portions meant to be shared.

• Beijupira — One of Porto de Galinhas’ best known restaurants, you’ll find lots of seafood dishes here.

• Toscana Trattoria — Technically in nearby Muro Alto, this is a popular spot for upscale Italian, including pasta, steak, and seafood dishes. Keep in mind that it’s a bit pricier in general, but you can find entrees between roughly $9 and $20 USD.

• De Boas Pizzas & Picoles — The top place in Porto de Galinhas for pizza, just open for dinner.

• Farofa Fina — For regional Northeastern dishes, this is the spot. It’s a casual restaurant that embraces a Northeastern style, which even extends to its waiters, who wear traditional clothing. There’s often a band playing forró music, which is a regional genre. 

• Barcaxeira — Also beloved for its local cuisine, this restaurant has a cute vibe and is especially known for escondidinho, a Brazilian casserole dish that’s often made with beef, cod, or shrimp.

Take a Buggy Tour

Since I spent a few days in the area, this wasn’t necessary, but if you only have a day or two here, this is a classic Porto de Galinhas activity that will help you cover a lot of ground and explore the surrounding beaches easily.

It looks like you’ll get the best deal with Passeio de buggy Porto de Galinhas, and I would feel confident booking with them since they have lots of great reviews! Book your tour by contacting them on WhatsApp. (If you’re from the U.S./don’t generally use WhatsApp, I definitely recommend downloading it before you head to Brazil!)

Go to Maracaípe Beach and Pontal de Maracaípe

This beach is just 1.5-2 miles away from Porto de Galinhas, so would just be a 30-minute walk or 10-minute car ride to reach. It’s known for being one of the best surfing beaches in the state of Pernambuco, as well as a great spot for water sports like kitesurfing. It can get pretty crowded during the weekend, but is generally calm during the week.

If you want to head even further away from Porto de Galinhas, you can then reach Pontal de Maracaípe, which is another 20 minutes or so walking. Now, this place is gorgeous — it’s where the river technically meets the sea, and it’s such a beautiful place to watch the sunset. 

Throughout this area, you’ll see mangroves, coconut palms, and wildlife like crabs, sea horses, and maybe even sea turtles.

Stop by Muro Alto Beach

This is another one of the prettiest beaches in the area. It’s 3.7 miles from Porto de Galinhas, and is known for having calm water protected by the reefs. It’s popular for things like kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding, but unfortunately can get crowded, and in recent years, resorts have taken up a lot of the coastline, making the beach more difficult to access.

So with that said, the easiest way to visit would be to go through one of the beach clubs, which could cost anywhere from R$10 to R$50ish for day use.

Visit Praia Carneiros

This beach is about an hour from Porto de Galinhas by car, but it’s worth the travel time, I promise! We ended up stopping here on our way back from Porto de Galinhas to Recife, which honestly, didn’t really make sense directionally (Porto de Galinhas is in the middle of Carneiros and Recife), but we didn’t mind the extra driving time. 

While here, definitely stop by Capela de São Benedito Igrejinha dos Carneiros, a cute church right in front of the water that dates back to the 18th century. I’ve never seen a church right on the beach like that!

If you want to get inside, it costs R$10, and there will probably be a line, which honestly, I just didn’t have the patience for at the time, but is a really popular attraction and it looks really pretty!

To access the beach, if you’re okay with a long walk, put “Piscinas naturais praia de Tamandaré” (natural pools of Tamandaré Beach) into your GPS. This is an open access point that’s about an hour away from Carneiros by foot. The whole walk is super pretty. The one issue was walking back to our car at night did feel like the longest walk ever, but in hindsight, we could have just Ubered back to our car.

Unfortunately, many areas in Carneiros are blocked off from the public (even though all beaches are technically public in Brazil!), so the alternative is to either try your luck closer, stay at one of the resorts on the beach, or maybe the simplest option — eat at one of the restaurants there. 

There are a bunch of restaurants along the whole stretch of shoreline, and while they’re not the cheapest around, they still all looked decent. We ended up eating at one (I unfortunately don’t know the name) and had some delicious moqueca, aka a Brazilian seafood stew that I’m obsessed with.

Walk Around Town

Apart from spending time on the actual beach, one of the best things to do in Porto de Galinhas is just wandering around town and checking out the various shops. The Feira de Artesanato, or Artisanal Fair, is a cool spot for handicrafts, and Ateliê Gilberto Carcará is a great local artist who has a gallery in town. There’s also a cute umbrella street that’s a great photo spot!

You’ll notice chicken statues scattered around town. 

At first glance, they seem quirky, but they actually nod to a much darker chapter in Porto de Galinhas’ history. The name itself means “port of chickens” — a code word used during the colonial era to discreetly refer to enslaved people who were being trafficked illegally through the port after slavery was officially abolished. It’s a sobering reminder of Brazil’s past, layered beneath the town’s laid-back beach atmosphere.

FAQs about visiting Porto de Galinhas

From here, you have a few options.

🚗 BY CAR

While in Recife, my husband and I rented a car — truthfully, I have no recollection of how much it cost at this point, but it definitely wasn’t the cheapest transportation option. 

But by car, it will take an hour or an hour-and-a-half to get to Porto de Galinhas, depending on traffic. 

If I were traveling solo I probably wouldn’t have done that since the idea of driving in foreign countries kind of terrifies me.

So with that said, another option would be to book a private car or just Uber.

🚌 BY BUS

This is of course the most affordable option, and public transportation is very commonly used in this region and is considered safe.

Two buses connect Recife and Porto de Galinhas, 195 (has A/C, and costs $24.75 BRL) and 191 (no A/C but a little cheaper).

🗺️ BY TOUR

Lastly, lots of people also just visit Porto de Galinhas as a day trip, so one easy option would be to take a day tour that includes transportation to and from Recife. While I think this would be a little rushed for me personally and not as relaxing, it could be a great option if you’re short on time, and don’t want to worry about any logistics. I also like tours when I’m traveling solo, as they can be a fun way to meet other people!

🌊 Explore Porto de Galinhas’ natural pools and beautiful landscapes with this full-day tour, transportation included 🌴

Is Porto de Galinhas worth visiting?

If you like beaches, then 100% yes! Porto de Galinhas is picturesque, relaxing, and known for having some of the best beaches in Brazil, which if you know anything about Brazil, is really saying a lot.

There’s not a ton to do here as far as cultural experiences, but paired with some time in Recife, it’s really the perfect trip. 

For even more culture, Recife is also just an hour-and-a-half flight from Salvador, one of the most exciting, beautiful, and culturally rich places in Brazil.

✈️ Ready to fall in love with this hidden gem? Whether you’re here for a weekend or longer, book your stay in Porto de Galinhas now — the natural pools (and a plate of fresh seafood) are waiting.