The Galés are reef pools about six kilometres off Maragogi, and they are the only reason to make this drive. This guide is for you if you are staying in Maceió and wondering whether the day is worth twelve hours. It covers how the date gets chosen, which months give the clearest water, how the boats are controlled, and what you can and cannot do once you are in the water.
The tide chooses the date
The Galés only show at low tide. The boats go out when the tide is low, ideally 0.3 metres or lower, and the trips are suspended when it is high. The rules for this part of the protected area allow trips to the pools from two hours before to two hours after low tide, using the Brazilian Navy's forecast for the port of Maceió.
That is why we check the tide table before we confirm your date. Some days have a good low tide at a sensible hour, and some do not. If you have a few days in Maceió, keep your Maragogi day flexible and fit the shorter trips around it.
Which months
Clarity depends on rain and wind. December to February is the most popular stretch, with little rain and clear water. September to November is also dry, with clear skies, and is worth looking at if you want to avoid the summer holidays. March to May sits in the middle. June to August is the wettest part of the year on this coast, and the rain clouds the water. In Maceió the wettest months run from April to July.
The trip can still run in the rainy season if the tide is right. You just accept that the water may be less clear than in the photographs.
How the Galés are protected
Maragogi lies inside the APA Costa dos Corais, a federal protected area created in 1997 and run by ICMBio. It stretches from Tamandaré in Pernambuco to Paripueira in Alagoas, and in June 2025 a federal decree enlarged it to about 495,000 hectares. Its purposes include protecting the reefs and the marine manatee and regulating tourism.
At the Galés that means a cap on the number of boats each day, set by type, and boats from accredited operators only. The crossing takes about half an hour, and the pools are between one and five metres deep. ICMBio counts around 260,000 visitors a year.
Use a licensed operator. The federal courts have stopped operators running tours without ICMBio authorisation, and some pools, such as Lagoa Azul, are closed to visits by court decision. We recommend licensed operators and drop you at the right pier; you pay the boat to them directly.
Rules on the reef
The protected-area rules are short and worth reading before you go:
- Do not stand on or touch the reef.
- Do not feed the fish or any other animal, and do not chase or touch manatees.
- Do not take shells, stones or anything else.
- Fins are not allowed.
- Food must be prepared beforehand, and only non-alcoholic drinks are allowed, on board only.
- No music or parties on the boats.
Boats usually lend masks. Take your own if you have one that fits well.
How the day fits together
You are collected at 07:00 and back at about 19:00. Maragogi is about 130 km north of Maceió, roughly three hours each way, so six hours of the day are on the road. Breakfast can be in the car, or we stop for a coffee.
The boats leave from the beachfront in town, and the trip runs about two hours. Lunch is by the beach in Maragogi. In the afternoon you go north to Antunes and Ponta de Mangue. At Antunes, sandbanks offshore form pools without coral, and they are usually less crowded than the Galés. You leave at about 16:00.
The boat, beach-club fees and lunch are not included. The vehicle is yours, so if the morning boat runs late or you want longer at Antunes, the afternoon bends around it. The price depends on the size of your group; see it on the tour page.
What to bring
- Swimwear on under your clothes, a towel and a change of clothes for the drive back.
- A hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
- A dry bag or a waterproof phone case.
- Your own snorkel mask, if you have one.
- Cash or a card for the boat, lunch and beach clubs.
Who should think twice
- Families with small children. Six hours in a car is a lot. Paripueira, about 30 km from Maceió, also has reef pools at low tide.
- Anyone who wants the quiet north coast more than the Galés. The São Miguel dos Milagres day is shorter and adds the manatees of the Rio Tatuamunha.
- Weak swimmers. The pools are up to five metres deep in places. Tell the boat crew before you get in, and stay in the shallow parts.
Our guide to day trips from Maceió compares all five.
Questions people ask
Can you book the boat for us?
We recommend licensed operators and take you to their pier. The boat is booked and paid with them.
What if the tide is wrong on our only free day?
We tell you before we confirm. In that case Paripueira or Milagres is the better use of the day.
Can we cancel?
Yes. Cancel up to 24 hours before pick-up for a full refund. See our cancellation page.
Booking
Send us the dates you have in Maceió, and we will tell you which give a good low tide. The rest is on the Maragogi private day trip page, where you choose your group size and book.
