The reason to go to Porto de Galinhas is the reef pools in front of the village, and the reason a day there can disappoint is that they only work at low tide. This guide is for you if you are staying in Recife and want a day on this coast. It covers how to choose a date, how the pools are managed, what to bring, and what the day looks like if you try it by bus.
The tide decides the date
The pools form on coral reefs about 200 metres off the beach. When the tide goes out, the reef holds the water in, and you can float in warm, shallow, clear water among the fish. At high tide there is nothing to see.
Not every low tide is equal. The lowest come in the weeks of the new moon and the full moon, and those are the best days for the pools. The jangadas, the traditional rafts, start going out about an hour before the lowest point of the tide. The Brazilian Navy publishes the tide tables if you want to look for yourself.
You do not have to plan around it alone. We check the tide table for your date and set the order of the day by it, so you reach the pools close to low tide. If there is no usable low tide in daylight on your date, we tell you when you book, and you can pick another day.
The season
The dry months on this coast run from September to March, with the high season in the summer. From April to August the rain increases, and on wet days the open boats may not go out.
The water stays between about 26 and 28°C all year, so the sea is warm whenever you come. What changes is the chance of a clear sky over the pools.
How the pools are managed
The pools lie on a sensitive stretch of reef, and access is controlled to keep the coral alive. It helps to know them before you arrive.
- Jangadas. The crossing takes about 15 minutes, and the whole trip about an hour and a half. You pay at the jangadeiros' post at the end of the main street. There is no booking: places are sold on the day, in order of arrival.
- Walking out. At low tide you can also walk to the pools, but only with a wristband, and only a limited number are issued each day.
- Time in the water. Lifeguards time how long each group stays in the pools.
- The coral. Do not stand on it. It is alive, and it is what makes the pools.
The other two stops
After the pools, the day moves north to Muro Alto, about 10 km from the village. Here a reef wall up to 2 km long holds back the waves, and the water inside is shallow and calm. It is a good place for a swim, and lunch is on the beach.
The afternoon is at Pontal de Maracaípe, about 5 km south of the village, where the Maracaípe river meets the sea. The mangrove at the river mouth is a nursery for seahorses. Jangadas here offer a seahorse trip. Some guides advise against it because it stresses the animals, and we leave the choice to you.
Where the name comes from
The village was first called Porto Rico. After the slave trade was banned in 1850, it became a place where enslaved Africans were landed in secret, away from the port of Recife. Shipments were said to be hidden under crates of guinea fowl, and the code phrase was "tem galinha nova no porto": there are new chickens at the port. The name stuck. Today you will see chicken sculptures all over the village, made by a local artist known as Carcará.
By bus, or with a driver
Porto de Galinhas is about 60 km south of Recife, and buses run there from the city. If you are staying in the village for a few nights, that is an easy way to arrive, and you can be on the beach whenever the tide is right.
As a day trip from Recife it is harder. The bus does not wait for the tide, so you arrive when it arrives, and Muro Alto and Maracaípe are a drive from the village in opposite directions.
The private day joins the three up and sets the order by the tide table, with fuel, tolls and parking included. The jangada, beach chairs and lunch are paid on the day. The price depends on the size of your group; see it on the tour page.
What to bring
- Swimwear, a towel and a change of clothes for the drive back.
- Sun cream, a hat and sunglasses. You spend most of the day in the sun.
- A mask and snorkel if you have them, for the fish in the pools.
- Cash for the jangada, beach chairs and lunch.
- Keep your valuables close on the busy beach in front of the village, especially in high season.
Who it suits, and who should think twice
It suits families and anyone who wants calm, warm water rather than surf. The pools at low tide and the bay at Muro Alto are shallow and sheltered.
Think twice if you only have a day on which the tide falls in the dark. We will tell you when you book, and an inland day such as the Recife, Olinda and Ricardo Brennand Institute day may suit that date better.
It is a long day, with about an hour each way on the road, more in Recife's traffic. If you land in Recife that morning, book the beach for the following day; for the run to your hotel, see our airport transfers.
Groups of more than 16 travel in two vehicles on one booking. Message us with your numbers. To compare beach days, see our guide to day trips from Recife.
Questions people ask
Can we add Praia dos Carneiros?
Not in the same day without rushing. The Carneiros and Tamandaré tour is a separate day.
Can we cancel?
Yes. Cancel up to 24 hours before pick-up and you are refunded in full. See our cancellation page.
Booking the day
If you can, choose a date near the new or full moon, in the drier months, and bring cash for the jangada. The stops, times and what is included are on the Porto de Galinhas private day trip page, where you choose the size of your group and book.
