The north coast of Alagoas between São Miguel dos Milagres and Porto de Pedras is quieter than Maragogi and easier to reach. This guide is for you if you are in Maceió and the manatees of the Rio Tatuamunha are part of the reason. It covers what to book ahead, how the tide and the season shape the day, and whether the day suits your group.
Book the manatee boat first
This is the one thing to arrange before anything else. The river trip is run by the Associação Peixe-Boi, a local association, and it can only be done with their guides. The jangadas have no motor, carry up to 15 people each, and the number of visitors on the river each day is limited.
Book with the association in advance, especially in high season, and tell us the time you get. We plan the rest of the day around it. The boat is not included in the tour and is paid to them directly.
The trip lasts about an hour. The boats go up the river and stop near the enclosures at the ICMBio base in Porto de Pedras, where manatees are kept. The animals in the river are wild, so a sighting is likely but never certain. The hours have changed before, so check the current timetable with the association rather than an old one.
The tide and the season
The reef pools at Praia do Toque and Patacho form behind the reef at low tide. We set the order of the day by the tide table, so the stops may swap round.
For the season, the coast follows the same pattern as Maragogi. December to February is the most popular time, with little rain and clear water, and September to November is also dry. June to August is the wettest stretch, and rain clouds the water in the pools. In Maceió the wettest months run from April to July.
A protected coast
All of this lies inside the APA Costa dos Corais, the federal marine protected area that runs from Tamandaré in Pernambuco to Paripueira in Alagoas. One of its stated aims is protecting the marine manatee, which is why the river trips are guided, capped and run without motors.
Praia do Patacho, in Porto de Pedras, holds the Blue Flag. It was the first beach in Alagoas to get it, and it has kept it over several seasons. The Blue Flag is judged on 38 criteria, among them water quality, environmental management, safety, services and environmental education, and the beach has to prove them again every year. Praia da Laje, also in Porto de Pedras, has received it too.
Expect calm water and natural pools at low tide, with the palms behind you.
How the day fits together
You are collected at 07:00 and are at Praia do Toque at about 09:00. São Miguel dos Milagres is about 100 km from Maceió, a little under two hours each way. The manatee trip follows at Porto de Pedras, then lunch at a beach restaurant on the Rota Ecológica and an afternoon at Patacho. You leave the coast at about 15:00 and are back at your hotel at about 17:00.
The boat, beach-club fees and lunch are not included. The vehicle is yours, so if your manatee slot is later, the beach comes first. The price depends on the size of your group; see it on the tour page.
What to bring
- Your booking confirmation from the Associação Peixe-Boi.
- A hat and sunscreen. The jangadas are open boats.
- Swimwear and a towel for the pools.
- Something to keep your phone dry on the river.
- Cash or a card for the boat, lunch and beach clubs.
On the river, follow the guide. The protected area's rules ban touching, feeding or chasing manatees.
Who it suits
It suits anyone who wants the reef pools without Maragogi's six hours on the road, and families with children old enough to sit still in a boat for an hour. It also suits travellers who would rather have a quiet beach than a busy one.
Think twice if the Galés are what you came for. Going on to Maragogi from here makes the day very long; the Maragogi trip is a separate day. If you want less driving still, Paripueira is about 30 km from Maceió. Our guide to day trips from Maceió compares them.
Questions people ask
Will we definitely see manatees?
No. The animals in the river are wild. They are often seen, but no one can promise it, and the boats have no motor so as not to disturb them.
Can a group larger than 16 come?
Yes, in two vehicles on one booking. Remember the jangadas take up to 15 each, so a big group needs more than one boat slot.
Can we cancel?
Yes, up to 24 hours before pick-up, with a full refund. See our cancellation page.
Booking
Get your manatee slot, then pick the date on the São Miguel dos Milagres private day trip page and choose the size of your group.
