For those who are fleeing overcrowding, Brazilian beaches are a perfect alternative due to their great natural beauty, good weather and infrastructure for all audiences. Here are some of the best beaches on the Brazilian coast to enjoy the sun by the sea without having to wait in line
Antunes and Camacho (MARAGOGI, ALAGOAS)
Located on the Costa dos Corais and known as "the Brazilian Caribbean", Maragogi is a hub of large resorts, but also has quiet corners. The beautiful Antunes beach, north of the centre of Maragogi, is a must-see and stands out for its warm turquoise waters. A boat ride to the Moses Trail (just three kilometres from Maragogi), a natural pool where a sandy path opens up that allows you to enter the sea without submerging, is a must-see. To get to Maragogi there are two options at similar distances (130 km): the airports of Recife or Maceió, the capitals of Pernambuco and Alagoas, respectively.
São Miguel dos Milagres (ALAGOAS)
A detour from the Alagoas coastal route (105 km from Maceió airport) inland helped preserve 40 km of perfect beaches with very calm sea, protected by reefs. São Miguel dos Milagres is a small fishing village located 100 km from Maceió, a corner of northeastern Brazil with good weather all year round. In São Miguel dos Milagres, visitors will find privileged nature, a sky-blue sea, charming inns, good food, beaches without waves and small fishing boats. The village has five well-preserved beaches that can be reached on foot; however, going from one to another can be complicated due to the high tides, so it is advisable to check the lunar calendar before making the trip.
Maraú Peninsula (BAHÍA)
The Maraú Peninsula is the largest reserve of deserted beaches in Bahia. Its coastline has 40 km of calm beaches and, for a change, some with waves in Taipu de Fora. Algodões and Saquaíra have natural pools facing the sea and Cassange offers a freshwater lake a short distance from the beach. The region is 240 km from Salvador and just over 100 km from Ilhéus airport, which is the best access option. The formation of the natural pools depends on the lunar calendar and the best time is when there is a full moon or new moon to enjoy them at low tide.
Preá (JERICOACOARA, CEARÁ)
Preá Beach, 283 km from Fortaleza, was highlighted last month by The New York Times as one of the best in the world for kitesurfing. “Outside the water, there is plenty to do in the region, including renting ATVs and buggies, horseback riding and swimming in freshwater lagoons,” the paper said. Preá has a small centre, but the inns (from the simplest to the most luxurious) are very close to the beach. To get there, you have to fly to Jericoacoara and take a short half-hour drive, or disembark at Fortaleza airport and travel on a paved road for about two and a half hours.
Galinhos (RIO GRANDE DO NORTE)
Galinhos is a sandy peninsula with a stretch of green sea, a windy mangrove swamp backed by a salt flat and dunes perfect for enjoying a town with the air of a fishing village. It is 150 km from Natal airport (which receives domestic and international flights) and yet it does not have a large influx of tourists, even on weekends. There is a good selection of inns, all with easy access to the shoreline. English: sea. Boat trips are a delight - the sea is usually very calm - and usually include lunch on board and a bonfire in the dunes at sunset.
Bombinhas and Praia do Rosa (SANTA CATARINA)
In the low season, the coastal peninsula formed by beaches such as Bombinhas, Mariscal, Canto Grande, Conceição, Embrulho, Lagoinha, Sepultura, Tainha and Zimbros, guarantees relaxation and connection with nature, although in summer access is usually a festival of queues and honking. Bombinhas is 70 km from Navegantes International Airport and 80 km from Florianópolis. Next door, Praia do Rosa is one of the few almost wild beaches in the area, whose stretches most frequented by tourists are on the south side, where the most stocked kiosks and restaurants are found, and in Lagoa do Meio, a favourite place for families with children. Between July and November, the Santa Catarina coast is visited by right whales, which can be spotted from lookout points on land. In August and September, the weather is pleasant, ranging from 20 to 23 degrees.
Feiticeira Beach (ILHABELA, SÃO PAULO)
Ilhabela is the most attractive beach destination on the northern coast of São Paulo, with a number of beautiful beaches to choose from, some with calm seas and others with open seas with waves. Much of the territory is a state park that is often crowded on holidays and in January. The north of the island, however, is the ideal choice in the low season to enjoy good hotels, warm weather and open space during the holidays, just 180 km from the city of São Paulo and its 12 million inhabitants. The ideal airport to travel to Ilhabela is Guarulhos, further away from the bustling center of São Paulo. Those traveling with family or in a group can opt for the region's beach clubs, well attended and quiet from Monday to Friday. On weekends, it's best to stick to the less-frequented stretches of the longer beaches (Jabaquara or Castelhanos) or the beaches without bars (Praia do Pinto and Praia da Armação in the north, Praia da Feiticeira in the south). A word of warning: Ilhabela is famous for its mosquitoes; the antidote is to take vitamin B and citronella-based repellent.
Arraial do Cabo and Búzios (RIO DE JANEIRO)
The coast of Rio de Janeiro offers unmissable wonders of white sand and blue sea, but during sunny weekends and school holidays, the invasion of tourists is a tradition. However, outside the high season, you can find in Arraial do Cabo (180 km from the city of Rio de Janeiro) little gems such as Praia dos Anjos or Pontal do Atalaia, as beautiful as they are semi-deserted. Búzios - well known by Argentine travelers for its boho chic atmosphere, good food and dozens of quiet beaches - is a perfect destination to arrive on Monday and escape on Friday, unless the tranquility of the week makes up for the hectic days of the weekend, when contingents of travelers arrive from nearby cities.
Source: Visit Brasil / Embratur.