Recife Travel Guide

(Last update: Oct 03, 2011 )

That one who sees a picture from the beaches of Recife for the first time may think scared that this is a dangerous destination. That is because blackish areas of reefs which give its name to this populous Brazilian city (the ninth largest) seen from afar simulated oil spills. But that is not to be afraid.The reefs are completely harmless, in contrast, protect coastlines, and give a unique charm to the city.

If we come to Recife by air we will descend into the Aeroporto dos Guarapes. There we can mobilize to the hotel by taxi regular or special. Special ones are a bit more expensive but more comfortable and safer than the regulars. On the other hand you can take the bus line 42 which passes through Conselheiro Aguiar Avenue (the cheapest option).

Recife is a city that captivates equally to lovers of modernity and those who have a nostalgic bent. When visiting the old city we can understand why everybody talk about Recife as the Brazilian Venice. That preserved colonial town, preserved with great care, is crossed by bridges and canals. The modern Recife, however, is full of skyscrapers and the latest technology.

The beaches with reefs

On the coast of Recife the sand is golden and sea water seems a dream. All beaches have something worth knowing. The most famous, however, is Boa Viagem. This beach has an area of about 7 km length and the most beautiful natural reefs in South America. The sea water in Boa Viagem is warm and in bluish green color, so if you are among those who do not enjoy very cold water this might be your ideal place. This beach also has places to play some soccer, volleyball and even for bodysurfing.

Where Boa Viagem beach ends, begins Pina beach. Other beaches located near Boa Vigaem are Candeias and Piedade. If we go further south you can visit Gaibu, Calhetas and Cape. In that area is also located Maracaipe (main choice for surfers), Gamboa and Carneiros. The south of Recife is the place where we will find, according to many people, th best beach of Brazil: Porto de Galinhas. To the north, however, there are beaches like Pau Amarelo, Itamaracá, Ponta de Pedras, Conde and Pipa.If you are looking for warm water like Boa Viagem, go to visit the northern beaches instead.

Fiesta and Carnival

The festive atmosphere of Recife starts every January first and is maintained throughout most of the year. Boa Viagem, the new year is received with a huge festival which attracts thousands of people until late into the night. The most massive celebration in Recife, however, is the Galo da Madrugada, considered the biggest carnival in the world (in 2006 drew more than 1.5 million people). Carnival starts on Saturday and, as its name indicates, extends until dawn. In each carnival there are 400 local groups who stage over 3000 musical performances.Some of the rhythms that we hear in the Galo da Madrugada are the Maracatu, Forró, Frevo and the Manguebeat (all characteristic of the state of Pernambuco).

Soon after, in March, local festivals are organized in Recife. If we travel to Recife for the month of June, however, we can take advantage of the feast day of San Juan, which starts June 12 and ends on 29 March. There is dancing (especially folk dances), fun and even fireworks.

Cultural and natural life

The festivals and carnivals in Recife coexist well with other cultural and artistic expressions. Museums abound in Recife (do not miss to go to the State Museum of Pernambuco, wich hosts an excellent collection of art from the colonial era), art galleries (the ceramic studio of Francisco Brennand, for example) and the ancient churches (the San Pedro Cathedral, which dates from 1782, and the synagogue KahalZur Israel-the largest in the Americas).

The House of Culture is a handicraft center located in the street Floriano Peixoto and is active since 1975. The artisans of different stalls offer ceramic objects made of wood, leather, straw and even strings. It is open every day from 9-10am until 17-18hrs (Monday to Saturday open and close later).

Opera and classical music have also their place in Recife. Teatro Santa Isabel established in mid-nineteenth century has a schedule with national and international stars for music lovers who want to enjoy some great music on holiday.

If we are curious to know something about the old zeppelins can also visit the Zeppelin Tower. This marvel was built in 1930 as a docking point for zeppelins connecting Brazil with Europe and is the only survivor standing in the world.

Recife is home to some natural beauty and renowned worldwide. The volcanic archipelago Fernando de Noronha was elevated to World Heritage Site in 2001. If you want to know the the mysticism and exotic animals here (i.e. giant turtles) you just have to take a one hour flight to north. Those who have a preference for green spaces in the city, however, can stroll through the Park dos Irmâos, with over 380 hectares of natural flora, a 14-hectare botanical garden, outdoor ecological trails and a Natural Science Museum.

There is no doubt that Recife is one of the best places that can be chosen as main tourist destination in Brazil. Besides enjoying the beautiful beaches with coral, traveling to Recife we will be able to visit other interesting places located just a couple of hours away (as Fortaleza, Natal and Joao Pessoa).

Travel agencies for online booking in Recife

The links below are not advertising. The Tourist Club recognizes these companies as safe and with cheapest prices.

hotel.info recommended hotels in Recife
booking.com recommended hotels in Recife

Pictures of Recife

Recommend - Restaurants and Bars (Recife)

No hay recomendaciones aún. Recommend - Restaurants and Bars (Recife)

More information about Recife