Located in the state of Alagoas, just 20 miles south of the state’s capital Maceió, is Barra de São Miguel.
The lush natural beauty of nearby white sand beaches (among Alagoas’s best); warm, crystalline waters; natural pools amid coral reefs; and small islets cloistered with mangroves—all of these make Barra de São Miguel one of the most attractive and tranquil locations on Brazil’s northeast coast.
Occupied by the Caetés Indians up until the 16th century, when it was discovered by an Italian sailor and transformed into a fishing community, Barra de São Miguel today is a small and peaceful village. It primarily serves as the gateway to Praia do Gunga, a popular tourist site and one of Brazil’s most beautiful beaches, boasting coconut palms, unique green and blue tides, and reputedly overpriced restaurants.
Though it does offer a tourist infrastructure with hotels and boutique posadas, as well as a few bars and restaurants, the village center sits on a riverbank directly facing the more secluded Praia do Gunga, its local beaches sheltered by a large offshore reef, which makes the waters relatively calm.
Enjoy kayaking, snorkeling, fishing, and kite-surfing, among other activities.
