'''Maceio'''[http://www.turismomaceio.com.br/] is the capital of Alagoas, in Northeast Brazil.

Understand

Maceio has a great coastal ambiance and stands out for its beauty - embedded in palm trees, mangroves and the bright green sea. It also has a remarkable culture, reflected in its arts and crafts, cuisine and customs. Like many places in North-east Brazil, the city has initially thrived on the sugar industry. Nowadays, it has a very good tourist infrastructure with excellent hotels, and has become an important destination for national and international tourists.

Climate

Maceio's climate is tropical - hot and humid during most of the year. The best time to go depends on your weather preferences. Summer extends from December through March, when temperatures are ''very'' hot. May through September is mildly warm, but rains a lot.

Language

Portuguese as in all Brazil is the official language. If adressed in Spanish or Italian locals may be able to understand. English is not always spoken by those in contact with tourists, specially those in simple jobs. There is a portuguese language school Fast Forward [http://www.fastforward.com.br/] 300 meters away from the beach.

Get in

By air

Maceio's airport is named '''Zumbi dos Palmares International''' (IATA: MCZ; Tel. 82 214-4000) receives flights from every large Brazilian city as well as some international flights. There are plenty of taxis at the airport's arrivals area. Some travelers on a tight budget prefer to take the bus to the downtown area, then a cheaper taxi ride to their final destination.

Get around

Taxi

Taxis are everywhere and you'll have no problem finding them. It first will cost you R$3 to get in the taxi, then it depends how far you go.

Bus

The bus system is widely used. The current price is R$2.00 for a single trip. There are no transfers though so each bus you take will require you to pay again.

See

Natural Beauty

Approximately 140Km south from Maceio there is a ''very''small town called Piacabucu, where you can get on a boat and sail through the Sao Francisco River and see where it meets the Atlantic Ocean. There are vans that can take you there or you can rent a car. The boat ride costs R$30,00 and is absolutely amazing.

Beaches

Maceio is surrounded by beaches. There is no problem finding a nice beach to relax. You can choose between those with a lot of people or the empty ones.

Urban beaches

  • '''Cruz das Almas'''
  • '''Jatiuca'''
  • '''Pajucara'''
  • '''Ponta Verde'''
  • '''Pontal da Barra'''
  • '''Sobral'''
  • North Coast

  • '''Barra de Santo Antonio'''
  • '''Carro Quebrado Beach'''
  • '''Croa Island'''
  • '''Tabuba Beach'''
  • South Coast

  • '''Barra de Sao Miguel'''
  • '''Frances'''
  • '''Gunga'''
  • Do

  • '''Surfing''' and bodyboarding are popular in Maceio. The waves are safe and there are no sharks to worry about. There are also no dangerous reefs to worry about. The best place to go surfing near Maceio is at '''Frances beach'''. The waves are the best and are good all year long. It has a good surf vibe. There are also many low priced resorts you can stay at for the weekend or for months at a time.
  • '''Watch the sunset''' from Avenida da Paz.
  • Concerts are very common.

    Buy

  • '''Lace''' (''renda'') - At the Pontal da Barra, near the Mundau lagoon
  • '''Crafts and popular art''' - At ''Armazem Sebrae'' - Avenida da Paz, 878 (Jaragua). Tel. 82 223-8200. Mo-Fri 10am to 10pm, Sat 9 am to 1 pm.
  • Eat

    There are many, many restaurants to choose from. The restaurants on the beaches alone will be more than enough for your stay. There are many different types of food to choose from. Fish and vegetables from the sea, a wide selection of fruits, and authentic Brazilian cuisine are very common. Make sure to try a Tapioca, a pancake made of tapioca flour that can be filled with anything from ham and cheese to chocolate. They are sold all along the beach at lunchtime.

    Junk Food

  • McDonalds: You can find McDonalds in two places, close to Melia Hotel (the most expensive hotel in the city) or in the Iguatemi Shopping.
  • Super Pizza: The most famous pizza in Maceio. You can try in Iguatemi Shopping or close to the beach.
  • Other places where you can eat junk food: Pizza Fone, Baita Pao and Passaporte Gaucho.
  • Drink

    There are plenty of bars all along the beach. An area of Maceio called '''Jatiuca''' has a good bar scene. It has two famous places, '''Skyy''' nightclub and '''MaiKai'''. Another famous nightclub is '''Middo''' located in the Pajucara section of Maceio.

    Sleep

    Budget

  • Albergue Alagamar. ua Prefeito Abdon Arroxelas 327, Ponta Verde. 55 82 3231 2246. orm R$ 28, doubles R$ 50. A well-located HI-hostel.

    Splurge

    There are many different hotels to choose from in terms of price. There are many large hotels to find tour guides and most of the hotel staff have a good grasp of English and other languages like Italian. Here are just a few:

  • '''Jatiuca Hotel''', Lagoa da Anta 220 - Mangabeiras, 55-82-2122-2000
  • '''Hotel Melia Maceio ''', Av. Alvaro Otacilio 4065, Jatiuca, 55-82-325-5656
  • '''Maceio Mar Hotel''', Av. Alvaro Otacilio 2991, Ponta Verde, 55-82-217-8000
  • '''Ritz Lagoa da Anta''', Av. Brig. Eduardo Gomes 546, Cruz das Almas 55-82-217-4000
  • Apartments

    Temporary apartments are usually the best if your plan to stay more than a week. They are the cheapest and you don't need a lease or pay any utility bills. Many will allow you to stay less than a month. Each temporary apartment is different though. Not all include furniture, a stove, or a refrigerator. Prices can be as low as R$255 per month.

    Stay safe

    Maceio is one of the most violent cities in Brazil, together with Recife (PE) and Vitoria (ES)[http://jc.uol.com.br/2007/02/27/not_133292.php]. There are many poor people wondering around on the street and if you stop for a second, either to look at a map or admire the landscape, they will approach you asking for money. In this case you should say no and start walking away from them, they are mostly harmless. There are less people begging for money in Jatiuca and Ponta Verde, but there are so many in Pajucara that eating a Tapioca by the beach can become an annoying activity.

    Contact

    Get out

    Maragogi a place with the most beautiful beaches with white sand, palm trees and famous natural swimming pool, only few km from Maceio.