Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
old town or the beaches will cost around R$15-20.
Destinations
Aracaju (4 daily; 5hr); Maragogi (4 daily;
3.5hr); Recife (10 daily; 4-5hr); Paulo Afonso (2 daily; 4hr);
Penedo (4 daily; 2.5hr); Salvador (4 daily; 11hr).
Tourist information
Other than the desk at the airport
(see opposite), Maceió isn't well served when it comes to
tourist information. The Secretaria de Estado do Turismo
(SETUR) at Rua Boa Vista 453, just off Praça dos Martírios
in the old centre (Mon-Fri 8am-noon & 2-6pm;
T
82 3315 5700,
W
turismo.al.gov.br), has basic
information on the city. SEMPTUR, the Maceió city tourism
o
ce at Av da Paz 1422, can be contacted by phone
(
T
82 3336 4409,
W
maceio.al.gov.br/semptur) for hotel
and cultural events information.
GETTING AROUND
By bus
Frequent local buses make getting around very
simple. All routes pass through the main squares in the
centre, notably Praça Deodoro and Praça Dom Pedro II,
names you'll often see on route cards propped in the front
windows. Minibuses outside the Estação Ferroviária at Rua
Barão de Anádia travel to Marechal Deodoro (see p.264) via
Praia do Francês every 20-30min.
By taxi
Taxis are relatively easy to find - meters start at
R$3.35. Reckon on R$12-15 between the old centre and
the Pajuçara and Ponta Verde beaches. Tele Taxi (
T
82 3320
3232); Ligue Taxi (
T
82 3326 2121).
ACCOMMODATION
★
Duna Paraiso
Rua São Pedro 427, Garça Torta
T
82 3355 1646,
W
dunaparaiso.com.
Just eight rustic-
chic bungalows on Praia da Garça Torta, north of the city, a
tranquil getaway that doesn't accept kids under 12.
Excellent free wi-fi throughout, superb breakfasts and
friendly It
alian o
wners, Ivan and Graziella. Book months in
advance.
R$250
Hotel Buongiorno
Av dos Jangadeiros Alagoanos
1437, Pajuçara
T
82 3327 1530,
E
vapini@ig.com.br.
Small, modest but attractive hotel, one block from the
heart of the beach and close to most of the best rest
aurant
s.
The a/c rooms are cosy and good value. Free wi-fi.
R$120
Maceió Hostel
Rua Almirante Mascarenhas 85,
Pajuçara
T
82 3231 7762,
W
maceiohostel.com.br.
Maceió isn't known for budget accommodation, but this is
one of the better options, a no-frills hostel a 2min stroll
from the beach with free wi-fi. Staff are usually helpful and
friendly and breakfast is OK, but it can get noisy and a bit
scruffy in peak p
eriods. Prices
for HI m
embers are giv
en in
brackets: Dorms
R$40 (R$30)
; doubles
R$90 (R$80)
★
Maceió Mar Hotel
Av Álavaro Octacílio 2991, Ponta
Verde
T
82 2122 8000,
W
maceiomarhotel.com.br.
Quality hotel with very spacious and comfortable rooms,
plus a bar and sauna; located close to the southern end
of Praia de Ponta Verde. Offers fine views over the ocean,
and i
s a gre
at spot to take in December's Carnaval. Free
wi-fi.
R$300
Pitanga Hostel e Pousada
Rua Olavo Macedo Ribeiro
234, Jatiúca
T
82 3317 1028,
W
pitangahostel.com.br.
Best of Maceió's budget accommodation, with simple,
clean doubles and dorms (all with a/c and free wi-fi), a
garden with hammocks and a shared kitchen, around
600m f
rom J
atiúca be
ach. Bu
ffet breakfast is served daily.
Dorms
R$50
; doubles
R$110
★
4
Pousada Ecomaceió
Av Desembargador Valente de
Lima 204
T
82 3317 8551,
W
pousadaecomaceio.com
.br.
Stylish hotel with cool contemporary a/c rooms,
LCD cable TVs and furniture made with eco-friendly
materials
such as
coconut fibre. English-speaking staff and
free wi-fi.
R$185
EATING
THE BEACHES
★
Mon-Sat 11.30am-10pm, Sun 6.30-10pm.
Divina Gula
Rua Eng. Paulo Brandão Nogueira 85,
Jatiúca
T
82 3235 1016,
W
divinagula.com.br.
Justly
popular restaurant for authentic
mineira
(Minas Gerais)
food such as
picanha na chapa
and
escondidinho
, as well as
quality
mineira cachaça
.
Daily 11am-11pm.
Imperador dos Camarões
Av Dr António Gouveia 21,
Bodega do Sertão
Av Júlio Marquês Luz 62, Jatiúca
T
82 3327 4446,
W
bodegadosertao.com.br.
This
Northeastern (
sertão
), rustic-themed restaurant is a big
tourist favourite but fun nonetheless, with typical dishes
such as
carneiro guisado
(mutton stew) and
carne de sol
with cream. Decent choice of
cachaças alagoanos
also.
PAJUÇARA'S REEF POOLS
The real highlight of Pajuçara beach lies offshore, where the “
piscinas naturais
” (natural pools)
form along the nearby reef at low tide. Though it can get busy on holidays and weekends,
there are usually plenty of tropical fish around and the water is spectacular. Local sailboats
known as
jangadas
(R$25/person) depart from the Passeio de Jangada at Pajuçara beach
during low tide (during the day), roughly opposite the Radisson hotel.
