Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION
JOÃO PESSOA
By plane
The Aeroporto Internacional Presidente Castro
Pinto (
T
83 3041 4200) lies just 12km west of the city
centre and is connected to the rodoviária by regular buses;
taxis into the
centro histórico
cost around R$40 (R$60 to
the beaches).
By bus
The rodoviária (
T
83 3221 9611) is conveniently
near the city centre. Any bus (R$2.30) from the Terminal de
Integração (local bus station), opposite the rodoviária's
entrance, takes you to the city's one unmistakeable, central
landmark: the Lagoa.
By taxi
Taxis from the rodoviária to the beaches should be
around R$22-29, and just R$8-10 to the
centro histórico
.
Destinations
Campina Grande (hourly; 1hr 45min); Fortaleza
(2 daily; 9hr); Juazeiro do Norte (7 daily; 10-11hr); Natal
(8 daily; 3hr); Recife (13 daily; 2hr); Salvador (1 daily; 22hr).
Tourist information
O
cial information is available
from the state tourist board, PB-Tur (
W
destinoparaiba
.pb.gov.br), at the rodoviária (daily 8am-6pm;
T
83 3222
3537), the airport (daily 9am-4pm) and in the Centro de
Turismo in Tambaú, opposite the
Tropical Tambaú Center
Hotel
at Av Almirante Tamandaré 100 (daily 8am-7pm;
T
83 3247 0505). See also
W
joaopessoa.pb.gov.br.
GETTING AROUND
By bus
All bus routes converge on the circular Anel Viário
skirting the lake, some en route to the beach districts
(#510, #511 and #513), others heading further afield: to
the northern beaches, the neighbouring town of Cabedelo
and the village of Penha (#507A) to the south of the city.
ACCOMMODATION
Lagoa Park Hotel
Parque Sólon de Lucena 19
T
83
3015 1414,
W
lagoaparkhotel.com.br.
There's not a lot of
choice in the city centre, but this is the best option, with
adequate rooms, some with great views over the Lagoa,
friend
ly staff
, decent breakfast and great location. Free
wi-fi.
R$120
Manaíra Hostel
Av Major Ciraulo 380
T
83 3247 1962,
W
manairahostel.com.br.
The only HI-a
liate in town,
this is a well-kept house with small pool and garden just
300m from the beach at Praia de Manaíra; offering dorms
(with a/c or fan), doubles and family rooms. The bathrooms
are shared and sex-segregated. Wi-fi is R$2
/24hr. Prices fo
r
memb
ers are given
in brackets. Doubles
R$110 (R$90)
;
dorms
R$50 (R$40)
★
breakfast, free wi-fi and clean, fan-cooled
dorm
s. Very
popular - advance booking essential. Dorms
R$42
Tropical Tambaú
Av Almirante Tamandaré 229
T
83 2107 1900,
W
tropicaltambau.com.br.
Built in the
1970s and one of the city's landmark Modernist buildings
(it looks a bit like a flying saucer but, amazingly, was
designed not by Niemeyer but by Sérgio Bernardes), this
luxury beachside hotel offers a sauna, pool, games room,
fitness suite and classy restaurant - though it's a little
faded and you're p
aying fo
r the location (and the novelty).
Wi-fi is R$22/24hr.
R$230
★
4
Verdegreen Hotel
Av João Maurício 255
T
83 3044
0000,
W
www.verdegreen.com.br.
Eco-friendly (though
pricey) solar-powered option, with decor made from
natural materials, huge breakfast buffet, spacious a/c
rooms, free wi-fi and
free bi
kes, and complimentary
coconut water on arrival.
R$360
Slow Hostel
Rua Eutiquiano Barreto 91
T
83 3021
7218,
E
slowhostel@hotmail.com.
Excellent hostel 50m
from Praia de Manaíra with memorable home-cooked
EATING
★
Mangai
Av Edson Ramalho 696
T
83 3226 1615,
W
mangai.com.br.
A smart place (part of a mini-chain)
boasting a wide range of Northeastern and
sertão
dishes,
with much of the produce coming fresh from the
restaurant's own ranch; this is regional cooking at its best
(buffet-style; R$49.90/kg).
Daily 11am-10pm.
★
Popular, if slightly exclusive, seafood restaurant
overlooking the beach (opposite the beach bar of the same
name) with a menu featuring freshly grilled
garoupa
(R$58) and
moquecas
(R$60) for sharing. Indoor and
outdoor seating.
Daily 11am-11pm.
Recanto do Picuí
Rua Felicinano Dourado 198
T
83 3224 1400.
Serves some of the best
sertão
food in
the city; the
carne de sol
here is excellent, best accompanied
by green beans and
batata doce assado
(roast sweet
potatoes).
Mon-Sat 11am-10pm, Sun 11am-4pm.
Tábua de Carne
Av Rui Carneiro 648, Tambaú
T
83 3247 5970.
Located on one of the roads running
away from the beach, this rustic-themed place is a
good choice for meat,
carne de sol
and tasty
sertão
food (mains R$26-50).
Mon-Sat 11.30am-10.30pm,
Sun 11am-5pm.
NAU Frutos do Mar
Rua Lupércio Branco 130,
Manaíra
T
83 3021 8003,
W
site.naufrutosdomar.com
.br.
Hordes of Brazilian tourists pile into this stylish seafood
joint at the weekends, eager to sample its lauded “
camarão
nau
” and
moquecas
, but the hype is almost justified - the
shrimp and fish here are some of the freshest and tastiest in
the Northeast. Reckon on at least R$70/head.
Mon-Wed
noon-3.30pm & 6-10pm, Thurs-Sat noon-3.30pm &
6-11pm, Sun 11.30am-3.30pm & 6-10pm.
Olho de Lula
Av Cabo Branco 2300
T
83 3247 6620.
