Porto de Galinhas Beach

Porto de Galinhas has been voted Brazil's most beautiful beach by the national press more times than any other, and once you experience the natural coral reef aquariums, the distinction makes complete sense. Natural reef formations just offshore trap warm, crystal-clear water in natural pools of remarkable transparency — visibility often exceeds 5 metres — and traditional jangada wooden rafts take visitors through passages in the reef to snorkel over living coral gardens teeming with tropical fish. The beach village atmosphere is charming and lively with a well-developed tourism infrastructure.

The name Porto de Galinhas means "port of chickens" — a reference to the 19th-century code used by slave traders who disguised their illegal cargo (enslaved Africans) as "chickens" after the abolition of slavery. This history is commemorated in the village, alongside a more contemporary identity as one of Brazil's premier tourist destinations. The main beach village has a pedestrianised street lined with restaurants, pousadas, craft shops, and jangada tour operators. The surrounding coastline has several additional beaches — Maracaípe to the south, and several coves north — that offer quieter alternatives to the main beach.