Maragogi Beach

Maragogi is on the northern coast of Alagoas, outside Ipojuca and outside Pernambuco. It is famous for its galés, natural pools formed by coral reefs out at sea, which appear at low tide. Even though it is in another state, it is a popular trip for people staying in Porto de Galinhas, sold by local agencies as a full-day excursion.

What it is

According to Wikipedia, the galés form at low tide, about six kilometers off the coast, and are the municipality’s main attraction. ICMBio Normative Instruction No. 08/2009 noted that Maragogi was then the second tourist destination in Alagoas, after only Maceió, and that the galés are its main draw.

On the shore, Wikipedia highlights the beaches of São Bento, with the coral formations known as “croas de São Bento”, Camacho, Burgalhau, Barra Grande and Xaréu. The English version describes calm water without strong waves, with reefs and fine sand.

Where it is and how to get there

Maragogi lies just past the border between Pernambuco and Alagoas, south of São José da Coroa Grande, which, according to Wikipedia, is about 114 km from Recife. On the Alagoas side, Maragogi is about 125 to 130 km from Maceió. The distance and travel time from Porto de Galinhas have not been confirmed by an official source; the route heads south, passing the Tamandaré coast.

English Wikipedia says the registered catamarans leave from several points in the municipality. Agencies in Porto de Galinhas sell packages with transport and boat. Prices and what is included vary; compare in Porto de Galinhas tours.

When to go

It all depends on low tide: the galés are only good for swimming when the tide is low, and Normative Instruction 08/2009 bans boats from staying in the public use zone at high tide.

Note: the tide table on this site is calculated for the port of Suape, in Pernambuco. It works as a general reference, but in Maragogi the local forecast and the time the operator confirms for the day are what count. ICMBio points to the summer, with less rain and clearer water, as the best time in the Costa dos Corais protected area.

Who it suits

• People who want to see offshore natural pools, different from the ones near the sand in Porto de Galinhas.
• Travelers with five days or more who have already seen the Ipojuca beaches.
• Families: the trip is long and includes a boat ride; consider how tired the children will get and check for life jackets in their size.

Environmental and safety tips

Maragogi is one of the eight Alagoas municipalities in the Costa dos Corais Environmental Protection Area, a federal reserve managed by ICMBio (Brazil’s federal conservation agency). ICMBio Normative Instruction No. 08/2009 created public use, anchoring and diving zones at the galés and set, among other rules:

• a ban on fishing and collecting organisms in the public use zone;
• anchoring only at the moorings installed for that purpose;
• a ban on feeding fish and disturbing wildlife;
• a ban on selling food and drinks in the public use zone (only aboard authorized boats);
• a ban on sound systems at the galés;
• a requirement for ICMBio authorization and a city hall license for visiting, diving and underwater photo services;
• a daily visitor limit, set as provisional pending a carrying capacity study.

The limit and other rules may have been updated by later regulations; check the current situation on the ICMBio reserve page, which keeps lists of authorized boats and providers. In June 2026, federal prosecutors in Alagoas took an operator to court over unauthorized tours in the reserve, which underlines the importance of checking who is taking you.

• Do not step on the coral.
• Wear a life jacket on the boat.
• If you cannot swim, stay in the shallow areas and close to the boat.

How to fit it into your itinerary

Maragogi takes a full day, leaving before dawn or very early and returning in the late afternoon. It makes most sense from the fifth day of your trip on; see the 7-day itinerary. If you want natural pools without leaving Ipojuca, the Porto de Galinhas natural pools are right in front of the village. For other beaches to the south, such as Carneiros, see beaches near Porto de Galinhas.