Porto de Galinhas is a small beach town in Pernambuco, in northeastern Brazil, very popular as a weekend getaway for people from nearby Recife. The area is stunningly beautiful with amazing reefs. Hotels range from cozy “pousadas” to five-star resorts.
The closest airport is in Recife, some 60 Km north of Porto de Galinhas. From Recife, local buses and taxis make the trip to Porto.

Bustling beach town in summer, lots of dining places, local “churrascarias” (barbecue) and good seafood. Lots of beach activities in the area. Amongst them, visits to the “piscinas naturais” in a jangada, a local raft tour to the nearby reefs, where sea water makes natural ponds, and lots of different fish can be seen.
If lucky enough you might attend a sea turtle birth at full moon in midsummer, plan for a full moon stay.
Note that the beautiful reefs are only available at very low tide, for about two hours a day. Ask for information at travel agency or tourism information center for the recommended days and hours to visit reefs.

There are many bars and restaurants here to serve the weekend party crowd. It isn’t hard to find a place for a drink along the beach, on either of the two main roads, or from a number of stands set up at night where the two main roads connect near the beach. Sometimes it is possible to see and even participate in an impromptu drum circle at this intersection on weekend evenings.

Within walking distance on the beach to the south is the smaller town of Maracaipe. If you want to get away from the noise it is a quiet place. Further south the “Recanto do Cavalho Marino”, is a protected area for seahorse breeding. A local “jangada” can take you as well.
Beaches further south are also beautiful, but harder to access.