SE · Brazil
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Get to know the place
A small, laid-back capital with a long, developed waterfront along Praia de Atalaia (beach), home to the Arcos da Orla (arches), the Oceanário (aquarium) and the Passarela do Caranguejo (restaurant strip). The Mercado Thales Ferraz sells lace and Sergipe handicrafts; and from the Orla Pôr do Sol, on the banks of the Rio Vaza-Barris, boats leave for the Crôa do Goré and the Ilha dos Namorados (sandbanks). The Xingó canyons, on the São Francisco River, are a day trip away.
This destination brings together 1 city: Aracaju.
A look at the place
These pictures are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs. They may differ from the place.
Click the picture to enlarge it.
One destination, many paths
Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.
The local experience
About 6 km long, the waterfront has sports courts, kiosks, play areas and handicraft fairs, facing a beach with a generally calm sea. The Arcos de Atalaia (arches) are the best-known landmark of the stretch.
Run by Projeto Tamar (Brazil's sea turtle conservation project) and opened in 2002, it has more than 50 marine species, notably turtles and sawfish. It has a large 150,000-liter ocean tank and 17 more aquariums.
Discover Oceanário (Projeto Tamar)
Opened in 2011 in a restored 1926 building, it is an interactive, multimedia museum. Its themed spaces present the history, festivals and traditions of Sergipe.
Discover Museu da Gente Sergipana
The neighboring markets, in the historic center, sell handicrafts and local products such as sweets, peppers and cashew nuts. Next door, the Mercado Maria Virgínia Leite Franco has hundreds of stalls with fruit, spices and seafood.
Discover Mercados Thales Ferraz e Antônio Franco
Opened in 1863, it was the seat of the state government until 1995 and became a museum in 2010. The collection has more than 600 pieces and about 3,000 books, and visits are guided.
Discover Palácio-Museu Olímpio Campos
Covering about 400,000 square meters, it has two lakes, walking trails and a planetarium. Its monuments include a giant cashew fruit and a giant bee.
In the village of Mosqueiro, about 18 km from the Orla de Atalaia, it has a long riverside pier and is a spot for watching the late afternoon. Boats leave from here for the Croa do Goré and the Ilha dos Namorados.
A sandbank that emerges at low tide in the bed of the Rio Vaza-Barris, forming a temporary island surrounded by calm water. Access is only by boat trip, leaving from the Mosqueiro area.
Your base to explore
Where you stay is part of the trip. Choose the area that best fits your itinerary.
A hotel facing the Orla de Atalaia, on Avenida Santos Dumont, in the Coroa do Meio neighborhood, about 5 km from the airport. It has a pool, a gym, sports courts and more than one restaurant, and suits those who want to stay on the waterfront, near the Oceanário and the Passarela do Caranguejo, with full facilities.
A themed pousada on Rua François Hoald, in Atalaia, a few blocks from the waterfront. The room decor evokes Northeastern folklore and culture, there is a pool and a breakfast with regional dishes, and there are options for couples and groups of up to six people.
A hotel on Avenida Inácio Barbosa, about 50 meters from Praia de Aruana (beach), on the quietest stretch of Aracaju's south coast, beyond the Orla de Atalaia. It has a pool with a bar, a hammock area, a zen space, a gym, a playground and a restaurant, and suits families and those looking to relax away from the waterfront bustle.
Flavors of the destination
A restaurant and bar on the Passarela do Caranguejo, on Avenida Santos Dumont, Orla de Atalaia. It serves Northeastern cuisine with crab, carne de sol (salt-cured beef), goat and seafood in a colorful setting with regional decor and live forró (Northeastern dance music), and suits those who want to experience the more festive side of the strip.
A restaurant on Avenida Santos Dumont, on the Passarela do Caranguejo, Orla de Atalaia. Specializing in fish, shrimp and Sergipe cuisine, its best-known dish is moqueca with pirão (fish broth porridge), and it suits families and groups who want seafood near the sea.
A restaurant on Avenida Beira Mar, in the Treze de Julho neighborhood, with a buffet of Sergipe and Northeastern food: carne de sol, goat, cassava dishes, beans, moquecas (fish stews) and regional desserts. The themed decor evokes Northeastern traditions, and the place suits those who want to try several traditional dishes in one meal.
Before you go
A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.
Through Aracaju International Airport, a few kilometers from the waterfront. The Xingó canyons are about 200 km away.
From September to March, with more sun. The rains are concentrated from April to July.
Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.
