river · Porto de Pedras, AL
Santuário do Peixe-Boi (Rio Tatuamunha)
An environmental education project dedicated to protecting the West Indian manatee on the Rio Tatuamunha, visited with a local guide from the community association. The trip goes by jangada (raft) along the river and over wooden boardwalks in the mangrove, to the enclosures of animals in rehabilitation.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Santuário do Peixe-Boi (Rio Tatuamunha)
On the Rio Tatuamunha (river), in Porto de Pedras, rescued West Indian manatees go through a readaptation phase before returning to the sea, and animals already released keep using the river. The West Indian manatee is the most endangered aquatic mammal in Brazil, and the work on the river is part of the species conservation program run by ICMBio, within the APA Costa dos Corais (environmental protection area). The river is on the Rota Ecológica (Ecological Route), a stretch of the north coast of Alagoas between São Miguel dos Milagres and Porto de Pedras.
Visits are organized by the Associação Peixe-Boi, made up of local residents. The trip is made by jangada (raft) along the river, between mangrove banks, to the area where the animals stay. The jangada has no motor and moves slowly. With luck, they come up to breathe beside the boat.
The rules exist to protect the animals: you may not touch, feed or swim with them, and the guides control how close you get. The number of visitors per day is limited, and the trip only runs during the day. In October 2025, the association recorded the birth of a calf in the river, to a female named Telinha.
The visit lasts about an hour and helps keep the project going. Along the way, the guides talk about manatee biology, the rescue of calves stranded on the coast and the release work, which depends on the local community accepting and protecting the animals.
Before you go
Practical information
How much time to set aside
The trip takes about an hour.
Best time
Any time of year, always during the day. The animals move freely along the river, so there is no guarantee of seeing them up close.
How to get there
The boarding point is on the banks of the Rio Tatuamunha, on the Rota Ecológica (AL-101 Norte), between São Miguel dos Milagres and downtown Porto de Pedras. You can drive there on your own; the trip is always with a guide from the association.
Tip
Book on the association's website: spots are limited, and young children must also be included in the booking, even when they don't pay.
Official website
A look at the place
Santuário do Peixe-Boi (Rio Tatuamunha) in pictures
These pictures are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs. They may differ from the place.
Click the picture to enlarge it.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Santuário do Peixe-Boi (Rio Tatuamunha)
Can I touch the manatees?
No. Touching, feeding and swimming with the animals are forbidden.
Am I guaranteed to see a manatee?
No. The animals move freely along the river. That is why there is no guarantee of seeing them up close.
What is the trip like?
It is made on a jangada (raft), with no motor, along the Rio Tatuamunha, with a guide from the Associação Peixe-Boi. It lasts about an hour.
Can children go?
Yes. There is no stated minimum age, and young children don't pay, but their names must be included in the booking.
Do I need to book?
Yes, on the association's website. The number of visitors per day is limited.