PB · 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
In less than an hour from João Pessoa, you swap the city waterfront for a string of beaches tucked between colorful cliffs and coconut groves. The Costa do Conde buggy tour links viewpoints, natural pools and the famous Tambaba, the best-known nudist beach in Brazil. And there is a geographic bonus: this is where you find Ponta do Seixas, the easternmost point of the Americas, where the sun rises first on the continent.
This destination brings together 4 cities: João Pessoa, Conde, Pitimbu, Alhandra.
A look at the place
These pictures are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs. They may differ from the place.
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One destination, many paths
Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.
João Pessoa combines city beaches, cliffs and a historic center marked by churches and squares. The Farol do Cabo Branco (lighthouse) and the Tambaú waterfront are among the landmarks of Paraíba's capital.
Conde brings together beaches with colorful cliffs, coconut groves and coves on the south coast of Paraíba. Coqueirinho, Tambaba and Tabatinga show different sides of the coast, between stretches of sand and rock formations.
Pitimbu is known for its fishing and beaches on the south coast of Paraíba. Boats along the shore, coconut groves and rivers meeting the sea make up the town's coastal scenery.
Alhandra preserves links to its Indigenous origins and to the tradition of Jurema Sagrada (an Afro-Indigenous spiritual practice). The Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Assunção (church) is part of the downtown landscape and of the town's religious memory in Paraíba.
The local experience
Built around 1740 in the former Indigenous mission village of Aratagui, in rural Baroque style, it keeps much of its original architecture. It has been listed by Iphaep (Paraíba's state heritage institute) since 2004.
A narrow strip of sand where the dark mangrove waters of a river meet the sea, considered one of the most beautiful beaches on the Paraíba coast. It has natural pools and calm stretches for swimming.
Colorful cliffs, coconut palms and warm tide pools at low tide make it one of the most beautiful beaches on the Paraíba coast. There are viewpoints on the road just above.
Formed by the reefs off the town beach, they lie between 500 m and 1 km from the shore. You visit them in small boats at low tide, when the water is shallow and clear.
Discover Piscinas Naturais de Pitimbu
Divided into a regular section and a nudist section, it is one of the best-known nudist beaches in the country. The scenery is a cove enclosed by cliffs and forest.
A Baroque complex listed by Iphan (Brazil's national heritage institute) in 1952, it includes the Igreja de São Francisco (church), the Convento de Santo Antônio (convent), the Capela Dourada (Golden Chapel), cloisters and a fountain from 1717. The large churchyard with a stone cross opens up the view of the facade.
Discover Centro Cultural São Francisco
It is the easternmost point of the Americas, marked by the lighthouse on top of the Cabo Branco cliff. The view opens onto the waterfront and the sea where the sun rises first.
Discover Ponta do Seixas e Farol do Cabo Branco
A beach in a quiet neighborhood, with turquoise-blue, usually calm water and a wide strip of fine, light sand. The middle forms a point, and the southern part is lined with coconut groves.
The reefs, about 15 minutes by boat from the Tambaú waterfront, form clear-water pools with colorful fish. They are only accessible at low tide, especially in the weeks of the new and full moon.
Discover Piscinas Naturais de Picãozinho
A beach with a quiet, village atmosphere, basic facilities and generally calm water. At low tide, sandbanks form shallow areas for swimming.
The busiest beach on the Costa do Conde, with beach shacks, pousadas (guesthouses) and calm water near the river mouth. It is usually the base for exploring the neighboring beaches.
Designed by Oscar Niemeyer and opened in July 2008, the complex offers free exhibitions and activities in art, science and technology. It has become one of the city's architectural symbols.
Discover Estação Cabo Branco – Ciência, Cultura e Artes
Known for its tall cliffs and the viewpoint where paragliding and hang-gliding flights take off. At low tide the strip of sand gets very wide.
The former Lagoa dos Irerês became a public park around 1922 and got gardens by Burle Marx, with a ring of palm trees around the water. It has been listed by Iphaep (Paraíba's state heritage institute) since 1980.
Discover Parque Solon de Lucena (Lagoa)
A small, quiet beach between Jacumã and Tabatinga, surrounded by coconut groves and popular with surfers. Access is by a sandy path down the slope.
Where the Rio Gramame (river) meets the sea, on the border between João Pessoa and Conde, forming shallow pools that are great for children. You can take a canoe ride on the river.
Known as the Bica because of the freshwater spring at its center, it covers 26.8 hectares of Atlantic Forest with a zoo. The name honors botanist Manuel Arruda Câmara.
Discover Parque Zoobotânico Arruda Câmara (Bica)
Opened in 1991 in Tambaú, the two-story colonial-style building houses 128 craft shops. You will find lace, leather and wood pieces, costume jewelry, clothing and souvenirs made in the state.
Discover Mercado de Artesanato Paraibano
The capital's city beach, with a promenade, hotels and seafront restaurants. Catamarans leave from here for the Picãozinho natural pools.
Your base to explore
Where you stay is part of the trip. Choose the area that best fits your itinerary.
A 40-room hotel inside the Reserva do Abiaí, a preserved natural area on the Pitimbu coast, with pools, a kids' recreation area and beach access. It operates on a half-board basis, with breakfast and dinner, offers kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and bicycles, and suits families looking for rest surrounded by nature.
An eight-room pousada (guesthouse) on Rua Mário F. Gominho, at Carapibus beach, near Tabatinga, with a pool, spa and breakfast included. It is run by its Italian owner and suits anyone looking for a small, quiet place to stay while exploring the beaches of the Costa do Conde.
A seafront hotel on Avenida João Maurício, on the Manaíra waterfront, designed by architect Janete Costa and with sustainability practices such as solar power, recycling and composting. It has a pool, gym, bicycles for guests and the Citron restaurant, serving contemporary regional cuisine, and suits anyone who wants to stay close to the beach and the neighborhood's restaurants.
A hotel on Avenida Cabo Branco, facing Cabo Branco beach, with a rooftop pool and bar, sauna and restaurant. It has suites with sea views and family rooms, and suits couples and families who want to stay on the city's southern waterfront, right by the promenade.
A 15-room pousada (guesthouse) on Rua Peixe Boi, at Praia Bela, with a pool, kids' playground and balconies in the rooms. The regional breakfast, with tapioca and local cheese, is praised by guests, and the place suits families who want to stay near the beach on a quiet stretch, away from the crowds.
A beachfront pousada (guesthouse) on Avenida Beira Mar at Carapibus beach, with direct beach access and sea views. It has a pool with a water slide, a restaurant and a game room, and suits families who want to stay facing the sea on the Costa do Conde.
A hotel with contemporary architecture on Avenida Cabo Branco, facing Cabo Branco beach. It has a pool, gym, bicycles and the rooftop restaurant Orama, and caters to guests looking for a more upscale stay on the waterfront.
A pousada (guesthouse) on Avenida Beira Mar at Jacumã beach, on the Conde coast, facing the sea. It caters to couples and families who want to stay right by the beach, with easy access to the other beaches on Paraíba's south coast.
A complex of apartment-style flats on Avenida Oceano Atlântico, at Praia Bela, on the south coast of Pitimbu. The apartments have equipped kitchens and balconies, and the common area has a pool and beach access; it caters to couples and families who want more independence than at a traditional pousada.
Flavors of the destination
A seafood restaurant on Coqueirinho beach, open for more than 20 years, in a rustic setting among coconut palms and facing the sea. The regional menu has moquecas (seafood stews), stews and caldinhos (small cups of hot broth), and it suits anyone spending the day on the beaches of Conde's south coast.
A restaurant at Praia Bela, with tables and hammocks on the banks of the Rio Mucatu, near the sea. It serves home-style food, seafood and caldinhos (small cups of hot broth), and the town government lists it as a stop on the beach's tourist route.
A regional restaurant on Avenida General Edson Ramalho, in Manaíra, the first in the Mangai chain, with decor that recalls a traditional country house. It works as a buffet of Northeastern dishes, such as carne de sol (salt-cured beef) in cream, green beans, baião de dois (rice and beans) and gratinéed cassava, and suits anyone who wants to try Paraíba's cuisine in a single meal.
Chef Onildo Rocha's restaurant on Avenida Capitão João Freire, in Tambauzinho, opened in 2013 and reopened in 2026 after four years closed, serving contemporary Northeastern Brazilian cuisine inspired by the Movimento Armorial (a Northeastern art movement). The menu features creations such as vatapá gnocchi with shrimp moqueca sauce and green bean fritters filled with carne de sol (salt-cured beef), and it suits anyone looking for a signature meal with regional ingredients.
A snack bar and pizzeria on Rua do Campo, in the district of Acaú, in Pitimbu. It is a simple option for pizzas and snacks for locals and vacationers in the village.
A grill restaurant on the PB-008 highway, in Jacumã, with meat, fish, seafood and vegetables cooked on the grill, plus craft beers. Dishes praised by customers include the house-style shrimp and the beef and pork ribs, and it suits anyone wanting a hearty meal after the beach.
A seafront restaurant on Avenida Cabo Branco, opened in 2012 and part of the Gulliver group, founded in 1983 in Tambaú. It has an international menu focused on seafood, with more than 50 dishes and an ocean view, and suits anyone wanting a more special meal on the Cabo Branco waterfront.
A seafood restaurant on Coqueirinho beach, with a clean setting and sea view praised by customers. The menu brings together fish, seafood and meat, and suits anyone spending the day on the beaches of Conde's south coast who wants lunch close to the sand.
A beach club at the Barra do Rio Graú (river mouth), in Pitimbu, with a bar and restaurant whose menu focuses on seafood, plus pasta and meat. It works as a day-use venue and caters to families who want to spend the day between the river and the sea.
Before you go
A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.
Presidente Castro Pinto Airport (JPA), in Bayeux/João Pessoa, with access to the south coast via the PB-008 and BR-101 highways.
From September to March, with less rain and good low tides for the natural pools.
Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.
