Porto de Galinhas: Sunset at Pontal do Maracaípe

Porto de Galinhas, part of the municipality of Ipojuca, has grown into a major hub with solid infrastructure these days — though the beaches surrounding it stay more rustic and untouched.

The beaches here are warm, with natural pools, mangroves, and a town center full of shops for souvenirs, along with a wide range of restaurants.

We only stopped by for a late afternoon, after visiting Ilha de Santo Aleixo, to catch the sunset at Pontal de Maracaípe and grab dinner in Porto de Galinhas.

What to do in Porto de Galinhas

As mentioned, we went to watch the sunset at Pontal do Maracaípe, which is simply beautiful.

Sunset at Pontal do Maracaípe

To get to Pontal do Maracaípe with your own car, you can rely on Waze or Google Maps. Head to the last parking lot on your left, which costs R$10 after 4 PM, then walk along the beach to a private property that’s open to the public.

Be careful when you arrive at the beach, since the tide can be quite high — when we went, the water was ankle-deep, though there’s no need to worry about the warnings from the parking attendants.

From the property, follow an easy trail to the river. There’s also the option of taking a boat or a raft from the first parking lot on your right, heading straight there by water for R$30 per person.

Once you reach the river, all that’s left is to enjoy the sunset — genuinely stunning and incredibly peaceful.

Downtown Porto de Galinhas

Downtown is well organized, with a pedestrian-only street, so you can walk around comfortably.

There are several shops selling souvenirs, beachwear, local food, and restaurants. We wandered the whole area and loved it.

Along the street, you’ll spot rooster statues of every kind outside restaurants, named after the town (“Porto de Galinhas” translates roughly to “chicken port”)! Each one is different and a lot of fun to spot.

Where to eat in Porto de Galinhas

La Crêperie

We were craving a quick, light meal, and picked this spot for its wide range of salads and crepes.

Setting: spacious and romantic, with a tree at the entrance decorated with signs and lights, plus both indoor and outdoor seating.

Main course: we ordered the Salada Trindade, with shrimp sautéed in olive oil, heart of palm, carrot, potato, a yogurt-mustard dressing, and lettuce.

We only ordered that, plus a Swiss lemonade for Andrey. We were thirsty and didn’t check the menu carefully beforehand, only realizing at the end that the lemonade was way overpriced.

Price: R$95 for two people.

Learn more about our trip in Tamandaré and Praia dos Carneiros.