\n \ud83e\uddf3 Plan your trip to Brazil\n <\/p>\n
\ud83c\udfe8 Hotels:<\/strong> Browse the best hotels on Booking.com<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udf9f\ufe0f Tours & activities:<\/strong> Find tours on Civitatis<\/a> \u00b7 \n <\/p> \ud83d\ude97 Car rental:<\/strong> Compare prices on Rentcars<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udee1\ufe0f Travel insurance:<\/strong> Get a quote here<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n The city of Jo\u00e3o Pessoa, affectionately known as Jampa, is the capital of the state of Para\u00edba in northeastern Brazil. You can reach the city by plane via the Presidente Castro Pinto Airport (Aeroporto Presidente Castro Pinto – JPA), located in Santa Rita, just 7.5 km (4.7 miles) from Jo\u00e3o Pessoa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also get there by bus or car from Natal or Recife, especially if you plan to combine two cities in one trip (which I highly recommend!). In both cases, just follow BR-101 (heading north if coming from Recife or south if departing from Natal).<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can book a day tour to Jo\u00e3o Pessoa from Recife<\/a> or Natal<\/a> with Civitatis!<\/p>\n\n\n\n When I visited Jo\u00e3o Pessoa in 2021, I took a bus from Natal, and the journey took about 3 hours and 30 minutes. Currently, a bus ticket from Natal to Jo\u00e3o Pessoa costs R$ 79.30 (US$ 13.63 \/ \u20ac 13.00) through ClickBus<\/a>, which is my go-to platform for purchasing bus tickets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While Jo\u00e3o Pessoa has a compact city center, renting a car<\/a> is the best option if you want to explore nearby beaches and natural attractions at your own pace. Many of the most beautiful beaches in Para\u00edba are located just outside the city and are much easier to access by car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To find the best prices and compare rental companies in Brazil, you can book your car in advance with Rentcars<\/a>, which works with both international and local providers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tourist area of Jampa spans four main neighborhoods: Bessa, Mana\u00edra, Tamba\u00fa, and Cabo Branco<\/strong>. All of them are well-served with restaurants and activities, and they are located along the city\u2019s coastline.<\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t There are inns and hotels to suit all preferences in these four neighborhoods, and some hotel chains even have properties in multiple locations. You can choose to stay closer to the activities you plan to do, but I believe it won’t make a significant difference if you opt for another neighborhood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nel and I stayed at Pousada Atl\u00e2ntica<\/a> in Tamba\u00fa, and it was definitely worth it. The inn was part of a package we booked with Redrock (we’ll explain more below). It\u2019s located on Av. Senador Ruy Carneiro<\/a>, a main street dividing the neighborhoods of Tamba\u00fa and Mana\u00edra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This was ideal because Tamba\u00fa Beach is where tours to the natural pools depart from, and there are excellent bars and restaurants nearby, plus a supermarket that came in handy. You can include breakfast in your stay, which, by the way, is fantastic!<\/p>\n\n\n There\u2019s no shortage of activities in Jo\u00e3o Pessoa. The city is highly touristic and offers several natural attractions close to the capital. One of the main highlights is undoubtedly the natural pools, with three options: Pic\u00e3ozinho, Seixas, and Bessa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Seixas pool<\/a>, by the way, is the easternmost point of the Americas, which is why people say the sun rises first in Jo\u00e3o Pessoa! We chose to visit Seixas, as we only had a weekend, but all of them are worth seeing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tours depart from the Tamba\u00fa coastline and typically last around three hours. You board a catamaran at the beach, which stops for a while at the pools. There, you can enjoy snorkeling, kayaking, and paddleboarding. Make sure to confirm with the company you book with what is included in their package! We went with Passeios Extremo Oriente<\/a>, and it was a smooth experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s important to note that for this and all other natural pool tours, keeping an eye on the tide schedule<\/a> is essential. These tours are only possible during low tide, which is influenced by several factors, including the phases of the moon. If you want to see the clearest pools, check the tide chart and pick the best dates for your trip!<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to the natural pools, another must-see attraction in Jo\u00e3o Pessoa is the sunset at Praia do Jacar\u00e9<\/a> (Jacar\u00e9 Beach). Beyond the beauty of the sunset itself, this spot is famous for Jurandy do Sax, a saxophonist who has played Bol\u00e9ro from Ravel on a canoe in the Para\u00edba River during over 6,000 sunsets!<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can watch the performance from the riverside beach or join one of the boat tours timed with this double spectacle\u2014nature\u2019s and Mr. Jurandy\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Book your sunset tour to Praia do Jacar\u00e9 with hotel pickup and drop-off in Jo\u00e3o Pessoa.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Jo\u00e3o Pessoa\u2019s beaches are also fantastic! We visited Mana\u00edra Beach<\/a> on a quiet friday afternoon and Tamba\u00fa Beach<\/a>. The beaches at Cabo Branco<\/a> and Tamba\u00fa have a stunning light blue color, almost no waves, warm waters, beach bars, restaurants, and even volleyball courts\u2014a real treat! Tamba\u00fa stands out as one of the best urban beaches we\u2019ve visited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We noticed that Jampa residents are big fans of physical activities. The waterfront closes to vehicles every morning from 5:00 AM to 8:00 AM to accommodate walkers, cyclists, and skaters. Even during the hottest hours, people were bustling with energy playing beach volleyball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another great spot is Ilha da Areia Vermelha <\/a>(Red Sand Island), a sandbank at Camboinha Beach. You can book tours to visit it through the same agencies that offer trips to the natural pools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t forget Jo\u00e3o Pessoa\u2019s historic downtown, which is absolutely charming. It\u2019s worth remembering that Jampa is one of Brazil\u2019s oldest cities, founded in 1585. Consider spending an afternoon exploring the Fort of Santa Catarina do Cabedelo, Jo\u00e3o Pessoa Square, and the Franciscan Complex, including the S\u00e3o Francisco Church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have a bit more time, why not visit Natal<\/a> or Recife (or both)? They\u2019re close by, and you can book tours departing from Jo\u00e3o Pessoa or rent a car. On the Do in Brazil blog, we even have a guide for a 3-day itinerary in Pipa Beach<\/a>, which is only two hours from Jo\u00e3o Pessoa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During our trip, we also explored some beaches along the southern coast of Para\u00edba. We took a one-day tour of the Costa do Conde (Conde Coast), located just a short distance from Jo\u00e3o Pessoa. The main beaches include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n We’ll talk more about our experience at each of these beaches later!<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to the southern coast, there are also tours available to the beaches of the northern coast of Para\u00edba. We didn\u2019t visit them during this trip, but we had the chance to see Coqueirinho do Norte (Northern Coqueirinho Beach) while visiting the Correntino Waterfall<\/a> and absolutely loved it! If you have the time, also check out Ba\u00eda da Trai\u00e7\u00e3o (Bay of Betrayal), a place filled with nature and history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that you\u2019re familiar with the main tourist attractions along Para\u00edba\u2019s coast, particularly in Jo\u00e3o Pessoa, let me share our 3 (almost 4) days itinerary in Jo\u00e3o Pessoa!<\/p>\n\n\n\n We booked a package with Redrock<\/a> that was both affordable and flawless. Honestly, it offered the best value we\u2019ve experienced on any trip so far! While the package with accommodation isn\u2019t available on their website, in October 2021, we paid R$ 550.00 (US$ 94.53 \/ \u20ac 90.14) for two nights at Pousada Atl\u00e2ntica, including breakfast, plus the Saturday tour of the southern coast beaches and viewpoints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Currently, you can book the southern coast and viewpoints tour on their website<\/a> for R$ 360.00 (US$ 61.87 \/ \u20ac 59.00) for two people, and arrange your stay through Booking.com<\/a>. The Redrock website also offers other tour options in the area!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep in mind that Para\u00edba, while a small state, is packed with incredible destinations from north to south, inland and along the coast. There\u2019s so much more to explore beyond what we can cover in this article. But here\u2019s what we did!<\/p>\n\n\n\n We took the 7:00 a.m. bus from Natal and arrived in Jo\u00e3o Pessoa at 10:30 a.m. From the bus station, located on the far end of the city, we took an Uber to our inn in Tamba\u00fa, where we checked in and got ready for the day ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since it wasn\u2019t a day off for us, we worked until lunchtime, then went out to find a nice place to eat. There are plenty of restaurants along the beachfront, and while walking toward Cabo Branco, we found one that served delicious fish dishes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After finishing our work in the afternoon, we headed out around 4:00 p.m. for a stroll along the Tamba\u00fa and Mana\u00edra beachfronts. It was a relaxing walk, and after a quick shower, we got ready for dinner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That evening, we dined at The W<\/a>, right by the beach. We were in the mood for paella, so we searched for a good restaurant serving it and were pleasantly surprised! The ambiance was elegant, the music lively, the paella generous, and the cocktails absolutely fantastic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On Saturday, we woke up bright and early to wait for the transfer to the southern coast beaches tour. Redrock had already coordinated everything with the guide from T\u00f4 de Folga JP<\/a>, who picked us up at the inn. I love taking guided tours because the guides share stories and fun facts about the places, making the experience much richer!<\/p>\n\n\n\n We took the highway to Barra do Gramame, where the river meets the sea at the border between Jo\u00e3o Pessoa and Conde. There, we stopped at Bar do Mexicano and took a dip in the river’s super warm waters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Next, we headed to Praia do Amor (Love Beach) and snapped some photos at the famous rock said to seal relationships forever.<\/p>\n\n\n We skipped swimming at Praia do Amor and moved on to one of the stops we were most excited about: Praia de Tambaba. From the viewpoint, you can admire the beauty of the beach and the peculiar coconut tree growing atop a rock. Experiencing a nudist beach was something we really wanted to do, and even with the rain, we enjoyed it immensely!<\/p>\n\n\n The beach has a nudist section and a “regular” one. Right at the corner of the beach, there’s a well-marked staircase, and beyond that point, undressing is mandatory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep in mind that the nudist beach is an Environmental Protection Area (APA), overseen by an association ensuring that nudism is practiced responsibly. I felt more comfortable there than at many clothed beaches. If you decide to visit, be sure to respect the rules and other visitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We stayed until close to lunchtime, then headed to Coqueirinho Beach. We had lunch there and enjoyed the calmest waters of the trip\u2014just like a natural swimming pool!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although there were several stops, we got to enjoy each one thoroughly. Every beach has its unique charm, and who knows? Maybe we\u2019ll come back one day to spend a full day at each.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Afterward, we went to the Redrock headquarters in Coqueirinho, where we received quad bike training before starting the tour of the viewpoints. Driving a quad bike is exhilarating!<\/p>\n\n\n\n We started at Shopping Rural, a fascinating spot! It\u2019s a series of small clay houses where each member of a family runs a shop. This idea was started by Dona Luiza, and now her children sell unique items, turning it into a thriving family enterprise\u2014a truly creative endeavor.<\/p>\n\n\n The shops offer sweets, handicrafts, cacha\u00e7a (traditional Brazilian alcoholic beverage made from sugarcane juice, similar to rum but distinct in its production process), tapioca (traditional Brazilian dish made from tapioca flour, derived from cassava root), nuts, clothes, and more. We picked up some fridge magnets, a pair of earrings for me, and an incredibly delicious 21-herb cacha\u00e7a.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Next, we headed to the Castelo da Princesa (Princess Castle) Viewpoint at S\u00edtio Tambaba. The rock and colored sand formations here, shaped by rain, wind, and tides, were captivating. Ever seen those bottles filled with layers of colorful sand? They make plenty of those here!<\/p>\n\n\n From there, we went to the Dedo de Deus (God\u2019s Finger) Viewpoint, which has one of the most stunning views I\u2019ve ever seen. Imagine a deep blue sea contrasting with lush green forests\u2014truly breathtaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearby is the Turtle Viewpoint at Tabatinga Beach, another incredible spot! The landscapes left us absolutely speechless, and we highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Jo\u00e3o Pessoa. The scenery is extraordinary, and exploring the viewpoints on quad bikes adds a thrilling twist to the experience.<\/p>\n\n\n After so much beauty and excitement, we returned to Jo\u00e3o Pessoa to prepare for what would be our final day in this amazing destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We scheduled the natural pools tour a bit in advance. Since it would start at 11 a.m. (due to low tide), we decided to visit the Cabo Branco Lighthouse and its viewpoint beforehand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We took an Uber from Tamba\u00fa to the lighthouse and arrived early, finding the place almost empty. We snapped plenty of pictures at a park in front of the lighthouse, which was lots of fun. The view is stunning, and we could even see the natural pools we\u2019d visit later.<\/p>\n\n\n We walked down the seafront back to Tamba\u00fa. It\u2019s a bit of a trek, but with the ocean view, it\u2019s manageable. A light drizzle cooled us off, and after a quick shower in Tamba\u00fa, we boarded the catamaran for the natural pools tour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tour was lively and crowded (think loud music, drinks, etc.). It didn\u2019t bother us, but if you prefer a quieter experience, renting a private boat might be a better option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After enjoying some grilled skewers and drinks, we arrived at the natural pools. They were stunning, but since several boats arrived simultaneously, it was a bit crowded. So, we swam further away to better enjoy the peaceful surroundings, and that made all the difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We also tried kayaking, but the guide didn\u2019t allow us to venture too far. I played around on a stand-up paddleboard for a while, making the experience even more enjoyable. As the tide began to rise, we started heading back to the boat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unfortunately, the tour left a little late, and on the return trip, there was an issue with the anchor, which delayed us significantly. We had purchased tickets to return to Natal in the late afternoon, but we ended up missing our bus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the end, we booked another night at our pousada and spent the evening strolling along the Tamba\u00fa seafront. We visited a charming little craft fair, where we picked up a few souvenirs. Early Monday morning, we headed back to Natal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We hope you enjoyed our travel diary about Jo\u00e3o Pessoa! These were truly special and surprising days\u2014we never imagined the Para\u00edba coastline could be so breathtaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019re sure there are many more beaches and hidden gems to discover in this state\u2019s interior. Let us know in the comments if you\u2019ve been to Para\u00edba and what you loved most about it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n To make the most of your trip to Jo\u00e3o Pessoa, travel insurance<\/a> is essential for international visitors. It helps cover medical emergencies, unexpected situations, and gives you peace of mind while exploring beaches, natural pools, and nearby destinations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SafetyWing<\/a> is a popular option among digital nomads and travelers, offering flexible and affordable travel insurance<\/a> designed for trips to countries like Brazil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Jo\u00e3o Pessoa, the capital of Para\u00edba, boasts stunning beaches, natural pools, and rich history. Click to discover the most beautiful beaches in Jampa and explore our 3-day itinerary!<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2442,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7,47],"tags":[15,48,13,14,45],"class_list":["post-2435","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-northeast","category-paraiba","tag-beach","tag-joao-pessoa","tag-nordeste","tag-northeast","tag-paraiba","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/doinbrazil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/JAMPA-039-scaled.jpg",2560,1706,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/doinbrazil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/JAMPA-039-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/doinbrazil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/JAMPA-039-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/doinbrazil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/JAMPA-039-768x512.jpg",768,512,true],"large":["https:\/\/doinbrazil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/JAMPA-039-1024x683.jpg",1024,683,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/doinbrazil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/JAMPA-039-1536x1024.jpg",1536,1024,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/doinbrazil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/JAMPA-039-2048x1365.jpg",2048,1365,true],"trp-custom-language-flag":["https:\/\/doinbrazil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/JAMPA-039-scaled.jpg",18,12,false],"ocean-thumb-m":["https:\/\/doinbrazil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/JAMPA-039-600x600.jpg",600,600,true],"ocean-thumb-ml":["https:\/\/doinbrazil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/JAMPA-039-800x450.jpg",800,450,true],"ocean-thumb-l":["https:\/\/doinbrazil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/JAMPA-039-1200x700.jpg",1200,700,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Emilly Chagas","author_link":"https:\/\/doinbrazil.com\/es\/author\/hey123emmy123gmail-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":4,"uagb_excerpt":"Jo\u00e3o Pessoa, the capital of Para\u00edba, boasts stunning beaches, natural pools, and rich history. Click to discover the most beautiful beaches in Jampa and explore our 3-day itinerary!","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/doinbrazil.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2435","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/doinbrazil.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/doinbrazil.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/doinbrazil.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/doinbrazil.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2435"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/doinbrazil.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2435\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3407,"href":"https:\/\/doinbrazil.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2435\/revisions\/3407"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/doinbrazil.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2442"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/doinbrazil.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2435"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/doinbrazil.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2435"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/doinbrazil.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2435"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Where Is Jo\u00e3o Pessoa and how to get there?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Where to stay in Jo\u00e3o Pessoa?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Emilly](\"https:\/\/doinbrazil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/JAMPA-105-1024x683.jpg\")
What to do in Jo\u00e3o Pessoa?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Beaches of the Southern Coast of Para\u00edba<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
![\"Meeting](\"https:\/\/doinbrazil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/JAMPA-130-1024x683.jpg\")
Beaches of the Northern Coast of Para\u00edba<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Our 4-Day itinerary in Jo\u00e3o Pessoa and surroundings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Day 1: Friday<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Day 2: Saturday<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Emilly](\"https:\/\/doinbrazil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/JAMPA-CEL-121-1024x768.jpg\")
![\"View](\"https:\/\/doinbrazil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/JAMPA-107-1024x683.jpg\")
![\"Shops](\"https:\/\/doinbrazil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/JAMPA-066-1024x683.jpg\")
![\"Castelo](\"https:\/\/doinbrazil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/JAMPA-042-1024x683.jpg\")
![\"Turtle](\"https:\/\/doinbrazil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/JAMPA-033-1024x683.jpg\")
Day 3: Sunday<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Statue](\"https:\/\/doinbrazil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/JAMPA-002-1024x683.jpg\")