Difference between revisions of "Maceió"

Revision as of 14:07, 8 March 2008

Maceió[1] is the capital of Alagoas, in Northeast Brazil.

Understand

Maceió has a great coastal ambiance and stands out for its beauty - embedded in palm trees, mangroves and the bright green sea. It also has a remarkable culture, reflected in its arts and crafts, cuisine and customs. Like many places in North-east Brazil, the city has initially thrived on the sugar industry. Nowadays, it has a very good tourist infrastructure with excellent hotels, and has become an important destination for national and international tourists.

Climate

Maceió's climate is tropical - hot and humid during most of the year. The best time to go depends on your weather preferences. Summer extends from October through February, when temperatures are very hot. May through September is mildly warm, but rains a lot.

Get in

By air

Maceió's airport is named Zumbi dos Palmares International (IATA: MCZ; Tel. 82 214-4000) receives flights from every large Brazilian city as well as some international flights. There are plenty of taxis at the airport's arrivals area. Some travelers on a tight budget prefer to take the bus to the downtown area, then a cheaper taxi ride to their final destination.

Get around

Taxi

Taxis are everywhere and you'll have no problem finding them. It first will cost you R$3 to get in the taxi, then it depends how far you go.

Bus

The bus system is widely used. The current price is R$1.60 for a single trip. There are no transfers though so each bus you take will require you to pay again.

See

Beaches

Maceió is surrounded by beaches. There is no problem finding a nice beach to relax. You can choose between those with a lot of people or the empty ones.

Urban beaches

• Cruz das Almas
• Jatiúca
• Pajuçara
• Ponta Verde
• Pontal da Barra
• Sobral

North Coast

• Barra de Santo Antônio
• Carro Quebrado Beach
• Croa Island
• Tabuba Beach

South Coast

• Barra de São Miguel
• Francês
• Gunga

Do

• Surfing and bodyboarding are popular in Maceió. The waves are safe and there are no sharks to worry about. There are also no dangerous reefs to worry about. The best place to go surfing near Maceió is at Frances beach. The waves are the best and are good all year long. It has a good surf vibe. There are also many low priced resorts you can stay at for the weekend or for months at a time.

• Watch the sunset from Avenida da Paz.

Concerts are very common.

Buy

• Lace (renda) - At the Pontal da Barra, near the Mundaú lagoon
• Crafts and popular art - At Armazém Sebrae - Avenida da Paz, 878 (Jaraguá). Tel. 82 223-8200. Mo-Fri 10am to 10pm, Sat 9 am to 1 pm.

Eat

There are many, many restaurants to choose from. The restaurants on the beaches alone will be more than enough for your stay. There are many different types of food to choose from. Fish and vegetables from the sea, a wide selection of fruits, and authentic Brazilian cuisine are very common. Make sure to try a Tapioca, a pancake made of tapioca flour that can be filled with anything from ham and cheese to chocolate. They are sold all along the beach at lunchtime.

Junk Food

• McDonalds: You can find McDonalds in two places, close to Melia Hotel (the most expensive hotel in the city) or in the Iguatemi Shopping.

• Super Pizza: The most famous pizza in Maceio. You can try in Iguatemi Shopping or close to the beach.

• Other places where you can eat junk food: Pizza Fone, Baita Pão and Passaporte Gaucho.

Drink

There are plenty of bars all along the beach. An area of Maceió called Jatiuca has a good bar scene. It has two famous places, Skyy nightclub and MaiKai. Another famous nightclub is Middo located in the Pajuçara section of Maceio.

Sleep

There are all different types and price ranges. There are hotels, hostels (group living), pousadas (bed and breakfast) and temporary apartments.

Hotels

There are many different hotels to choose from in terms of price. There are many large hotels to find tour guides and most of the hotel staff have a good grasp of English and other languages like Italian. Here are just a few:

• Jatiuca Hotel, Lagoa da Anta 220 - Mangabeiras, 55-82-2122-2000
• Hotel Meliá Maceió , Av. Álvaro Otacílio 4065, Jatiúca, 55-82-325-5656
• Maceió Mar Hotel, Av. Álvaro Otacílio 2991, Ponta Verde, 55-82-217-8000
• Ritz Lagoa da Anta, Av. Brig. Eduardo Gomes 546, Cruz das Almas 55-82-217-4000

Pousadas

A cheaper alternative to hotels are Pousadas, the equivalent of a Bed and Breakfast. They are smaller, family owned businesses and the cost includes breakfast if you wake up in time.

- Pousada Ponto das Velas [2] The bed and breakfast 'pousada Ponto das velas' is located in Barra de Santo Antonio a place with the most beautiful beaches with white sand, palm trees and famous natural swimming pool only 48 km from the lovely city centre of Maceio.

Hostels

Even cheaper is the hostel. The price however does come with a loss of privacy. If you don't mind rooming with a few strangers this is a good deal.

Apartments

Temporary apartments are usually the best if your plan to stay more than a week. They are the cheapest and you don't need a lease or pay any utility bills. Many will allow you to stay less than a month. Each temporary apartment is different though. Not all include furniture, a stove, or a refrigerator. Prices can be as low as R$255 per month.

Stay safe

Maceió was a very safe city for Brazil or any country. Today you must watch your wallet in the main places of the city: Centro, Pajuçara or Ponta Verde. If you see anyone wearing a shirt with the phrase: "Comando Vermelho" or "Mancha Azul" keep walking and try to find a secure place to stay. Anyway, there are some areas in Maceio that still safe, like: Farol, Gruta and Fernandes Lima.

Contact

By phone

The area code is 82. Local numbers have 8 digits

Get out