Tamandaré is a charming town located on the south coast of Pernambuco, about 100 kilometres from Recife.

Known for its beaches with clear, warm waters, coral reefs and stunning natural scenery, Tamandaré has become an increasingly popular tourist destination.

Beaches and Attractions

Tamandaré’s coastline stretches for 16 kilometres and offers beaches with very blue seas and historic attractions. The main features of the region include

• Deserted beaches: Tamandaré has some of the most deserted beaches on the south coast of Pernambuco, with calm seas, white sand and natural pools.
• Costa dos Arrecifes: This stretch of coast is called the Costa dos Arrecifes because of the succession of reefs that line it. The coast includes the beaches of southern Pernambuco in the direction of Recife – Maceió, from the city of Cabo de Santo Agostinho, where the Port of Suape is located, to Tamandaré, near Alagoas, with the main access via the PE-060 motorway.

Best beaches

The best beaches in the region include

• Cabo de Santo Agostinho: Gaibu, Calhetas, Pedra do Xaréu and Camboa, accessible by PE-028.
• Port de Galinhas: Muro Alto, Cupe, da Vila and Maracaípe, accessible from the PE-038 motorway.
• Tamandaré: Praia dos Carneiros and Tamandaré beach itself, accessible from the PE-076 motorway.

These beaches can be visited on quick trips from Recife, as the furthest beach on the route is about 100 kilometres away.

Accommodation options

Another option is to spend a few days in Cabo de Santo Agostinho or Port de Galinhas, both of which have an infrastructure of inns, hotels and resorts to suit different budgets and tastes.

Activities and Leisure

The Costa dos Arrecifes alternates between lively and quieter places, offering different types of leisure activities. Among the activities on offer are

• Diving in the coral pools.
• Walk the nature trails.
• Buggy rides along the coast.
• Surfing and Water sports.

See the map of Pernambuco

See the map of the South Coast of Pernambuco

Videos – Tamandaré’s Tourist Attractions

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS OF TAMANDARÉ PE

1. CITY OF TAMANDARÉ

2. SAINT BENEDICT CHAPEL

3. ST PETER’S CHURCH

4. FORT SAINT INACIO DE LOYOLA

5. SALTINHO BIOLOGICAL RESERVE

6. BEACHES OF TAMANDARÉ

• TAMANDARÉ BEACH
• PONTAL DO LÍRA BEACH
• BOCA DA BARRA BEACH
• GUADALUPE BEACH
• GAMELA BEACH
• GUAIAMUM BEACH

7. Activities

1. THE TOWN OF TAMANDARÉ

The village of Tamandaré became a municipality less than a decade ago.

Its coastline consists of 16 kilometres of very blue sea beaches, generally less crowded than those of Porto de Galinhas, but with a much poorer selection of hotels and restaurants.

Outstanding beaches

Six beaches share the attention of visitors:

• Boca da Barra
• Bay of Tamandaré
• Pontal do Lira
• Tamandaré Beach – the most popular
• Campas Beach
• Carneiros Beach – the last, one of the most beautiful and still little explored.

Environmental protection

Located in a Federal Environmental Protection Area, Tamandaré has one of the largest areas of Atlantic Forest in the region, the important Saltinho Biological Reserve, where the Bulha Waterfall is located, with a 10 metre drop.

Historical attractions

Historic attractions include

• St Ignatius Chapel, built in 1780.
• Fortress of St Ignatius, built in 1691
• Bust of Admiral Tamandaré, patron of the Brazilian Navy, who spent a short time in the area.

2. SAINT BENEDICT CHAPEL

The small, friendly Chapel of São Benedito, built in 1910, painted white with green details, stands out in the vast coconut grove on the beach.

The simplicity of its architecture, combined with the beauty of the place, means that you can never leave without taking at least one photo as a souvenir. The coconut logs lined up on the sand in front of the church serve as protection against the force of the tide.

3. ST. PETER’S CHURCH

St. Peter’s Church is located on the seafront, between the holiday homes, on Praia das Campas.

Its baroque architecture dates from the 19th century. It has a bell tower and a front staircase that leads straight down to the sand of the beach.

When the tide rises, access is only possible from the back of the church, as the sea inundates the steps.

It was restored a few years ago, but services are only held on special occasions. It is very popular for weddings, which, when held on a full moon night, usually leave guests enchanted as soon as they arrive at the church.

4. FORT OF SANTO INÁCIO DE LOYOLA

The Fort of Santo Inácio de Loyola or Tamandaré Fort, built in the 17th century, rebuilt in the 18th century and 19th century, but abandoned in recent decades, is brand new and ready to be reopened to the public.

Location and function

Located in Tamandaré, a municipality on the southern coast of Pernambuco, the historic building has been restored to perform different functions. Instead of defending the coast as in the past, the Tamandaré Fort has been transformed into a tourist and cultural centre.

New facilities

The barracks that once housed soldiers will become shops selling Tamandaré handicrafts. The prisoners’ cell and the guardhouse will become a museum.

The commandant’s house, on the first floor, has been adapted to house a restaurant or a café, to be chosen by tender.

Historical remains

Traces of the old construction can be seen in parts of the fort – windows, portals, walls, ruins, stone floors – as a historical revival of the building.

In the Commandant’s House, visitors can see period nails in a doorway and the mechanism used to close doors and windows.

The gunpowder house remains as a consolidated ruin within the restored fort. In one of the rooms of the Tamandaré Fort, declared a State Monument, a stone cooker used by soldiers has been reconstructed.

5. SALTINHO BIOLOGICAL RESERVE

An ecological reserve that offers hiking trails and the opportunity to observe the local flora and fauna, including several species of birds.

6. BEACHES OF TAMANDARÉ

6.1 TAMANDARÉ BEACH

At low tide, the 16 kilometres of reef-lined beach form natural pools with clear water, ideal for swimming. There are some popular beach huts along the seafront and in Rua São José.

A wall of natural reefs rises after 200 metres. On the right you can see the construction of Fort St Ignatius of Loyola, built in 1691. It is located between the beaches of Pontal do Lira and Campas.

6.2 PONTAL DO LIRA BEACH

It’s only 1 kilometre long, but that doesn’t detract from its beauty.

It is home to many magnificent coconut palms and a sea with coral reefs that make for good swimming. Here you’ll find the Santo Inácio fort and lighthouse. It is located north of Tamandaré beach.

6.3 BOCA DA BARRA BEACH

Here you can see the beautiful meeting of the ocean and the Mamucambas River, between mangroves and sandbanks.

You can swim in fresh or salt water, making this beach ideal for relaxing. There are 2.5 kilometres of pleasant beach with a reef coastline.

Some water sports can be enjoyed in the calm waters of the river. Access is by car only.

See the beauty of the island of Santo Aleixo, in the parish of Sirinhaém.

7. Outdoor Activities

• Catamaran Trips: One of the most popular activities, especially at Praia dos Carneiros, where trips include stops to swim in the natural pools and sandbanks.
• Diving and Snorkelling: The clear waters and coral reefs are perfect for exploring marine life.
• Ecological Walks: A trail in the Saltinho Biological Reserve for nature lovers and bird watchers.
• Water sports: Kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding and jet skiing are popular on the beaches of Tamandaré and Carneiros.

Tourist guide to Tamandaré in Pernambuco

This post is also on: Português English Deutsch Español Français