Map of the Northeast coast of Brazil: beaches by state

Published on January 24, 2013 · Updated on November 1, 2026

Home » Culture, history and religion of the Brazilian Northeast » Map of the Northeast coast of Brazil: beaches by state

The map of the Northeast coast of Brazil runs from Maranhão to Bahia, along more than 3,300 km of coastline. In addition, the region brings together white-sand beaches, dunes, plateaus, historic towns and a culture full of music, festivities and good food. In this guide, you will find the nine states, from north to south, and the best that each one has to offer.

Quick summary – map of the Northeast coast of Brazil

States: Maranhão, Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe and Bahia.
Coastline: more than 3,300 km; all nine states have beaches.
Population: about 54.7 million inhabitants (IBGE, 2022 Census).
Area: about 1.55 million km², almost 18% of Brazil’s territory.
Highlights: Lençóis Maranhenses, Jericoacoara, Pipa, Porto de Galinhas, Maragogi, Praia do Forte and Chapada Diamantina.
Best time to go: from September to March, along most of the coast.

Dunes and lagoon of Genipabu, on the coast of Rio Grande do Norte — Genipabu, in Rio Grande do Norte

Map of the Northeast coast of Brazil

First of all, the map below shows the Northeast Region and its nine states. That way, it is easy to see how the Northeast coast begins in Maranhão, turns east in Ceará and Rio Grande do Norte and then heads south all the way to Bahia.

In general, the north coast, from Maranhão to Ceará, has many dunes, lagoons and strong winds. The east coast, on the other hand, from Rio Grande do Norte to Bahia, has cliffs, reefs, natural pools and coconut groves. Finally, Bahia has the longest coastline of all Brazilian states, while Piauí has the shortest.

The states of the Northeast, from north to south

Each of the nine Northeast states has its own character. For this reason, it is worth knowing the highlight of each one before planning your itinerary:

Maranhão: stands out for the Lençóis Maranhenses, a national park of dunes and lagoons, as well as for the cultural heritage of São Luís.
Piauí: has the Serra da Capivara National Park and, on its short coastline, the beaches of Luís Correia and the Delta do Parnaíba.
Ceará: famous for its dunes and beaches, such as Jericoacoara and Canoa Quebrada; it is also the land of forró and bobbin lace.
Rio Grande do Norte: has beaches such as Ponta Negra, Genipabu and Pipa; moreover, it is the country’s largest producer of sea salt.
Paraíba: known for beaches such as Tambaba, for its cuisine and for the São João festival of Campina Grande.
Pernambuco: stands out for frevo and maracatu, for historic cities such as Olinda and Recife and for the beaches of the south coast.
Alagoas: famous for the clear waters of Maragogi and Maceió, and also for its handicrafts.
Sergipe: Brazil’s smallest state has the beaches of Aracaju and, in the sertão (the semi-arid backlands), the Cânion do Xingó.
Bahia: known for its music, its cuisine and the Salvador Carnival, as well as for beaches such as Porto da Barra and Praia do Forte.

Beaches and landscapes of the Northeast

Elements of a tropical paradise

Nordeste Brasileiro: Destinos Turísticos Imperdíveis

Here, in fact, you will find all the elements of a tropical paradise: blue sea, white sand, coconut palms and sunshine, almost every day.

Without a doubt, this beauty alone already justifies the trip. However, the Northeast is much more than a row of beautiful beaches. Its soul also lies in its towns and in the history they carry.

Beach with coconut palms, white sand and blue sea in Northeast Brazil — Elements of a tropical paradise on the beaches of the Northeast

History and culture of the Northeast

Traces of the past

It was in this region that the first Europeans landed. For this reason, traces of the past are everywhere: in the baroque churches among the modern buildings of the state capitals and in the quiet squares of the villages. They also remain in the fortresses that still seem to watch over the coast and in the colonial townhouses, azulejo tiles and fountains.

Farol da Barra and the Forte de Santo Antônio da Barra, in Salvador — Praia do Farol da Barra, in Salvador

Mansions with azulejo-tiled façades in the historic center of São Luís — Azulejo tiles and façades of São Luís do Maranhão

Archaeological sites and fossils

There is, moreover, a far more distant past. It appears, for example, in the rock paintings of Serra da Capivara and Pedro II, in Piauí. It is also present in the fossils of the Chapada do Araripe, in Santana do Cariri, in the Cariri region of Ceará.

Meanwhile, in Sete Cidades, also in Piauí, erosion has sculpted huge rock formations over millions of years.

Rock inscriptions at the Torre archaeological site, in Pedro II, Piauí — Rock inscriptions at the Torre archaeological site, in Pedro II (PI)

The sertão: the vast interior

In the sertão, on the other hand, travel is harder and the landscape is arid. Even so, those who have the patience to face the roads and the simple lodgings will be rewarded.

There, in fact, handicrafts are passed down from masters to apprentices. In addition, the São João festivals ring with the sound of the accordion, and the street markets are full of sounds and smells.

Caatinga landscape in Seridó, sertão of Rio Grande do Norte — Seridó, in the sertão of Rio Grande do Norte

Plateaus, dunes and lagoons

Surprises of the Chapada Diamantina

In the Chapada Diamantina, in Bahia, tourism is well organized. Its waterfalls, rivers and caves, some with pools of blue water, attract travelers from all over the world. As a result, they bring life to the small towns of the region, which were born from diamond mining.

Valley and hills of the Chapada Diamantina, in Bahia — Chapada Diamantina

Lençóis Maranhenses

In the Lençóis Maranhenses, in turn, the landscape has a strange beauty. There are white dunes shaped by the wind, with blue lagoons or green ones, winding rivers and small fishing villages. Since 2024, moreover, the park has been a Unesco World Natural Heritage Site.

Adventure on the dunes

To enjoy the dunes of the Northeast, therefore, it pays to bring an adventurous spirit. In Genipabu, in Rio Grande do Norte, for example, buggy rides are the main attraction.

Ride across the Genipabu dunes, near Natal — Genipabu dunes, in RN

Stories of the people

Among the white hills, the locals also tell their stories. For instance, they speak of villages swallowed by the sand, of ghost ships beneath the dunes and of lights seen on full-moon nights.

Pleasures of the Northeast

Inexhaustible, the Northeast offers many pleasures. First, those of the body and soul, with music, dance, drumming and carnivals of afoxés and maracatus.

Then come the pleasures of the table: the Bahian acarajés, vatapás and carurus, the bolo de rolo from Pernambuco, the cuxá from Maranhão and tapioca, found throughout the region.

And finally, the simplest pleasure of all: gazing at a beach with blue sea and coconut palms, under plenty of sunshine.

Why does the Northeast coast attract so many tourists?

In short, several factors make the Northeast coast one of the most sought-after destinations in Brazil:

Natural beauty: beaches such as Jericoacoara, Praia do Forte and Porto de Galinhas, as well as dunes, plateaus and waterfalls.
Climate: the tropical climate guarantees sunshine for most of the year, especially on the coast.
Diversity: there is everything from secluded, peaceful beaches to busy urban waterfronts.
Culture: the blend of Indigenous, African and European influences shows up in the June festivals and in the carnivals.
Gastronomy: dishes such as acarajé, vatapá, caruru, baião de dois and tapioca, as well as regional sweets and cachaças.
History: towns with colonial architecture, baroque churches and archaeological sites.
Activities: surfing, kitesurfing, diving, buggy rides and jangada (traditional wooden sailing raft) trips, hiking trails and cultural tours.
Handicrafts: ceramics, lace and embroidery and straw objects.
Infrastructure: state capitals such as Salvador, Recife, Fortaleza, Natal and Maceió have airports, hotels and resorts.

Tips for traveling along the Northeast coast

Transportation: for secluded beaches and villages, a rental car helps; in the state capitals, however, transfers and ride-hailing apps are usually enough.
Luggage: pack light clothing, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and insect repellent.
Health: keep your vaccinations up to date and, in addition, protect yourself from the mosquitoes that spread dengue, Zika and chikungunya.
Nature: do not step on corals, do not feed animals and, whenever possible, hire accredited guides.
Festivals: during São João and Carnival, book your accommodation well in advance.

Frequently asked questions about the map of the Northeast coast of Brazil

Which states appear on the map of the Northeast coast of Brazil?

There are nine: Maranhão, Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe and Bahia.

All of them, in fact, have beaches.

How long is the Northeast coast?

It stretches for more than 3,300 km, from Maranhão to Bahia.

Bahia has the longest stretch; Piauí, on the other hand, has the shortest.

When is the best time to travel to the Northeast?

In general, from September to March, when there is less rain along most of the coast.

In Maranhão, however, the lagoons of the Lençóis are fullest between June and September.

Which beaches in the Northeast should you not miss?

Porto de Galinhas (PE), Jericoacoara (CE), Praia do Forte (BA), Maragogi (AL), Pipa (RN) and the Lençóis Maranhenses (MA).

All of them, therefore, rank among the most famous in Brazil.

Do I need to rent a car to travel around the Northeast?

It depends on your itinerary. For secluded beaches and villages, yes; in big cities, however, buses and transfers may be enough.

On the dunes, for example, the best option is to take buggy or 4×4 tours with local guides.

Written by Willy Sievert

Editor of Bahia.ws since its founding in 2009. Based in Salvador, he travels frequently across the Northeast and all of Brazil to keep the guides up to date. Learn more about Willy Sievert →