How far is Areia from João Pessoa?

It is 120 kilometres, about two hours by car up the Serra da Borborema. It can be done in a day, leaving early and returning in the late afternoon.

Faz frio em Areia mesmo?

It does. The town sits at 618 metres, and in winter the Brejo Paraibano is far colder than the coast. That is the reason the Caminhos do Frio cultural route exists, from July to September.

What is there to do in Areia?

Visit the cachaça distilleries, open for guided tours with tastings; walk the historic centre, listed by IPHAN since 2006; see the Teatro Minerva, the Pedro Américo House Museum and the Brejo Paraibano Museum; and climb the Escadaria do Cruzeiro for the view.

Dá para conhecer Areia ficando hospedado em João Pessoa?

Yes, in a day. But if you want to visit two distilleries and see the centre unhurried, the day gets rushed — then it pays to spend a night in the area.

When is the best time to visit Areia?

Between July and September, when the cold really arrives and the Caminhos do Frio route brings the town to life. The trip is worth it the rest of the year too, but the weather is mild rather than cold.

Areia, in Paraíba: what to see and how to get there

Where it is and how long it takes

Areia is 120 kilometres from João Pessoa, in the Brejo Paraibano. By car it takes about two hours, climbing the Serra da Borborema on the BR-230 and then on the road that cuts through the highlands. The town sits at 618 metres — and that explains everything else.

It can be done in a day from the coast. Leave early, arrive around ten, have lunch there and head back in the late afternoon. If you want to visit two distilleries at a relaxed pace and still see the historic centre, the day gets tight — then it is worth staying a night.

Why it gets cold up there

This is what most surprises guests staying by the sea. In João Pessoa the low rarely drops below 22 degrees. Up in the Brejo, at 600 metres and with the humidity coming off the coast, winter calls for a proper coat.

The region built a calendar around it: the Caminhos do Frio cultural route runs from July to September, passing through several highland towns in different weeks, with music, theatre, trails and food. If your trip falls in that window, check which week Areia comes up.

O centro histórico

Areia's historic, urban and landscape ensemble has been listed by IPHAN since 2006. The townhouses in the centre are from the nineteenth century, many of them clad in Portuguese tiles.

The Teatro Minerva is the most striking of all: it opened fifty years before the theatre in the state capital. Areia was Paraíba's cultural centre when João Pessoa was still a small town.

From the Escadaria do Cruzeiro you see the town from above, with the highland ridges and valleys behind. It is the easiest viewpoint to reach on foot from the centre.

Two names that were born here

O pintor Pedro Américo, autor de Independência ou Morte, nasceu em Areia em 1843. O escritor José Américo de Almeida, de A Bagaceira, também.

The Pedro Américo House Museum holds a replica of Independence or Death commissioned by Dom Pedro II. The Brejo Paraibano Museum splits its collection in two — the town's history and the art made there, with Pedro Américo, Aurélio de Figueiredo and José Américo.

Os engenhos

It is the most sought-after outing, and the reason Areia is known beyond Paraíba.

Engenho Triunfo. Produces the best-known cachaça label in the state. The visit is guided and takes in the milling, fermentation and distillation sheds, with a tasting at the end.
Engenho Vaca Brava. Has a working steam mill from 1865, visitable on a guided tour of the estate.

Check opening days and hours before driving up. A distillery is not a museum: some close on weekdays or out of season, and the drive is far too long to find that out at the gate.

Is it worth it if you are staying at the beach?

Yes, if you have five days or more in João Pessoa and don't want only beach. It is the sharpest contrast Paraíba offers within two hours' drive: you leave the heat of the coast and arrive in a place of hills, old townhouses and artisanal cachaça.

If your trip is a weekend, it isn't worth it. You would spend four hours in the car out of a three-day stay.

For those travelling with small children, the trip is long and there is little for them. The Brejo works better for couples, for history lovers or for a group of friends.