How do you get to Lucena today?

By ferry across the Paraíba river from Cabedelo, or overland, going around the river on state highways. The ferry has limited capacity and depends on the weather.

When will the bridge between Cabedelo and Lucena be finished?

The Paraíba state government's official forecast is the last quarter of 2026. As this is a major project, the deadline may be revised — check before planning your trip.

What to see in Lucena besides the beach?

The Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora da Guia, from the late sixteenth century, built by Carmelite monks atop a cliff; the ruins of the Bom Sucesso church, at the mouth of the Miriri river; and the cliff viewpoint, with a panoramic view of the coast.

Which beaches should I visit in Lucena?

Pontinha de Lucena, between the main beach and Gameleira, with sandbanks at low tide; and Praia de Camaçari, to the north, long and almost deserted, running up to the Miriri River.

Is Lucena good for those seeking quiet?

Yes. Precisely because it depends on the ferry crossing, it gets fewer visitors than the beaches of João Pessoa and Cabedelo.

How many beaches does Lucena have?

Seven, along about 15 kilometres of coastline: Costinha, Fagundes, Gameleira, Ponta de Lucena, Lucena, Camaçari and Bonsucesso.

Lucena and the bridge that will shorten the north coast

Where it is and how you get there today

Lucena is on Paraíba's northern coast, across the Paraíba River from Cabedelo. Today there are two routes: the ferry from Cabedelo, with limited capacity and subject to the weather, or the land detour, going around the river on state highways.

It is that crossing that keeps Lucena quieter than the rest of the coast — and it is precisely the crossing whose days are numbered.

The seven beaches

Lucena has seven beaches spread over some 15 kilometres of coast — and they are quite different from one another:

Costinha — the first for those arriving by ferry. Quiet, with clear water and fine sand
Fagundes — one of the largest, ringed by holiday houses, coconut palms and mangrove
Gameleira — between the central beach and Fagundes, quiet and ringed by coconut palms
Ponta de Lucena — bancos de areia que aparecem na maré baixa
Praia de Lucena — a central, de areia dourada e água calma
Camaçari — long and almost deserted, running to the Miriri River on the Rio Tinto border
Bonsucesso — at the mouth of the Miriri river, with the ruins of the Bom Sucesso church and the cliff-top viewpoint

Costinha holds a little-known history: for decades a Japanese-run whaling station operated there, processing whales caught in the South Atlantic.

What to see there

Lucena is not only beach — it has one of the oldest historic ensembles on the Paraíba coast.

Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora da Guia — built around 1591 by Carmelite monks, atop a cliff overlooking the beaches below. It is said to hold Brazil's largest limestone altar
Ruins of the Nossa Senhora do Bom Sucesso church — 18th century, at the mouth of the Miriri river, with a fig tree wrapped around the walls. You reach them by wading the shallow part of the river at low tide and following a trail of about ten minutes; from the viewpoint you can see almost the whole Lucena coastline
Cliff lookout — a panoramic view of the coastline
Praia de Lucena — the main one, with golden sand, calm water and plenty of palm trees
Ponta de Lucena — rougher and less developed, for those who like to walk

At low tide the shoreline reveals the fish corrals — traditional fishing enclosures that, with the sea pulled back, form large shallow pools. There are jangada trips to see them up close.

A fig tree wrapped around the walls of the Bom Sucesso church ruins, in Lucena — Photo: Marinelson Almeida · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons

The trip from João Pessoa takes about half an hour by car, including the crossing.

Lucena town hall, a modernist-style building — Photo: evert1949 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons

The Ponte do Futuro

The link between Cabedelo and Lucena is under construction. The main structure will be about 2.1 kilometres and will connect the BR-230, in Cabedelo, to the BR-101 North. There is also a second bridge, of about 420 metres, over the Rio da Guia in Lucena.

The Paraíba state government officially expects it to be finished in the last quarter of 2026. As with any project of this size, the deadline may move — worth checking before you plan your trip.

Main structure: about 2.1 km, linking the BR-230 to the BR-101 North
Second bridge: about 420 m over the Guia River, in Lucena
Today: ferry crossing from Cabedelo, or the route around on state highways

What changes for travellers

Without depending on the ferry, Lucena stops being a full-day outing and becomes an afternoon destination. It also changes things for property owners in the area: easy access usually means more demand for accommodation and better rates.