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Three states on one trip
João Pessoa sits between Recife and Natal, and that is gold for anyone who wants to see more than one state on the same trip. The Pernambuco side is the closest: the border is under an hour from the seafront, and Olinda under two.
Carne de Vaca, just past the border
About 85 kilometres from the seafront, in Goiana, Carne de Vaca is Pernambuco's northernmost beach: a river mouth, shallow sea and simple beach shacks. It is the shortest day trip on the Pernambuco side.
Itamaracá and the Coroa do Avião
The island of Itamaracá is about 105 kilometresaway, a little over an hour and a half by car. It has the Forte Orange, built by the Dutch in the 17th century, and from there small boats go out to the Coroa do Avião, a sandbank in the middle of the channel, good for swimming in calm water.
The crossing depends on the tide. Check the time with the boatmen before you go.
Olinda and Old Recife
Olinda is about 116 kilometres away — under two hours by car. Its historic centre, with steep streets, baroque churches and coloured houses, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982. Old Recife, with the Marco Zero and Rua do Bom Jesus, is twenty minutes away.
You can do both in one day with an early start. If you only have time for one, choose Olinda in the morning, while the hills are still cool.
Why sleep in João Pessoa
Because the sea is calmer, the seafront is walkable end to end, and nightly rates tend to be lower than on Recife's seafront. Base yourself in João Pessoa and do Pernambuco in one or two days — it is the combination that works best.
