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The city beaches
The liveliest: promenade, craft market, kiosks and the departure point for Picãozinho.
Long and framed by cliffs — perfect for walks at sunrise.
Natural pools about 1.5 km off the coast, reached by boat at low tide.
In Bessa, the stretch in front of Jardim Oceania has earned the nickname Caribessa for its calm, clear water at low tide — one of the city's best spots for small children.
Cabedelo and the south coast
A sandbank that emerges at low tide, surrounded by warm water — a catamaran trip.
The most famous late afternoon in Paraíba, to the sound of Ravel's Boléro by the river.
Colourful cliffs, coconut groves and a green sea — the queen of the south coast.
Two beaches most itineraries skip
Manaíra beach sits between Tambaú and Bessa, and is the busiest stretch at night — a full promenade, open kiosks and restaurants across the avenue. By day the sea is the same as along the whole seafront: calm, sheltered by reef. Anyone wanting to eat out without taking a car tends to choose this stretch.
Praia da Penha is the southern end of the urban seafront, past Cabo Branco. It is a local beach, with no tower blocks and no crowds, and the Santuário de Nossa Senhora da Penha at the far end — a nineteenth-century church set into the cliff, facing the sea. The patron saint's feast, in September, fills the beach.
Both are less than twenty minutes by car from any of our buildings.
Before you go
- Tide table: Picãozinho and Areia Vermelha only form at low tide — check the day's table before booking the trip.
- Manaíra and Bessa: the beaches in front of the residential districts are the quietest for families with children.
- Ponta do Seixas: the easternmost point of the Americas lies between Cabo Branco and Praia do Seixas — the sun rises there first.
- Protection: the north-eastern sun is strong all year; sunscreen and water are the rule, even on cloudy days.
Want the full picture, with culture, food and nightlife? See our guides — and the 3-day itinerary to organise everything.
About the beaches
Picãozinho (just off Tambaú) and Areia Vermelha Island (Cabedelo) — both appear at low tide and are reached by boat or catamaran.
Manaíra and Bessa beaches are usually the calmest, with a gentle sea and kiosks nearby.
Better to set aside a full day: the south coast is about 40 minutes from the centre and the area has other beaches nearby (Carapibus and Tabatinga) worth stopping at.
Manaíra and Tambaú put you within walking distance of the seafront and close to where the boat trips leave. MAREVI manages flats and apartments in both, with our own team.
Stay a few steps from the beach
MAREVI manages serviced flats and apartments on the João Pessoa seafront, from Cabo Branco to Bessa, with a full kitchen and our own team. Book directly on WhatsApp and you skip the platforms' fee.
