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Paraíba's south coast: the one-day itinerary — João Pessoa e região

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Paraíba's south coast: the one-day itinerary

Seven beaches along twenty kilometres of cliffs, from João Pessoa. What order to go in, what you can do by car, when you need a buggy and where…

Short answer

Qual a distância de João Pessoa até o litoral sul?

From the Tambaú seafront to Jacumã, the hub of the area, is just under an hour on the PB-008. The beaches along this stretch are spread over some twenty kilometres from there.

O que é o litoral sul

It is a stretch of about twenty kilometres south of João Pessoa, almost all of it in the municipality of Conde, where the cliffs meet the sea. Seven beaches in a row: Barra de Gramame, Praia do Amor, Carapibus, Jacumã, Tabatinga, Coqueirinho and Tambaba.

What sets it apart from the northern coast is the terrain. At Bessa or in Cabedelo the seafront is flat and urban. Here the road runs along the clifftop and the beaches lie below, each with its own access — which is why the outing goes viewpoint to viewpoint, not along a promenade.

Como chegar

From the Tambaú or Cabo Branco seafront, take the PB-008 southbound, following signs for Litoral Sul, Conde, Jacumã and Coqueirinho. From the seafront to Jacumã is just under an hour.

A estrada é asfaltada e boa até as praias principais. Carro comum chega em Jacumã, Tabatinga, Coqueirinho e Carapibus sem dificuldade.

What an ordinary car cannot do is the stretch between beaches along the cliff edge. For that you need a buggy, or you go back to the road and come down again at the next access point.

A ordem que funciona

Most agencies leave the seafront between seven and nine in the morning and return in the late afternoon. Doing it on your own, this is the sequence that works best:

  • Barra de Gramame, where the river meets the sea. It is the first stop and the quickest — twenty minutes is enough to see it and move on.
  • Carapibus, for a first swim before the sun gets strong. A beach with kiosks and calm water at certain tides.
  • Jacumã, the hub of the area. It has shops, guesthouses and infrastructure, and is where most buggy tours set off.
  • Tabatinga, with the highest cliffs of the stretch and the quietest feel of the seven.
  • Coqueirinho, for lunch and the afternoon. It has the most restaurants and is the prettiest for anyone visiting just once.
  • Tambaba in the late afternoon, if you want to see Brazil's first official naturist beach.

Sete praias em um dia é corrida. Se o seu dia for tranquilo, corte para três: Carapibus, Coqueirinho e Tambaba.

O passeio de buggy

It is the way to see what the road doesn't show. The route leaves from Coqueirinho and goes viewpoint to viewpoint: Dedo de Deus, Castelo da Princesa, Mirante das Tartarugas, Shopping Rural and the cliffs between Coqueirinho and Tambaba.

Em setembro de 2026 o passeio estava em torno de R$ 250 por buggy, não por pessoa. Combine o preço e o roteiro antes de subir, e confirme se inclui Tambaba — nem todo bugueiro faz o trecho final.

If you are only doing one buggy ride on the whole trip, do it here and not on the northern coast. This is where the scenery justifies it.

Tambaba, e o que saber antes

Tambaba was Brazil's first official naturist beach. The beach is split: one side for general use and one for naturism, with its own access rules.

This tends to confuse people who arrive unaware. It is not a nudist beach throughout, and the naturist side has conduct rules enforced by the local association. If you are with family and would rather avoid it, stay on the common side — which already has the cliffs and the sea that make the trip worthwhile.

O acesso final é o pior do roteiro. Estrada de terra e ladeira, difícil em carro baixo depois de chuva.

When to go and what to bring

The strip of sand on the southern coast is narrow, and at high tide some beaches all but disappear beneath the cliff. Check the tide table and plan to arrive on a falling tide — it changes the outing entirely.

Between September and February the weather is more settled. Between April and July it rains more, and the dirt road to Tambaba becomes difficult.

  • Dinheiro em espécie. Nem toda barraca tem maquininha e o sinal de celular falha em vários trechos.
  • Shoes you don't mind getting wet, for the rocky access paths and the cliff descents.
  • Strong sunscreen. The cliffs reflect the light and burn more than an urban beach.
  • A full tank. Petrol stations are scarce once you leave the PB-008.

Go by car or on a booked tour. You can reach Jacumã by bus, but moving between the beaches without a vehicle is not feasible.

Vale o dia inteiro?

Yes, and it is the outing we recommend most after the catamaran to Picãozinho. It is the landscape the northern coast doesn't have — red cliffs dropping into the sea, and seven different beaches in twenty kilometres.

Anyone staying on our stretch of coast is less than an hour from the start of the route. Leave after breakfast and get back in time for dinner in Tambaú.

Questions

What guests usually ask

Qual a distância de João Pessoa até o litoral sul?

From the Tambaú seafront to Jacumã, the hub of the area, is just under an hour on the PB-008. The beaches along this stretch are spread over some twenty kilometres from there.

Dá para fazer o litoral sul de carro comum?

Yes. An ordinary car reaches Carapibus, Jacumã, Tabatinga and Coqueirinho without trouble. What needs a buggy or 4x4 is the stretch between beaches along the cliff, and the final approach to Tambaba, which is dirt and steep.

Quantas praias dá para ver em um dia?

Seven is possible but rushed. Three work well: Carapibus for the first swim, Coqueirinho for lunch and the afternoon, and Tambaba at the end of the day.

Quanto custa o passeio de buggy no litoral sul?

In September 2026 it was around R$ 250 per buggy, not per person. The route leaves from Coqueirinho and takes in the Dedo de Deus, Castelo da Princesa and Tartarugas viewpoints. Check beforehand whether Tambaba is included.

Tambaba é praia de nudismo?

In part. Tambaba was Brazil's first official naturist beach, but it is split: one side for general use and one naturist, with its own access rules. Those who prefer to avoid it stay on the common side.

Qual a melhor praia do litoral sul da Paraíba?

Coqueirinho, for anyone going just once: it has the best combination of cliffs, sea and restaurants. Tabatinga has the highest cliffs and fewer people; Tambaba has the most striking landscape.

See also

Keep exploring

Carapibus beach
Conde

Carapibus beach

Coloured cliffs, natural pools at low tide and an unhurried mood: how to get to Carapibus beach, in…

Coqueirinho beach
Conde

Coqueirinho beach

Coloured cliffs, coconut palms and green water: how to get to Coqueirinho beach, on the south coast of…

Tabatinga beach
Conde

Tabatinga beach

Cliffs, natural pools at low tide and the heart-shaped pool between Tabatinga I and II: how to get to the beach of…

Where to stay

Our apartments for this trip

Rooftop pool — HIT Cabo Branco
Cabo Branco, João Pessoa

HIT Cabo Branco

One hundred and five units 60 metres from the sea, in a building with resort-style facilities: skybar, winebar, pools, whirlpool, gym and coworking. Studios of 20, 25 and 38 m², plus a one-bedroom apartment.

Pool with sea view — Fortune
Cabo Branco, João Pessoa

Fortune

Two hundred metres from the sand at Cabo Branco, at the point where the seafront has quietened down and the cliffs start to appear.

Pool — Vivendas do Mar
Cabo Branco, João Pessoa

Vivendas do Mar

At the southern end of the seafront, two minutes from the beach and a few blocks from Estação Cabo Branco and the road to the lighthouse.

Where to stay

Know your dates yet?We'll handle the rest.

See our stays