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Why the tide rules the outings
João Pessoa's most famous outings — Picãozinho, the Seixas pools and Areia Vermelha — only exist at low tide. When the sea pulls back, the reefs are exposed and form shallow, clear pools; at high tide there is nothing to see.
That is why boat times change every day, and why it is worth checking the tide table before you fix your travel dates.
Where to check it
The official source is the Brazilian Navy, which publishes tide tables for the country's ports. For João Pessoa, look up the Port of Cabedelo, Paraíba's reference port. Tour agencies and tide apps use the same data.
How to read the table
- There are two high and two low tides a day, roughly six hours apart.
- Each line shows the time and the height in metres. For the natural pools, the lower the number, the better.
- For Picãozinho, agencies usually consider a tide of up to 0.4 or 0.5 m good. Between 0.1 and 0.3 m, visibility of the coral is at its best.
- A negative tide (below zero) is best of all: the sea retreats even further.
The moon and the best time
The lowest tides happen around the full and new moon — the so-called spring tides. In the first and last quarters, low tide is less low and the pools are poor. If you can choose your dates, aim for a full-moon or new-moon week.
Ideally, low tide falls in the morning, with good light and gentler sun. Boats usually leave one to two hours before the lowest tide. And the season matters: from September to April the sea is calmer and the sky clearer.
- Confirm the departure with the agency the day before: rough sea cancels trips even with a good tide.
- Bring rubber water shoes and do not stand on the coral.
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