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Brazil's North-East Region

Aracaju Travel Guide

Visit the giant turtles at the Projeto TAMAR turtle sanctuary

I love Aracaju sign on beach

Aracaju, the capital of Sergipe, is known for its relaxed pace and beautiful beaches along Brazil's northeastern coast. The city features attractions such as the Orla de Atalaia, a beachfront promenade, and the Mercado Municipal, where visitors can find regional crafts and foods. Aracaju is also a gateway to natural sites like the Xingó Canyon and São Francisco River.

Top 5 Things to See & Do in Aracaju 

  • Relax at Atalaia Beach

  • See turtles at the Oceanário de Aracaju, Tamar Project

  • Visit the Sergipe Museum

  • Visit the Crab Catwalk

  • Take a boat tour of the Canyon Xingo and the São Francisco River

Where to stay in Aracaju

Hotels
  • Vidam Hotel Aracaju - Transamerica Collection - beachfront location, best for those seeking an international hotel (book)

  • Aracaju Corais Hotel - a local hotel option close to Atalaia beach (book)


Pousadas (Guesthouse)
  • Pousada Encantare - beachfront guesthouse with a swimming pool (book)

  • Pousada São Luis - budget guesthouse with a nice breakfast (book)


Backpacker Hostels
  • Find cheap hostels (book)

Find cheap accommodation for your trip.

Where is Aracaju, Brazil

Closest airport

Santa Maria Airport (AJU)

Main bus terminal

Terminal Rodoviário de Aracaju

N/A

Main ports

Where to stay

How to get to Aracaju

Aracaju is accessible via domestic flight connections to major cities including Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Recife, Belo Horizonte, and others. The closest international airport is located in Salvador.


Intercity busses arrive at the Terminal Rodoviário de Aracaju. There are frequent buses from Salvador to Aracaju, taking around 5+ hours, if travelling from the south (tickets & timetable).


Alternatively, there are direct busses from Maceió to Aracaju, taking around 4.5+ hours if travelling from the north (tickets & timetable).




How to get around Aracaju

Getting around Aracaju is relatively straightforward, with several transportation options available. Public busses are available connecting the metropolitan area and beaches, however travel by bus takes considerably longer than driving. Real-time routes and timetables, with estimated arrival times and delays, can be found on Google Maps by searching for directions.


Ride-sharing services like 99 and Uber are also widely available and inexpensive, are a safer way to travel after dark.

Things to know before you go

Aracaju makes for a convenient stopover for those wanting to travel between Salvador and the famous beaches of the Alagoas. Unlike the crowded beaches of other cities such as Rio, Aracaju has long, sparsely populated beaches where you can easily find a sandy place to yourself to sunbake, play football, or have a swim.


While you're there, make sure to visit the turtle sanctuary at Projeto TAMAR. Tickets cost R$24 and go towards supporting their work protecting turtles in the region. See their website for more info: www.tamar.org.br


For seafood lovers, Aracaju is famous for its crab. Visit the Mercado Popular de Aracaju to try the local cuisine. Popular dishes include banana leaf crab, made with a small mangrove crab called Aratu, and Canranguejada which is a kind of crab broth. You can also try juices made from fruits from the local region.



Aracaju boardwalk out to the ocean
Tiny baby turtles swim in a white pool
Giant crab statue by the beach in Aracaju

Disclaimer: Some of my pages contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a ticket through these links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support the blog and allows me to keep providing helpful content. Thank you for your support!

Where do you want to go next?

Florianopolis

Santa Catarina

Boipeba

Bahia

Lencois Maranhenses

Maranhão

Jericoacoara

Ceará

Ilhabela

São Paulo

Ilha do Mel

Paraná

Morro de Sao Paulo

Bahia

Ilha Grande

Rio de Janeiro

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