Situated between the Mundaú Lake and the Atlantic Ocean, the capital of the State of Alagoas, linked to all the cities along the coastal strip by highway BR-101, boasts some of the best beaches in the Northeast, many with natural swimming pools. This scene from paradise is complemented by lakes, coconut trees and a rich and appetising cuisine based on seafood, couscous and tapioca.
The most popular beaches for tourists are Coruripe, Barra de São Miguel e do Francês, in Marechal Deodoro, a town 21 kilometres from Maceió and the birthplace of the first president of Brazil, Marshal Deodoro da Fonseca. To the south, the town offers the attractions of beaches at Avenida, Sobral, Trapiche and Pontal da Barra, all with access to lakes. Near the lakes of Mundaú and Manguaba, fishing villages sprang up, intersected by navigable canals containing a large quantity of molluscs and crustaceans.
In some places, the beaches form lakes two kilometres inland, offering opportunities for bathing and trips by raft. The best known of these is the one starting from the beach at Pajuçara with trips on lakes formed by coral reefs and sandbanks that emerge at low tide. Some rafts have been converted into bars where the tourist can enjoy a typical meal. Six kilometres from Maceió is Jatiúca beach, a surfers' paradise and well-served with inns and hotels.
In addition to beaches, Maceió has attractions such as buildings dating back to previous centuries, in particular, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Pleasures, 1840; the Deodoro Theatre, the Municipal Market, the Historical Institute Museum and the Floriano Peixoto Palace housing the State government headquarters.