Year-round warm, tropical weather, beautiful beaches and a History dating back to the earliest colonization of Brazil, including a 25-year occupation by the Dutch, as they tried to wrest control of Brazil and its lucrative sugar production from the Portuguese, make Recife an excellent choice for a trip on your vacations.
Recife is the largest city in Northeastern Brazil and, due to a great number of canals and rivers, it is known as "the Venice of Brazil". Recife is built along the seashore, having its name derived from the reefs that protect its shore., forming beaches of calm water and gentle surfing. Boa Viagem is the main beach area in the city, where many of the fine hotels are located.
Recife, as one of the oldest cities in Brazil, is rich in colonial architecture, churches, old palaces built in baroque style, as well as forts and other buildings constructed by the Dutch between 1624 and 1650. Continuing in a Historical vein, just Northern of Recife lays Olinda. Sitting on the top of a hill overlooking the ocean and the city, this colonial gem has beautiful mansions, convents and museums along with its cobblestone streets. Charming inns, art galleries and restaurants make strolling through Olinda a delight. Olinda hosts also one of the most distinctive Carnival celebrations in Brazil.
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DESCRIPTION OF TOURS
Transfer in & out:
Upon pick up at airport, passengers will ride in deluxe vehicles to their hotels while listening to a briefing about the city and its precious History and wonderful tours. To leave, passengers will be met at hotel at set time and driven to the airport, where they will be helped at check-in.
Half-day tour Recife & Olinda:
On this tour, you will have a panoramic tour through the cities of Recife and Olinda, where you will see, in Recife, the Boa Viagem Beach with its reefs, making natural pools of warm water, coconut trees contrasting with the modern buildings around, Pina, the fisherman's section, with "jangadas"and typical restaurants., the Forte das Cinco Pontas, São José sections, where the Carnival first starts, a drive along the Port, the Museum of Sacred Art and the Golden Chapel. In Olinda, ellected by Unesco as The Cultural & Natural patrimony of Humanity, a visit to its streets with baroque-style buildings and the many churches in town. Walk along the streets to get closer to the beautiful old-styled houses and the natives' life-style. Stop at fairs and buy handcrafts.
Half-day cultural tour:
On this tour, you will visit the Museum of Northern Man, fairs of all kinds, the Atelier de Francisco Brennand and other places that take part in the city's History.
Full-day Porto de Galinhas tour:
Leaving the hotel, head for Porto de Galinhas Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in Brazilian coast. On the way, just 65 km away, you can see the contrasts between the sugarcane plantations and the exuberance of the coconut trees. Once you are in Pernambuco, the visit to this beach is a must. The old disembarking port for slaves in known for its famous natural pools with crystal-clean waters. Millions of fishes, corals and other types of aquatic creatures come along and stay just beside the visitors, to add even more beauty to the tropical resort.
Full-day Itamaracá, Igaraçu and João Pessoa:
Igaraçu has the Sainto Cosme e Damião, Brazil's oldest church, built in 1535. After crossing coconut groves, fishing villages and marshy lands, a bridge connects the continent to the Itamaracá island. On the island, you will see a prison farm and the Orange Fort. A folklore dance, the "Ciranda" is performed at night on the beach and at the public square under a romantic moonlight. After visiting Igaraçu and Itamaracá island, we will travel to João Pessoa, through cashew trees, eucalyptus forests and sugarcane plantations, typical in the Northeast coast zones. We will stop along the Transamazônica Federal Highway at "Cabo Branco", the Easternmost point in America. Visit the Tambaú beach and the central area of Solon. This will close our visit to João Pessoa.
Full-day tour to Caruaru and Nova Jerusalém:
The excursion toward the countryside goes through the forest zone, until it reaches Vitória de Santo Antão. This is where the gigantic brandy Pitu is from. Rural Caruaru is visible after crossing the Borborema high plane. Famous for its ceramics and elected by the Unesco Organization as the America's most important Center of Figurative Art. Every Wednesday and Saturday, the city hosts one of the biggest Brazilian open-air markets of regional handmade articles and curiosities, enlivened by popular poetry singers and musicians.