Activity · Natural pools and jangada tour · Vila de Porto
Porto de Galinhas Natural Pools
R$The Porto de Galinhas natural pools form at low tide among the reefs off the main beach of the Vila (the village center of Porto de Galinhas), almost 200 meters from the sand. They are the destination's most popular tour: shallow, calm water for swimming and seeing fish, reached by jangada, a traditional sail raft, or, when the tide is very low, on foot.
How they form
The reefs are sandstone cemented by carbonate, with fragments of shells and calcareous algae, and corals live on top of this structure. They cover about 260,000 m², have an average thickness of 5 meters and formed in the Holocene, the current geological period. At low tide they are partly exposed, and the water is trapped between them. The Geological Survey of Brazil lists the formation as a geosite and rates its risk of degradation as high, because of urban pressure and heavy recreational use.
Jangada tour
- Who runs it: the Associação dos Jangadeiros de Porto de Galinhas. The jangadas leave from the sand in front of Praça das Piscinas Naturais, and tickets are sold at the booth next to the Portal da Praia, between Rua das Piscinas Naturais and Rua da Esperança, or online.
- Price in October 2026: R$ 60 per person aged 7 and over in cash or by Pix, Brazil's instant payment (R$ 63 by card), R$ 30 for ages 4 to 6 (R$ 33 by card). Children up to 3 go free.
- Duration: about 1 hour, with a stop at the formation known as Mapa do Brasil (Map of Brazil) and accompanied by a local guide. The jangada operators usually lend diving masks.
- Schedule: it changes every day, because it follows low tide. Check the tide table before buying.
A municipal decree from January 2026 reserves the stretch of sand in front of the square for authorized jangadas, and municipal laws from 2013 and 2014 limit the number of jangadas and visitors per day on the reefs.
Can you walk there?
When the tide is below about 0.4 m, you can walk out. Access on foot is organized in groups, with limited time on the reefs. At 0.5 m you can still get into the main pool. The nearest official Navy tide table is the one for the Port of Suape.
Diving
If you want to go beyond snorkeling, you can do an introductory scuba dive in the pool area, offered by local operators, with transport by jangada and a maximum depth of about 6 meters.
Precautions
- Wear sandals or flip-flops because of the corals and sea urchins.
- Respect the roped-off areas and do not step on the corals.
- Do not feed the fish, and do not take animals or pieces of reef.
- Bring water and sun protection.
Frequently asked questions
For those who combine
Request a quoteThe message opens in the WhatsApp of Porto de Galinhas Natural Pools, already written. GO does not broker the payment nor receive a commission.
Chat on WhatsAppOfficial websiteThis profilePrice rangeR$TideHighDurationabout 1 hour by jangadaBeachVila de PortoContact(81) 99395-6537Prices and schedules change: it is worth confirming directly with the establishment.