Carneiros Beach
R$$Carneiros Beach is in Tamandaré (PE), at the mouth of the Rio Formoso, about 1 hour by car from Porto de Galinhas. It has natural pools and sandbanks at low tide, catamaran tours on the river and the Igrejinha de São Benedito, an 18th-century chapel by the sea.
Part of the guide Carneiros Beach and Tamandaré
Getting there from Porto de Galinhas
By car it is 45 to 56 km, depending on the starting point, about 1 hour on the PE-060 to Rio Formoso and then on the PE-072. From Recife Airport it is about 90 km. Cars cannot reach the sand: you park at the beach clubs or in parking lots, usually with the fee converted into food and drink credit.
- Organized tour: agencies in Porto de Galinhas sell the full-day tour with transportation and a day pass at Bora Bora. In 2026, one of them charged R$ 160 per person until December 18 and R$ 190 from December 19 to January 31, 2027, without the catamaran; babies up to 2 years old do not pay. Another advertises a duration of about 10 hours, with the catamaran paid separately, for about R$ 70.
- Bus: there is a route from Recife to Tamandaré, a trip of about 2 hours 30 minutes.
Do you have to pay to get in?
The beach is public by law, but access by land crosses private property, and the beach clubs charge for parking, a day pass or a minimum spend. There is a free pedestrian entrance next to the Beijupirá restaurant, with paid parking. You can also arrive by boat or by walking about 7 km along the sand from Tamandaré beach. Prices vary a lot by venue and by date: at Bora Bora, the day pass ranged from R$ 30 to R$ 35 from 2024 to January 2026. Confirm before you go.
Catamaran and speedboat tours
- Catamaran from Bora Bora: about 2 hours, departing between 10:30 and 11:00, with stops of about 20 minutes at the Igrejinha, at a sandbank and at the clay bath at the cliffs of Guadalupe Beach, in Sirinhaém, on the other bank of the river mouth. It cost about R$ 70 per person in 2024 and 2026.
- Catamaran from Tamandaré: 3 to 4 hours, departing at 10:00, along the Rio Ariquindá, mangroves, Guadalupe, the Igrejinha, a sandbank and natural pools depending on the tide. Published price: R$ 90 per adult, R$ 45 for ages 7 to 9 and free up to age 6.
- Private speedboat: about 2 hours, with departures around 9:00, 12:00 and 14:00. Prices published in January 2026: R$ 450 for 2 people, R$ 530 for 3 to 5 and R$ 1,050 for 10.
Igrejinha de São Benedito
The 18th-century chapel of São Benedito is the postcard image of Carneiros. Its construction is usually attributed to Francisco de Caldas Lins, Viscount of Rio Formoso. It stands on private property, on a former coconut farm, and was renovated between 1999 and 2001, after a period of neglect. It hosts weddings and baptisms.
From outside, the church can be seen from the sand; the interior opens only a few times a year, for masses and events. From the Bora Bora area to the chapel it is a 20 to 25 minute walk along the beach, and the catamarans also stop there.
Tide and natural pools
The natural pools and sandbanks appear at low tide. There is no official Brazilian Navy tide table for Tamandaré; the closest reference is the one for the Port of Suape. Check the tide table before choosing your day.
Where to eat and stay
The beach has beach clubs and restaurants such as Bora Bora, Beijupirá, Mustako, Arikindá (at Pousada dos Carneiros), Éden, Carneiros Beach Club, Vila da Igrejinha and Jobar. Bora Bora opens every day, from 8:30 to 17:00, and does not allow guests to bring in food, drinks or coolers.
To stay overnight in Carneiros there are pousadas (guesthouses) and bungalows, such as Pousada dos Carneiros, Bangalôs do Gameleiro and Pontal dos Carneiros Beach Bungalows.
Environmental rules
Carneiros lies at the southern edge of the APA Costa dos Corais, a federal protected area managed by ICMBio and expanded in 2025. The management plan prohibits feeding fish, disturbing wildlife, collecting organisms and anchoring outside the mooring buoys, and the APA decree prohibits removing coral and dumping waste into the sea, mangroves and rivers. Do not step on the coral. In its bulletin of December 12, 2025, CPRH rated the beach as suitable for swimming.
When to go
According to APAC, the rainiest period on the Pernambuco coast runs from April to July. From September to February there is less rain. For the natural pools, plan the tour around low tide.