NORTHEAST

The Northeast covers 18% of Brazil and contains 29% of the population who live in the states of Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Maranhão, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Piauí, Rio Grande do Norte and Sergipe.

Brazil’s Northeast has everything to make it one of the most sought after vacation centres in the world, especially among travellers looking for perfect weather and even more perfect beaches. This is probably why for the residents of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, the Northeast is their number one vacation destination. In 2001 it will be the chance for the British to discover this part of Brazil, ironically the nearest part to the UK, with charter operations starting in May to Natal, Recife and Salvador.
From São Luís, in the North, to the Bahia Basin, in the South, the Northeast has over 3,200 kilometres (2,000 miles) of virtually uninterrupted soft white beaches, while for the historically minded there is Salvador, the former Capital of Brazil with its 154 churches, most of which are treasured architectural masterpieces.  

Along the coast sit the towns of São Luís, Fortaleza, Natal, João Pessoa, Recife, Maceió, Salvador, and Porto Seguro. All of which have their own charm and a diverse selection of attractions which range from camel rides over the dunes to state of the art water parks. The Northeast is Brazil’s most folkloric region. Part of that folklore is the cuisine that has elevated the cooking of Brazil alongside that of France, Italy, China and Japan.

550 kilometres from Recife (a little over an hour by plane), the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha is made up of 21 islands and islets, which rise up from the depths of a sea which is 4,000 metres deep. The islands are 26 km2 of virtually untouched nature and are under a strict conservation regime. Fernando de Noronha is the main island, full of natural viewing points from which to observe the beauties of the place. It is the only inhabited island and has 16 beaches of dazzling white sand, warm clear waters, shoals of brightly coloured fish and acrobatic dolphins. Natural pools, sea turtles, seaweed and sponges complete the picture.