White dunes
Beside dark waters.
Beto Quissak — CC BY-SA 4.0 · enioprado — CC BY-SA 3.0 · enioprado — CC BY-SA 3.0 · enioprado — CC BY-SA 3.0 · enioprado — CC BY-SA 3.0 · enioprado — CC BY-SA 3.0
Dunas de Marapé, the «Marapé Dunes», is a beach in Jequiá da Praia about sixty kilometres south of Maceió, often listed among Brazil's most beautiful. Here the mangrove-lined Jequiá River meets the Atlantic, so white dunes and the dark waters flowing from the Jequiá lagoon sit right beside the blue of the sea. This meeting of fresh and salt water makes the area rich in marine life: the mangroves around the shore are a natural nursery for many species of fish, crustaceans and molluscs. The local cooking is known for prawns, crabs, clams and «sururu» mussel dishes, and remnants of Atlantic Forest survive in the area. Trips usually go by boat along the river to the dunes, and visitors spend the day between the sand, the water and seafood lunches. Check the tide times, and bring sun protection, as there is little shade on the dunes.
Beside dark waters.
A marine nursery.
Prawns and sururu.
Jequiá da Praia municipality, about 60 km south of Maceió, Alagoas
Usually by boat along the Jequiá River on a tour from Maceió or the town.