What's on in Maceió, Brazil through the year

Peak crowds — Reveillon on Pajucara, Summer holidays in Brazil

• Festival

  Pinto da Madrugada

  7 FebCarnivalCrowded

  The pre-carnival bloco that is Maceio's real carnival day: a dawn-to-afternoon parade along the Ponta Verde and Pajucara seafront a week or so before Carnival, drawing crowds in the hundreds of thousands. Source ↗

Still on: Turtle nesting on the city beaches (1 Sep – 31 Mar (usually)), Dry months and calm reef pools (1 Sep – 28 Feb (usually)), Reveillon on Pajucara (26 Dec – 5 Jan)

Peak crowds — Pinto da Madrugada, Carnival

• Holiday

  Carnival

  13–18 FebCrowdedClosures

  Maceio's carnival is a modest municipal affair next to Recife's, but the whole north-east travels and the beachfront hotels fill regardless. Many restaurants close for the four days. Source ↗

Still on: Pinto da Madrugada (7 Feb), Turtle nesting on the city beaches (1 Sep – 31 Mar (usually)), Dry months and calm reef pools (1 Sep – 28 Feb (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Holiday

  Semana Santa long weekend

  3–5 AprEaster & Holy WeekCrowdedBook early

  Good Friday is a national holiday and the Easter weekend is one of the year's busiest for domestic travel: roads and bus stations jam, beach towns and country retreats fill with Brazilian families, and prices rise. Many shops close on Good Friday. Source ↗

Still on: Carnival (13–18 Feb), Turtle nesting on the city beaches (1 Sep – 31 Mar (usually))

Busy — Semana Santa long weekend

• Season

  Rainy season

  1 Apr – 15 Aug · usuallyMonsoonRisk

  The rains usually arrive in April and peak through May to July, heaviest in June. Downpours flood low streets and the boat trips to the reef pools are often called off, but hotel rates are at their lowest. Source ↗

Still on: Semana Santa long weekend (3–5 Apr)

Quiet — one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Rainy season (1 Apr – 15 Aug (usually))

Busy — Sao Joao Massayo, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Sao Joao Massayo

  22–29 JunMajor festivalCrowded

  Alagoas keeps the June festivals seriously and the capital runs a week of forro on the seafront around the 24th, in the wettest month of its year. Bring something for the rain. Source ↗

Still on: Rainy season (1 Apr – 15 Aug (usually))

Busy — July winter break in Brazil, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Rainy season (1 Apr – 15 Aug (usually))

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

• Festival

  Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres

  17–27 AugReligious feastClosures

  Ten days of masses for the city's patron saint, ending on 27 August, a municipal holiday, with a procession from the cathedral through the old centre towards Jaragua. Offices and some shops close for the day. Source ↗

Still on: Rainy season (1 Apr – 15 Aug (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Nature

  Turtle nesting on the city beaches

  1 Sep – 31 Mar · usually

  Sea turtles nest along the Alagoas coast from September, with most of the state's nests on Maceio's own sand and the peak around January. Nests are fenced off where they are found.

• Season

  Dry months and calm reef pools

  1 Sep – 28 Feb · usuallyDry season

  The rain thins out from September and the wind drops, which is when the boats out to the natural pools at Pajucara and Gales are worth the trip. Low tide decides the day, not the forecast.

Quiet — travelers describe it as quiet

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Turtle nesting on the city beaches (1 Sep – 31 Mar (usually)), Dry months and calm reef pools (1 Sep – 28 Feb (usually))

Busy — one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Turtle nesting on the city beaches (1 Sep – 31 Mar (usually)), Dry months and calm reef pools (1 Sep – 28 Feb (usually))

Peak crowds — Reveillon on Pajucara, Summer holidays in Brazil

• Holiday

  Reveillon on Pajucara

  26 Dec – 5 JanChristmas & New YearCrowdedBook early

  The city puts fireworks on four beaches and everyone stands in the water in white; hotel rates on Ponta Verde and Jatiuca are the year's highest and require a minimum stay. Source ↗

Still on: Turtle nesting on the city beaches (1 Sep – 31 Mar (usually)), Dry months and calm reef pools (1 Sep – 28 Feb (usually))