What's on in Porto de Galinhas, Brazil through the year

Peak crowds — Brazilian summer holidays, Summer holidays in Brazil

• Rule

  Reef pools run on the tide

  1 Jan – 31 DecBook early

  The jangadas out to the natural pools leave from the village square at a time the tide sets, not the day, and they are sold through the boatmen's association at a fixed rate. Low tide, morning if you can. Source ↗

Still on: Dry months on the reef (1 Sep – 31 Mar (usually)), Brazilian summer holidays (20 Dec – 28 Feb)

Peak crowds — Carnival, Brazilian summer holidays

• Holiday

  Carnival

  13–18 FebCrowded

  Frevo and maracatu belong to Recife and Olinda up the road, and Porto fills with people commuting to them. Rooms go at holiday rates with minimum stays attached. Source ↗

Still on: Reef pools run on the tide (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Dry months on the reef (1 Sep – 31 Mar (usually)), Brazilian summer holidays (20 Dec – 28 Feb)

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: Reef pools run on the tide (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Carnival (13–18 Feb), Dry months on the reef (1 Sep – 31 Mar (usually))

Busy — Semana Santa long weekend

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Reef pools run on the tide (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Semana Santa long weekend (3–5 Apr)

Quiet — one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Reef pools run on the tide (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Quiet — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: Reef pools run on the tide (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Peak crowds — July school holidays, July winter break in Brazil

• Season

  July school holidays

  1–31 JulCrowded

  The mid-year break brings the second wave of the year, in the middle of the wettest stretch. Rain here comes in heavy bursts rather than all day, but it decides the boat trips.

Still on: Reef pools run on the tide (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Reef pools run on the tide (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

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

• Season

  Dry months on the reef

  1 Sep – 31 Mar · usuallyDry season

  From September the rain thins and the water over the coral clears; this is the stretch when the pools look like the postcards and the sea is flat inside the reef.

Still on: Reef pools run on the tide (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Busy — one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Reef pools run on the tide (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Dry months on the reef (1 Sep – 31 Mar (usually))

Busy — one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Reef pools run on the tide (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Dry months on the reef (1 Sep – 31 Mar (usually))

Peak crowds — travelers describe it as peak season, Brazilian summer holidays

• Season

  Brazilian summer holidays

  20 Dec – 28 FebSchool holidaysCrowdedBook early

  Recife is under an hour away and the whole north-east comes down for the new year and the school break; the village square is shoulder to shoulder and the pool boats queue.

Still on: Reef pools run on the tide (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Dry months on the reef (1 Sep – 31 Mar (usually))