Top Northeast Brazil Full-day Tours

Beach hopping is one of the Fortaleza area’s top activities, but it can be hard to get between the spread-out beaches independently, especially if you’re short on time. Visit three beautiful beaches in one well-planned day tour to Morro Branco, Praia das Fontes, and Canoa Quebrada. Learn more about these distinct places from your guide, get the chance to swim and take photos, and even take an optional buggy ride.

The tour begins at 8:30 AM in a Toyota 4x4, taking a one-hour off-road trail to reach the first lagoons of Lençóis Maranhenses. The first stop is at the stunning Lagoa do Gavião. From there, we head toward the open sea and the village of Canto do Atins, home to the renowned restaurants of Mr. Antônio, Mrs. Luzia, and Carminha (Ponta do Mangue), famous for their delicious grilled shrimp, fish, and sun-dried meat. After lunch, we continue to the village of Atins to visit the mouth of the Preguiças River, where the river meets the sea in a breathtaking landscape. On the way back, we explore more of the region’s iconic lagoons, such as Lagoa das Sete Mulheres, Lagoa Tropical, Lagoa do Kaite, and others. The return from Atins is around 4:00 PM, with arrival back in the city scheduled for 5:30 PM.

Take a breather from the hustle and bustle of Salvador on this day trip to the Bahian beach town of Praia do Forte. Ideal for travelers looking to add a quiet beach day to their vacation schedule, this trip covers all the transportation for you. Enjoy a visit to the Tamar Project to see sea turtles, followed by solo time to spend as you wish.

Discover the charming town of Trancoso, without the hassle of public transportation or self-driving, and a ferry, with this full-day small-group guided tour from Puerto Seguro. Stroll through the central Quadrado square, visit the Church of São João Batista, enjoy the sun and sand at Coconut Beach, and visit a chocolate factory for tastings.

Departure at 8:30 AM in a Toyota 4x4 for a trail of about 1 hour to the first lagoons, starting with Lagoa do Gavião. Next, we head to the open sea and then to the village of Canto do Atins, where the well-known restaurants of Mr. Antônio, Mrs. Luzia, and Carminha (Ponta do Mangue) are located. There, you can enjoy delicious dishes like grilled shrimp, fish, and dried meat. Afterward, we proceed to the village of Atins, where we visit the mouth of the Preguiças River, the meeting point of the river and the sea. On the way back, we explore other lagoons of the Lençóis Maranhenses, such as Lagoa das Sete Mulheres, Lagoa da Tropical, and Lagoa do Kaite, among others. The tour ends around 4:00 PM, arriving back in town at 5:30 PM.

Chapada Diamantina is one of Brazil's largest national parks, and its headline sights are spread across the Serra do Sincorá on different access roads, making them tricky to navigate alone. Check off five of the region's most-photographed sites in one day—the Vale das Piscinas pools on the Mucugezinho River, the Fumaça cave, Fazenda Pratinha's natural swimming pool, the blue-lit Gruta Azul, and Morro do Pai Inácio's summit viewpoint.

Visit Fortaleza dos Reis Magos and Ponta Negra on this full-day guided sightseeing tour from Natal. In a comfortable, climate-controlled vehicle, take a scenic drive on the Coastal Highway to visit an important civic landmark and some of the city's most beautiful beaches. Wade in the tranquil waters of Cotovelo Beach and make a stop at the Ponta Negra Market.

Unwind for several hours as you hit pause on a busy vacation schedule with this boat tour to Itaparica and Frades Islands. Great for travelers staying in or near Salvador, relax as the boat crew handles the trip for you. Catch the sun on deck as you travel and spend time on both islands. Swim, relax on the beaches, and enjoy a local lunch before heading back to the mainland.

Explore beyond the city limits of Salvador da Bahia, without renting a car or worrying about navigating, on this full-day tour to Forte Beach and Guarajuba. Travel north along Coconut Road to the fishing village of Forte Beach and stop at the TAMAR Project to see rescued sea turtles. Then, head to Guarajuba, where you have plenty of free time to swim, sunbathe, or purchase lunch.

Beach day trips from Salvador often deliver sand and sun without much else, but Praia do Forte is home to 7.5 miles (12 kilometers) of reef-fringed coast and the headquarters of Projeto Tamar—Brazil's national sea turtle conservation program. This guided day trip from Salvador handles the 31-mile (50-kilometer) drive north, and on arrival, leaves the day open for independent time at the beach and the turtle center (own expense).

Your journey begins around 8:00 AM with pickup in Barreirinhas, typically in a van. The trip to Santo Amaro takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes until reaching the parking area, where you will transfer to a 4x4 vehicle. From this point on, the entire adventure unfolds with your guide, crossing sandy trails and entering the heart of the Lençóis Maranhenses. In the morning, enjoy your first refreshing swim in one of the stunning crystal-clear lagoons. Afterward, head to the village of Betânia for a delicious regional lunch and a moment to rest. In the afternoon, continue exploring the park with more lagoon visits, enjoying peaceful baths surrounded by towering white dunes. The day ends with a magical stop to admire the sunset—a breathtaking moment that transforms the landscape into shades of gold and pink. After the dune crossings, you return to the same morning transfer vehicle, with arrival in Barreirinhas expected around 8:00 PM.

Tackle rugged terrain with ease on a 4x4 tour of Natal’s south coast. Go beyond the typical tourist trail and discover beaches, lakes, and dunes without the crowds. Letting someone else drive means you can sit back and soak up the scenery, while a small group ensures you get personalized attention.

Discover all that Salvador has to offer on a full-day sightseeing tour with included hotel pickup. This comprehensive excursion is perfect for curious travelers with a strict vacation schedule. Thanks to all-inclusive transportation, you can visit more than a dozen attractions without breaking a sweat. Highlights include Forte de Nossa Senhora de Monte Serrat, Sao Francisco Church and Convent, Cathedral Basilica of Salvador, and Pelourinho (Old Town).

Jericoacoara is one of Ceará's most-visited beach destinations, but the 186-mile (300-kilometer) drive and protected dunes zone make it a multi-day trip for most travelers. Beat the time crunch with an early morning departure from Fortaleza, followed by a vehicle change at Jijoca to enter the protected zone by 4WD and cross the dunes and lagoons into Jericoacoara—all in a single long day.

You can’t wander into a Brazilian quilombo community on your own, but this quilombo heritage private tour takes you safely into one, so you can experience its culture firsthand. Along with round-trip transport from your Salvador hotel, learn how to make flour and palm oil at a local factory and meet with a faith healer. You’ll gain a deeper understanding for the quilombo community in just one day.

Participate in a 3-hour Brazilian percussion workshop in Salvador. Get to know the rhythms and beats that provide the backdrop for Bahia's famous Carnival celebrations. Listen to the music that is essential in the Samba de Roda and the Candomblé ceremony. Learn about the percussion's roots in the African continent and how the tradition has transformed in modern Brazil from your local guide and professional percussion teacher. Round-trip transportation from Salvador hotels is included.

Swap the urban beaches and bustle of Fortaleza for the more relaxed sand dunes and lagoons of Cumbuco Beach, without the hassle of public buses or self-driving, on this full-day guided tour. At Cumbuco Beach, enjoy free time to relax or take part in optional outdoor activities such as dune buggy rides, windsurfing, or kiteboarding (extra fees apply).

Our Tour is very different because it combines the same day cultural and historical tour including one of the most beautiful beaches of the coast of Ceará. This tour lasts a full day. The tour begins with the main sights of Fortaleza with a stop for shopping in the Old Public Jail (Today Handicraft Center). After we follow towards Cumbuco Beach. Cumbuco Beach is located 38 km from Fortaleza, in the municipality of Caucaia, west coast, and is considered one of the most traditional of Ceará coast. Its main attractions are a fishing village, coconut palms by the sea and one of the most beautiful dune chains of the Ceará coast. In addition to the natural beauty, the beach offers an infrastructure of beach huts with varied cuisine, bathrooms and freshwater showers. Visitors can also enjoy various local (optional) rides such as buggy, raft (the yacht from Ceará) or take the romantic trip by yoke.

This full-day adventure will allow you to enjoy both the magnificent panoramic views Salvador offers, as well as discover its rich history, extraordinary architecture, and dynamic culture, result of the blend of Portuguese, African and Indigenous people. We will see the city from different angles, discovering the Lower City, with its bucolic interior atmosphere, around the calm waters of the All Saints Bay, and continuing to the tip of the Itapagipe Peninsula, the extreme west part of Salvador, and then the Upper City with its Historic Center – the cradle of our city’s history.

Get an overview of Salvador's highlights during this full-day private tour with a local guide. Visit the historic sights of the city, its colonial mansions and monuments, including Dique do Tororó, Pelourinho, Bonfim Church, and Lacerda Elevator. Have lunch at a local restaurant (included) to taste some of Bahia's specialties and enjoy round-trip transportation from Salvador hotels.

Skip the hassle of finding your own way to Morro de São Paulo, a popular destination for beachgoers, on a stress-free tour from Salvador da Bahia. Let a guide take care of arranging three different types of transfers—which include hotel pickup, a ferry ride to Itaparica, and a speedboat from Valença—while you spend more time relaxing in the white-sand coves on Tinharé Island.

Discover the stunning landscape of Morro Branco Bay, which has been used as a filming location for many series and films, on this full-day guided sightseeing tour from Fortaleza. This area, located in the Beberibe District, is home to rows of white and red sand dunes backed by lush tropical vegetation dotted with small ponds. Opt for a dune buggy ride (at your own expense) to explore the dunes and hidden grottos along the seashore.

Praia da Lagoinha sits 71 miles (115 kilometers) west of Fortaleza in the small fishing village of Paraipaba, with a horseshoe-shaped bay framed by clifftop dunes—quieter and less developed than the busier beaches that sit closer to the city. Get there with ease on this full-day tour, which covers the drive each way, with time at the natural viewpoint above the bay and on the sand below.