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Voykit pocket guide · Brazil
Itamaracá
Ilha de Itamaracá
Spend 1–2 days on Itamaracá for beach time and Fort Orange; longer only if you want extensive water‑sport lessons.
Itamaracá is a 65 km² island off Pernambuco, reachable by bridge from Igarassu. Its main draws are the sandy beaches, Fort Orange and water‑sport rentals. The island is small enough to walk between most points, so a single full day covers the highlights; a second day adds kayaking or kite‑surf lessons.
- Country
- Brazil
- Local name
- Ilha de Itamaracá
- Best months
- Apr–Oct
- Avoid
- Jan–Mar (rainy season)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- BRL
- Money
- Currency is the Brazilian real (BRL, R$). About R$5–5.8 per US dollar in 2026 — check. Cards and tap-to-pay are accepted almost everywhere, even at beach kiosks.
- Daily spend
- Budget R$120–180 excl. bed · Mid R$180–300 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Vivo, Claro and TIM cover the country; buying a prepaid SIM needs a passport and sometimes a CPF — an eSIM before you fly is easier.
- Emergency
- Police 190 · Ambulance 192 · Fire 193
- Plugs
- Types N, C · 127 V (Rio, São Paulo) or 220 V (Brasília, much of the Northeast) · Check the voltage on the socket; most chargers are dual-voltage.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 10% service (serviço) usually on the bill; optional but normal.; Beach kiosk / bar: Often included; round up.; Taxi / Uber: Not expected; round up.; Guide: US$5–15 per person per day.; Hotel staff: Small tip for porters.
- Water
- Do not drink tap water; filtered water is provided in most homes and hotels.
- Toilets
- Put toilet paper in the bin, not the toilet, in most places.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a beach kiosk | R$5–8 |
| Acarajé (street snack) | R$8–12 |
| Beer (bottle) | R$10–15 |
| Kombi ride | R$15–20 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- REC · Recife International Airport
- about 1 h by car via bridge
Typical fares
- Bridge crossing (car)
- ≈ R$5 one‑way
- Kombi island ride
- ≈ R$15 per short hop
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk or use white minibuses (Kombis) that run set routes between beaches and attractions; negotiate price with unregistered taxis before boarding.
See and do
Known for
- Fort Orange (Dutch‑Brazilian fortress)
- Beaches (Manga Verde, Jaguaribe)
- Kite‑surf and wind‑surf schools
- Sea‑mammal centre
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Recife | Bus from Itamaracá terminal to Igarassu, then city bus; about 1 h total | ≈1 h |
| Olinda | Same bus route, continue north to Olinda; about 1 h 15 min | ≈1 h 15 min |
Sleep
- Manga Verde Beach Residence
- Beachfront apartments, 14:00‑11:00 check‑in/out, ~R$255 per nightBeachfront apartments, 2:00 PM‑11:00 AM check‑in/out, ~R$255 per night
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Com licençakohm lee-sah |
| Thank you | Obrigadooh-bree-gah-doo |
| How much is this? | Quanto custa?kwahn-toh koos-tah |
| Where is the bathroom? | Onde fica o banheiro?ohn-dee feek-ah oo bahn-yay-roh |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake, hug or cheek kiss (one in São Paulo, two in Rio); avoid: Being stiff with new acquaintances
- Gestures: Use thumbs-up freely; avoid: The OK hand sign (it is rude)
- Language: Try Portuguese; say obrigado/obrigada; avoid: Defaulting to Spanish
- Time: Expect relaxed social punctuality; avoid: Being late for tours and flights
- Beach: Bring only a towel, cash and a copy of your ID; avoid: Leaving things unattended
Scams and watch-outs
- Unregistered taxis may overcharge – agree price first.
- Bus schedules can be sparse on weekends; check local timetables.
Itamaracá is generally safe for tourists; keep valuables hidden in taxis and avoid isolated beaches after dark.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Itamaracá yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Fort Orange (Dutch‑Brazilian fortress)
- Beaches (Manga Verde, Jaguaribe)
- Kite‑surf and wind‑surf schools
- Sea‑mammal centre
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Itamaracá, revision 4081259 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4081259
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/itamaraca). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.