Region
Pernambuco
Base in Recife (3‑4 nights); day‑trip to Porto de Galinhas (30 min) and Olinda (15 min) for beaches and colonial sites.
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- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
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Key facts · Brazil
- Currency
- Brazilian real (BRL, R$)
- Language
- Portuguese
- Plugs
- N · C · 127 V (Rio, São Paulo) or 220 V (Brasília, much of the Northeast)
- Time zone
- Brasília time UTC−3
Rules in force · 9Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the fir…
- South America ↗Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the first day light; sleep lower where you can (Sacred Valley before Cusco) and descend if headache comes with vomiting or confusion.
- South America ↗A yellow fever certificate is required on arrival in French Guiana, and asked for on some routes into Bolivia, Paraguay, Suriname and Guyana, or when arriving from Amazon areas — vaccinate at least 10 days before travel and carry the card.
- South America ↗Overnight buses are the norm in Argentina, Chile and Peru, but pick top-tier companies and keep valuables on your body; on-board thefts from overhead racks are the common loss.
- Brazil ↗US, Canadian and Australian citizens need an e-visa (about US$81 — check) applied for online at the official VFS portal before travel; EU and UK citizens do not. Check your passport with Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs before booking.
- Brazil ↗Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for many areas, including the Amazon and Pantanal; check with a travel clinic at least 10 days before travel.
- Brazil ↗Keep your phone out of sight in the street and on beaches; phone theft is the most common crime against visitors in big cities.
- Brazil ↗Carnival 2027 runs about 5–10 February (Tuesday 9 February; Salvador from 4 February): book Rio, Salvador and Recife/Olinda months ahead or avoid those dates.
- Northeast ↗Fly between coastal cities; buses are cheap but 12–20 h between capitals.
- Northeast ↗Rain moves with latitude: the Bahia and Sergipe coast is wettest Apr–Jul, the Ceará coast Feb–May.
Pernambuco’s coast offers beaches and historic towns, while the interior holds colonial heritage and natural parks. Base in Recife (3‑4 nights) and use short day‑trips to nearby sights.
Where to sleep
Sleep base
Day trip
- OlindaCity guide
UNESCO colonial town, carnival giant dolls, 15 min north of Recife.
Best Feb–Mar, Sep–Nov
JFMAMJJASOND
Plan the nights
How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags
Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags
Night sequences
- 3 nights
- Recife 3, day‑trip Porto de Galinhas and Olinda
- 4 nights
- Recife 4, day‑trip Porto de Galinhas and Olinda
- Recife has a high homicide rate; stay alert in busy areas and avoid displaying valuables.
Day-trips door to door
| To | From | Door-to-door p50 | Last return | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Porto de Galinhas | Recife | 30 min | check | Natural pools; go early to avoid crowds. |
| Olinda | Recife | 15 min | check | Historic centre; easy walk or short bus ride. |
Bags between cities
Luggage forwarding between Recife and Olinda is available via local couriers; typically 1 day delivery.
When to go
Months and weather
Open When to goClose When to go1 partSeasons
Seasons at a glance
Pick a month to see where to go.
Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table
| Country | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recife | go | go | go | × | × | × | × | × | go | go | go | go |
| Porto de Galinhas | go | go | go | × | × | × | × | × | go | go | go | go |
| Olinda | ok | go | go | × | × | × | × | ok | go | go | go | ok |
| Northeast (country-wide) | – | – | – | – | – | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | – |
Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.
Getting in and passes
Arrival times and regional passes
Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes2 partsGet in · Passes
Get in
| From | To | How | p50 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International flights | Recife (REC) | Direct flights from Lisbon, Madrid, Miami, Brazilian capitals; seasonal charters from Frankfurt, Milan, Paris, Buenos Aires. | ~2 h flight from Europe, ~8 h from US East Coast | Largest airport in the state. |
| Road | Recife | BR‑101 (coastal highway) connects to Salvador, Rio, São Paulo; BR‑232 and BR‑408 link inland towns. | Check for traffic; long distances. | Mainland bus routes use this corridor. |
Regional passes
Brazilian Domestic Flight Pass
checkMay lower cost if visiting multiple states; verify 2026 rates.
Eat and move on
Regional food and where to go next
Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on2 partsFood · Go next
Regional food
| Dish | Where | Timing / trap |
|---|---|---|
| Frevo-inspired street snacks | Recife & Olinda | Try tapioca, carne de sol, and regional sweets. |
| Seafood at Porto de Galinhas | Beach shacks | Fresh fish, shrimp, and moqueca. |
Go next
Planning aids
Built from this guide's own data
Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids1 partIn numbers
Region in numbers
- Where to sleep
- 1 base
- Day trips
- 2, 15 min to 30 min
- Nights suggested
- 3–4 nights
- Ways in
- 2 listed
Deep dive
Photos, reading and every source
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Sources
Ask about Pernambuco
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