Waking up early is essential for those who want to enjoy an intense day 
at the beach. Filled with vacation homes, Guaxuma, Garça Torta, and Riacho Doce serve well for those looking to hit the beach close to Maceió – in fact, they belong to the capital of Alagoas.
The statue of a mermaid amidst the natural pools is the main 
symbol of the Mirante da Sereia. However, by parking the car there and walking 30 minutes north, you reach the preserved Pratagi.
Further ahead, the long beach of Ipioca, entirely protected by corals, takes on a very different atmosphere. To the south, it is quite busy with many 
people vying for a spot on the sand. But if you are looking for a more special place, continue a few kilometers from AL-101 to the Angra de Ipioca condominium. Pass through the gate and head towards the beach, along a beautiful stretch where the movement is limited to the visitors of Hibiscus, a 
charming beach shack.
Paripueira marks the beginning of one of the largest coral reefs in the world, ending only in Porto de Galinhas (PE). Do you know what that means? Lots of natural pools and boat trips to the reefs in this part of the itinerary. Those who stay on the sand can enjoy a beach with shallow, warm waters.
Next stop: Barra de Santo Antônio. The beaches of the municipality are on Ilha da Croa, accessible by a bridge, but to reach the best spots, you have to endure quite a bit.
A bumpy dirt road through a sugarcane field leads to Carro Quebrado, the most famous beach in the region, with 
impressive cliffs. After walking for an hour, you arrive at Pedra da Cebola and Ponta da Gamela, with much less movement and zero infrastructure. The last part of this stretch is the beautiful Praia do Morro, on a private farm filled with coconut trees and featuring a small chapel built during the Dutch invasion. There is a labyrinthine road to get there.
From Barra de Santo Antônio, AL-101 takes a turn inland and you will only find the sea ahead, in Japaratinga, close to Maragogi. You can continue on it, but in my opinion, you will miss the best of the party: the beaches of São Miguel 
dos Milagres and Porto de Pedras.
Shortly after crossing São Luís do Quitunde, turn right onto the road to Passo do Camaragibe and Barra do Camaragibe: it’s 25 km on a winding road until you reach the sea in Barra do Camaragibe.
Called the Ecological Route, this stretch of just over 20 km of coastline features incredible beaches that have not yet been discovered by mass tourism. The inns cater to couples, so much so that many do not accept children and almost all are very expensive. The scenery consists of stretches of white sand, coconut trees providing shade, few people, and coral reefs just meters from the shore – the fun is, at low tide, to walk up to a kilometer to the reefs. Toque, Lage, and Patacho are the most enchanting beaches of the Ecological Route, while Tatuamunha offers a boat trip to see the manatee.
A ferry connects Porto de Pedras and Japaratinga. The characteristics of the beaches show some similarities, with natural pools and coral reefs, increasing the infrastructure to accommodate families. In Maragogi lies the largest set of natural pools in Alagoas, called Galés. When the tide is low, catamarans take tourists to the site.
Source: www.viagemeturismo.abril.com.br, by Fernando Leite