Mundaú Lagoon and the 9 Islands Tour

The 9 islands tour shows a side of Maceió you don’t see on the waterfront: the lagoons. Mundaú Lagoon lies west of the city and is part of the Mundaú-Manguaba estuarine lagoon complex, a system of lagoons, channels, mangroves and islands where fresh river water mixes with salt water from the sea. The boat follows these channels and shows the mangrove scenery, the lakeside communities and the meeting with the ocean.

What the Mundaú-Manguaba complex is

Two lagoons make up the complex: Mundaú, next to Maceió, and Manguaba, next to Marechal Deodoro. Between them, and between the lagoons and the sea, a network of channels forms many small islands. Mundaú Lagoon has about 23 km² of water surface and is shallow, according to data compiled by Wikipedia (medium confidence).

The shores are lined with mangroves and with communities that live from fishing, shellfish gathering and crafts. This area is the heart of filé production, the typical Alagoas embroidery. Learn more on the Pontal da Barra and filé lace page.

How the tour works

The most common route leaves from Pontal da Barra, a Maceió neighborhood on the lagoon shore. Boats vary: there are schooners, catamarans, smaller boats and speedboats. In general, the tour:

• sails through the channels between the islands, with views of the mangroves;
• passes islands used by residents and by tourist businesses;
• reaches the area where the lagoon meets the sea, with a swimming stop at a small beach;
• makes a stop at a support point for a snack or lunch.

The length, stops and what’s included vary from one operator to another. There’s no official published price. Ask before boarding and confirm the return time.

Sururu and lagoon cooking

Sururu is a bivalve mussel that lives in the Mundaú and Manguaba lagoons. The Alagoas State Department of Culture inscribed sururu in the state’s Register of intangible heritage, highlighting its role in the landscape, memory and identity of Alagoas. Gathering it supports many families living on the shores.

At the tour stops and at lakeside restaurants, sururu appears in broths, stews and snacks. Massagueira, on the other side of the complex, is known as a food hub. To understand the dishes, see typical food of Alagoas.

Sunset at Pontal

Pontal da Barra is known for its sunset over Mundaú Lagoon, as Maceió City Hall points out. A common combination is to take the boat trip during the day and return to the neighborhood in the late afternoon to watch the sunset and visit the filé lace shops.

The environment

The lagoon suffers from sewage discharge and other environmental impacts along its shores. As a result, water quality varies. Follow the crew’s guidance on where to go into the water and, if in doubt, just enjoy the view. Help preserve the environment:

• don’t throw litter in the water;
• don’t take crabs, shellfish or plants from the mangrove;
• choose operators that respect the mangrove areas and the communities.

When to go and how to fit it in

The tour runs year-round but may be canceled on days of heavy rain or wind. It usually takes a morning or an afternoon, so you can combine it with a visit to the center and the Jaraguá district. See other options on the Maceió tours page.

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  Mundaú and Manguaba lagoons Pontal da Barra and Filé Lace A Maceió neighborhood between the lagoon and the sea, cradle of Alagoas filé lace, with lacemakers' shops, sunset over Mundaú Lagoon and departures for boat trips. See details
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  Mundaú and Manguaba lagoons Massagueira A village in Marechal Deodoro on the shore of Manguaba Lagoon, known for its seafood restaurants and sururu dishes. See details
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  Mundaú and Manguaba lagoons Marechal Deodoro, the First Capital of Alagoas A town next to Maceió, on Manguaba Lagoon, with an architectural ensemble listed by Iphan, a Franciscan convent and the birthplace of Brazil's first president. See details