Marica(Brazil) Travel 2026: Cheap Flights, Hotels & Top Attractions

In Maricá, top beachfront stays include Pousada Praia do Forte and Hotel Vila Carioca, both located along São Sebastião Beach. These properties offer ocean-view rooms, private sand access, and family-friendly amenities like pools and kids' clubs. The area is known for its calm waters and scenic sunsets, making it ideal for relaxation. Nearby, Guarujá offers additional outdoor activities such as hiking and cultural markets, enhancing the travel experience.

Highlight Experience: Join a local fishing tour to learn traditional net-weaving and seafood cooking, gaining insight into Maricá’s coastal heritage.

The best area for lodging in Maricá is São Sebastião Beach, where boutique pousadas and resorts cluster near the shoreline. This zone offers easy access to the beach, local markets, and quiet evenings—perfect for travelers seeking comfort and nature. Nearby trails lead into lush rainforests and birdwatching spots, making it an ideal base for exploring Rio’s eastern region. With direct bus service from Rio de Janeiro (1.5 hours), it’s highly accessible and efficient for day trips.

Pro Tip: Opt for rooms with private balconies to enjoy sunrise views over the Atlantic without city noise.

Maricá hosts the annual Cachaça Festival, celebrating Brazil’s signature sugarcane spirit. Visitors can tour small distilleries, taste handcrafted cachaça, and learn about its colonial-era roots. Additionally, weekend ceremonies of Candomblé—an Afro-Brazilian spiritual tradition—are open to respectful guests, offering powerful drumming, dance rituals, and storytelling that reveal the town’s deep cultural layers.

Recommended Add-on: Visit the Maricá Art Market to buy handmade ceramics, embroidered textiles, and local crafts, supporting community artisans.

Maricá boasts over 20 kilometers of pristine coastline, including São Sebastião Beach and Praia da Coroa. The former features fine white sand and clear waters perfect for swimming and snorkeling; the latter remains wild and untouched, with coconut palms lining the shore—a favorite for photographers. Both beaches have lifeguards and rest areas, ensuring safety. Early mornings often feature fishermen casting nets, creating serene, cinematic scenes.

Eco Highlight: The surrounding waters are part of the Atlantic Coral Reef Conservation Zone, where glass-bottom boat tours reveal vibrant fish and sea turtles—ideal for eco-conscious travelers.

Yes, Maricá has several tranquil eco-lodges perfect for solo adventurers, such as Casa do Sol em Maricá and Beco Verde Eco Lodge. Nestled between rainforest and sea, these lodges offer private cabins with shaded patios and starlit skies through skylights. Many hosts are local artists or environmental advocates who organize poetry nights and meditation workshops, fostering meaningful connections. Located just minutes from public transport hubs, they balance solitude with accessibility.

Travel Tip: Take the express bus from Rio and transfer via shared e-bike for a seamless journey.

Top photo-worthy locations in Maricá include: Farol de São Sebastião Lighthouse, its iconic red-and-white striped tower perched on a cliff overlooking the bay—ideal for sunset shots; the wooden pier at Praia da Coroa, stretching into the sea with dramatic sky and water backdrops; and the Maricá Street Art Wall, a large mural depicting marine life and traditional festivals. Also popular: the canopy suspension bridge in the rainforest, offering panoramic vertical views of treetops and distant coastlines.

Outfit Suggestion: Wear light, breathable clothing with a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses to match the tropical vibe.

Must-try dishes in Maricá include Moqueca de Peixe, a rich fish stew cooked with fresh seafood and palm oil, and Feijoada à Mineira, a hearty black bean stew with pork served with rice and lime. Dine at Restaurante Onda Viva, which features open-air seating with ocean views. Don’t miss the morning market stalls at Mercado Municipal, selling fresh coconuts, grilled bananas, and homemade sweets—perfect for sampling authentic flavors.

Drink Recommendation: Try a chilled Caipirinha, made with cachaça, lime, and sugar—refreshing and quintessentially Brazilian.

Maricá is a hub for sustainable tourism. Popular activities include mangrove kayaking tours, navigating dense wetlands to spot crabs, kingfishers, and otters; sea turtle conservation programs, where visitors assist in monitoring hatchlings and participating in release events; and guided hikes through rainforest trails connecting protected areas, complete with educational signage on native flora and fauna. Some pousadas even offer carbon footprint tracking tools, helping guests understand their environmental impact.

Important Note: Avoid bringing plastic into natural zones—follow the "leave no trace" principle.

Public transit in Maricá relies on buses and taxis. Express buses (e.g., Viação 76) run hourly from Rio de Janeiro, taking about 90 minutes and costing around 30 BRL. Within the town, small municipal buses and shared e-bikes (like Golpe Bike) operate near beaches and commercial zones. While there’s no metro system, most attractions and accommodations are walkable. For remote ecological sites, HopeGoo a guided local vehicle is recommended for safety and efficiency.

Useful App: Download "BusPlus" for real-time schedules and route planning.

Maricá hosts vibrant seasonal events: the Christmas Beach Concert (December) features live music and fireworks on São Sebastião Beach; the Carnival Pre-Party (February) brings samba bands and colorful floats to the central square; and April’s Ocean Clean-Up Day unites locals and travelers in beach cleanup efforts, combining fun with environmental action. These events enrich tourism while promoting cultural preservation and sustainability awareness.

How to Join: Book tickets or volunteer slots in advance via official websites or local pousadas.