Making the most of Arraial do Cabo
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Having being declared the capital city of scuba diving, the main attraction of Arraial do Cabo is the sea. Like Cabo Frio, the temperature of the water in Arraial is low, even during the summer.
This is a tender port.
The town itself, surrounded by hills and resembling a fishing village, has white dunes, sandbanks, lagoons, unspoiled beaches and beautiful headlands; from Pontal do Atalaia, one such headland, you can enjoy a wonderful coastal sunset.
Just above the Praia dos Anjos beach, look for the plaque commemorating Amerigo Vespucci’s landing here in 1503. Vespucci left 24 men behind to start a settlement, making Arraial one of the first European toeholds in the Americas.
Getting around
Tour operators who organize dives in these waters abound – the tourist office keeps a complete list.
Nearby places
At Grande beach, stretching as far as the horizon in the direction of Saquarema beach, there is drift-net and you can indulge in a late-afternoon drink and a bite to eat in one of the bars and kiosks. For the more energetic travelers, there is scuba diving and a number of trails to explore, such as the one that leads to the old lighthouse. The boat trips are also unforgettable, especially the one to the Azul grotto, which stops at the Pontal do Atalaia.
Arraial is a good place to observe humpback whales.