We are Juliana & Heitor, and welcome to our travel guide on the beautiful Praia dos Carneiros! We come from Sao Carlos, in the interior of Sao Paulo, and have been together for 12 years now. During the pandemic our work became remote, so we decided to leave our city (together with our dog) to visit other states in Brazil and no longer have a permanent home.
We traveled by car, without rushing, with the aim of getting to know all of the Brazilian states. Today, it has been almost three years since we adopted this new lifestyle. From the beginning of our trip, we dreamed of visiting certain places and Praia dos Carneiros was one of them! It seemed like an incredible spot, especially the little church that is shown in all the photos.
Having the chance to visit Praia dos Carneiros for the day was amazing, but you should know there are some things to remember before you go to make the experience even better. This includes researching the tide times, which makes the scenery completely change, and getting there early if you want to take photos without crowds of people around the church.
As we took a day trip, we found it difficult to access the beach early in the morning because almost all the entry points are private and not open then. Also, there are no places to park for free. The parking fees start at R$50. We managed to find a park at Restaurante Divisa dos Carneiros and had to take a decent walk on the beach to get to the church. The morning is the best time to take photos of the church, as the sun is directly in front of it. However, the late afternoon, with the sunset behind it, is also divine.
Best Way to Reach Praia dos Carneiros
For those interested, we took this day trip from Porto de Galinhas. The journey between these two places is 52 kilometers. For travelers who depend on the airport, the closest one to Praia dos Carneiros is Recife Airport (90 kilometers away). But, if you don’t want to take a day trip, you can always stay at Praia dos Carneiros. There are accommodation options around the beach and even a resort for those who like a bit of luxury.
How to Visit the Sao Benedito Chapel
The church is called Capela de Sao Benedito Igrejinha dos Carneiros and it was the place we wanted to visit the most. The Sao Benedicto chapel was built on the sand of the beach, facing the sea, in the 18th century by Viscount of Rio Formoso. He owned a large portion of land in the region. After his death, the lands were sold and bought by Jose Henrique Carneiro – which is why the beach is known as Carneiros. The land was then purchased by the Ramos Rocha family who manage it to this day.
It really is a beautiful chapel but it does get very crowded, especially on the weekends. The beach, in general, also gets busy with lots of boats coming in to visit the little church from outside. One way to beat the crowds is to arrive early, before 7:30 am. There are three ways to visit the Sao Benedicto chapel: pay for the Vila da Igrejinha “Day Use”, go to a mass open to the public every last Sunday of the month or pay R$10 per person.
More Things To Do in Praia dos Carneiros
In addition to visiting the chapel, you can also enjoy natural pools at Praia dos Carneiros. You can find them in the left-hand corner of the beach. Other things to do include heading to Restaurante Bora Bora Carneiros (beach club), taking boat trips from the beach and having a clay bath on Praia de Guadalupe. But there are other beaches in Tamandare, the city by Praia dos Carneiros, and many accommodation and restaurant options – such as Restaurante Tapera do Sabor, which serves delicious food!
Final Thoughts on Praia dos Carneiros
Trust us, visiting Praia dos Carneiros is worth it! The water is warm and the church is stunning. Just be sure to visit between September and February, as there is less chance of rain, and check the tides to ensure the best experience. Thanks for reading and we hope this little travel guide has helped you. Feel free to follow us on Instagram at @derepentenomades and subscribe to our YouTube channel for more travel inspiration!
