Conociendo Palatéia: El paraíso de las ostras alagoanas

A trip I had wanted to do in Alagoas for a long time but never managed to fit into my schedule was the tour to Palatéia, an environmental reserve with 748 hectares of mangrove and Atlantic Forest located in Barra de São Miguel and Roteiro, in the southern coast of Alagoas.

Palatéia is well-known in Alagoas as the state’s largest producer of oysters (Associação Paraíso das Ostras) and for the Honey Hunters Project, which produces honey and red propolis.

We had the opportunity to visit this paradise thanks to an invitation from the Visite Alagoas website. They organized a fantastic tour along the southern coast of Alagoas, with one of the stops being Palatéia.

The tour can be done in two ways: going alone and hiring local boatmen on the spot, or booking a specialized guide for a more in-depth experience, learning about the flora, fauna, and curiosities of the region.

We went with the Visite Alagoas team and took the tour with Aventura EcoBrasil, a company based in Barra de São Miguel and run by guide Daniel Brasil, who has deep knowledge of the region’s culture.

The Palatéia reserve is located a few minutes from the second entrance to Barra de São Miguel (about 5 km), before the bridge leading to Roteiro. The road to the site is unpaved, and the boat ride through the channels is truly charming.

Upon arrival, we were warmly welcomed by the local community, which comprises about 120 families. We took a short trail through the mangroves to reach the area where the canoes set off to the oyster farms.

The tour is stunning, filled with lush greenery and wildlife. Along the way, our guide explained that the region has three types of mangroves (black, red, and white). We saw various species of birds and crabs and learned about the entire oyster farming process.

After exploring and learning about oyster farming, we stopped in the middle of the production canal for a delightful oyster tasting paired with champagne—an absolute treat! Without a doubt, this is one of the most exclusive tours in Alagoas.

For more information about the tour, contact guide Daniel Brasil, from Aventura EcoBrasil, at @aventuraecobrasil or by phone: +55 82 98807-6968.