Muro Alto

At Muro Alto, a reef wall surrounds almost the entire beach and forms a huge natural pool of calm, warm water. This "wall" is made of beach sandstone, known as beachrock, which runs in a line for about 4.5 km parallel to the coast and shows more when the tide goes out. The position of the reef, the shape of the beach and the mouth of the Ipojuca River create the natural pool there, sheltered from the waves and with a mild temperature. Beach sandstones like these are an important record of sea-level changes during the Holocene. The pool is often cited as one of the largest natural pools in Latin America, and the place has served as a filming location for Brazilian soap operas and series.

The lagoon sheltered by the reef has plenty of tropical and colorful fish, sponges and coral formations. The reef wall may have coral and sea urchins, so footwear is recommended to get close to it. Since Muro Alto is near the Ipojuca River, fresh water sometimes mixes with the sea and changes the color of the water.

The best period tends to be from September to March, when rain is less frequent. In the Porto de Galinhas region, the weather also tends to be more stable during these months. The natural pool tends to be at its best at low tide, when the water becomes very calm.