The northern coast: Cabedelo, Camboinha and Lucena

From Cabedelo's historic port to the ferry crossings to Lucena, the northern coast brings together beaches, forts and protected reefs.

Paraíba's northern coast begins in Cabedelo, a town neighboring João Pessoa, about 18 km from the capital's downtown — roughly 30 minutes by car via the BR-230. Cabedelo is home to the Fortaleza de Santa Catarina, built in 1589 to defend against French pirate attacks and Dutch invasions, considered the third largest fortification on the Brazilian coast, erected on a peninsula between the Atlantic Ocean and the Paraíba River. The town also has the largest long-distance fishing terminal in the Northeast at its port.

Among Cabedelo's beaches, Camboinha stands out for its calm, crystal-clear waters, protected by an extensive coral reef that keeps the sea shallow at low tide — up to 1.80 m deep in some spots — forming natural pools good for free diving. It is also from there, and from neighboring Ponta de Campina and Praia do Poço, that boats depart for the Areia Vermelha sandbar. Intermares, another Cabedelo beach, is about 11 km from downtown João Pessoa and is known for good windsurfing and kitesurfing conditions.

Heading further north, the municipality of Lucena lies on the other side of the Paraíba River. To get there, one must take the ferry boat in Cabedelo, which crosses the river in about 30 minutes carrying people and vehicles, or go around via the PB-025 state highway, a longer route by land. Lucena holds attractions such as the Igreja da Guia, one of the oldest churches in Brazil, and the phenomenon known as the "Caminho de Moisés," a strip of light sand that emerges in the middle of the sea at Praia da Pontinha, depending on the tide.

The northern coast has less high-rise development than João Pessoa's urban waterfront, preserving a quieter pace — ideal for those seeking closer contact with reefs, mangroves and fishing villages just minutes from the capital.