Sururu, Maçunim and oysters are part of Roteiro’s cuisine and are harvested directly from the lagoons. One local account explains the name of the place; the first chapel was built in 1900 at Sítio Livramento. The municipality of Roteiro also includes the coastal landscape of Praia do Gunga, Laguna do Roteiro and Mirante Gutemberg Breda. This brings local cuisine and history together with nature and water activities in the municipality.

Cuisine and History

Residents later renamed the settlement Roteiro because they believed that Jesuits had discovered Dom Pero Fernandes Sardinha’s “Roteiro” there. Sardinha had been devoured by Indigenous people in the region. This local account links the place name to the historical story and offers a different perspective on Roteiro from its coastal and lagoon landscape.

Francisca de Albuquerque built the first chapel, dedicated to Nossa Senhora do Livramento, in 1900 at Sítio Livramento. Its name and dedication offer different points of connection if you are interested in local history.

Lagoon, Coast and Views in the Municipality

Praia do Gunga, a white sandy spit lined with coconut palms, is located in the municipality of Roteiro. Here, the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and Rio São Miguel meet. Laguna do Roteiro lies at the mouth of Rio São Miguel and flows into Praia do Gunga. Coast, river mouth and lagoon are therefore among the municipality’s distinctive landscape features.

From Mirante Gutemberg Breda on AL-101 Sul, the view stretches across the entire coconut grove of Praia do Gunga, as well as the beaches and reefs of Barra de São Miguel. The viewpoint offers a different focus from the water sports available at the beach and lagoon: here, the emphasis is on the landscape views.

Water Activities, Nature and Festivals

The calm waters of Laguna do Roteiro are suitable for relaxing excursions and water sports; Praia do Gunga is also suitable for water sports. The lagoon also offers the option of a relaxing excursion. Which of the two landscapes you choose to include therefore also depends on whether this more relaxed kind of outing appeals to you.

The mangrove conservation area of Laguna do Roteiro protects the mangroves and the wildlife that depends on them. It complements the coastal and lagoon themes with the protection of a mangrove area.

Restaurants at Praia do Gunga serve grilled fish, shrimp and seafood broths. Dishes and availability may change; check current options if these dishes are important to your plans.

Roteiro’s patron saint and emancipation festivals attract visitors. The wider Roteiro destination also features the Festival do Marisco among its important festivals. If you want to plan your stay around a festival, check the announced dates in advance.

Discover more destinations: Traipu, União Dos Palmares, São Miguel Dos Milagres, Paripueira, Campo Alegre, Flexeiras, Piaçabuçu, Penedo

For the overview of the wider destination: Alagoas.