- O catamaran tour in the Xingó Canyons It is one of the main attractions for anyone visiting Sergipe. The canyons of the São Francisco River are in fifth place in the ranking of the largest navigable canyons in the world.
- The Xingó Canyons, on the São Francisco River, are located on the border between the states of Sergipe and Alagoas, close to the municipalities of Canindé de São Francisco (SE) and Piranhas (AL). A Xingó Region is about 210 kilometers from Aracaju and the 300 kilometers from Maceió. From the capital of Sergipe to Canindé it takes 3 hours and 30 minutes by car.
- Tourism companies from Aracaju and Maceió they make the transfer to the catamaran boarding point and charge, on average, R$ 140 round trip per person. There are also buses from Aracaju to Canindé or from Maceió to Piranhas. There are also agencies, such as Toptur, that already include the price of the catamaran in the total cost of the tour. look here.
- The catamaran tour on the São Francisco River is carried out by specialized agencies, such as MF Turwhat a snake R$135 per person. The boarding point is Karrancas Restaurant, in Canindé. Boat trips or smaller boats depart from different points in Canindé and also Piranhas.
- By catamaran, they are three hour tourwith an hour's sail to Paraíso do Talhado, where passengers have an hour to bathe in a fenced-in area and visit, in smaller boats, the Talhado Cave, with an amount paid separately. After the stop, there is another hour of navigation to the Karrancas restaurant, which serves a buffet lunch (cost R$45, not included in the tour).
What to do in the Xingó Canyons – catamaran tour
Sailing through the backwaters of the iconic São Francisco River, visiting the canyons of the Xingó region, is one of the most famous tours in Sergipe. The canyons of the São Francisco River are in fifth place in the ranking of the largest navigable canyons in the world and impress with the perfection of the sandstone rocks, which appear to have been carved by hand.
Those in Aracaju can take the tour with TopTur Viagens, which offers the tour with round-trip transfer, in addition to the catamaran ticket. Check it out here.
The catamarans and speedboats depart from the cities of Canindé de São Francisco (SE) and Piranhas (AL), on the border between the two states. The navigation goes up the river, exploring several rock formations that have gained interesting names, such as Ponta do Papagaio, which resembles a parrot's beak; the Japanese Stone, which refers to an oriental construction; and Morro dos Macacos.
The highlight of the tour is Paraíso do Talhado, where there is a stop of about an hour for a swim in the river protected by a playpen. There, there is also the possibility of hiring a smaller boat (R$ 20 per person) that takes you to Gruta do Talhado, the highlight of the tour: a postcard of reddish walls that form a narrow corridor bathed by green-green waters. emerald.
The tour through the Xingó Canyons can be done on speedboats (the best option for those who want more peace or a personalized itinerary) or larger boats, such as catamarans. One of the best-known companies for offering the service (the one we hired) is MF Tur, which has as its embarkation and disembarkation point the Karrankas restaurant, in Canindé, on the banks of the São Francisco River. From the pier, it is 18 kilometers to reach the diving point.
The catamaran has capacity for 250 passengers on two floors, with many spaces protected from the sun and also open areas, from which there are beautiful views along the crossing of the São Francisco River. The vessel has a bar service, serving all types of drinks and snacks. At the swimming stop, spaghetti-type floats are offered free of charge. There are also lifeguards on board.
When we took the catamaran trip to the Xingó Canyons we were lucky enough to have a blue sky day. The boat was crowded, with many couples and also entire families. The atmosphere is completely relaxed, in the same style as the schooner trips we usually see on the Brazilian coast: loud music, dancing and fun.
We were impressed by the immensity of the São Francisco River and its walls, which become larger as it approaches the Paraíso do Talhado region. Sailing on Velho Chico with its green waters, often turning emerald tones, is also a tour of the history of Brazil.
How the São Francisco River canyons were formed
Velho Chico originates in Minas Gerais, travels almost three thousand kilometers passing through Bahia and Pernambuco, takes life to the Sertão and flows into the Atlantic, on the border between the states of Alagoas and Sergipe. In the Xingó Region, this entire wonder only became navigable because of the Xingó Hydroelectric Plant, built in 1994. The valley formed is 65 km long, 170 meters deep and a width that varies between 50 and 300 meters.
Tours in the Xingó Region
Many tourists usually make a day trip to the Xingó Region, leaving from Maceió or Aracaju. The complete tour lasts at least 10 hours, as it takes around seven hours to travel (round trip) plus three hours of navigation. When we were in the region, we did this: we left Aracaju early, boarded at the Karrancas restaurant, where we had lunch on the way back from the catamaran ride.
Before returning to Aracaju, we visited the charming municipality of Piranhas (photos below), in Alagoas, on the other bank of the river. It was quite tiring, but it was worth it. We went up to the Mirante da Igreja do Senhor do Bonfim, from where we had a charming view of the city and the São Francisco River. We also visited the Sertão Museum, the Crafts Center and had a special coffee at the Clock Tower. We left, however, with a great desire to extend the night in the historic center, which was all lit up to host a music event. Our suggestion, therefore: sleep one night in Piranhas! To reinforce the idea, there are also many cool bars and restaurants there.
With at least one overnight stay in the region, it is also possible to take other tours such as the trail to Grota do Angico, which would be the exact place where Lampião and Maria Bonita were killed in 1938. The Xingó Archeology Museum and the Hydroelectric Plant de Xingó are two other attractions in Canindé de São Francisco.
Where are the Xingó Canyons
The Xingó Canyons are located on the São Francisco River, on the border between the states of Sergipe and Alagoas, close to the municipalities of Canindé de São Francisco (SE) and Piranhas (AL). The Xingó Region is approximately 210 kilometers from Aracaju and 300 kilometers from Maceió. From the capital of Sergipe to Canindé it takes 3 hours and 30 minutes by car.
How to go to the Xingó Canyons
The Xingó Region, where the municipalities of Canindé de São Francisco (Sergipe) and Piranhas (Alagoas) are located, is approximately 210 kilometers from Aracaju and 300 kilometers from Maceió. Tourism agencies in both capitals run tours to the region, offering roundtrip transfers with a guide. The catamaran ride in the Xingó Canyons and lunch must be paid separately.
There is also the option of taking a bus from the capitals to one of the two cities on the banks of the São Francisco River — but you need to pay attention to the catamaran's departure time to avoid missing the tour. Taking the bus journey can be safer if you are staying overnight in Canindé or Piranhas.
How to get from Aracaju to Canindé de São Francisco
Visitors with their own or rented car will take around three hours and thirty minutes to travel from Aracaju to Canindé de São Francisco. The route is via SE-235 to Itabaiana, then SE-175 towards Ribeirópolis and Nossa Senhora da Glória and then SE-230 to Canindé de São Francisco.
Tour agencies ⎯ Xingó Canyons
Some of the tourism companies in Aracaju that offer transfers to the Xingó Canyons are The Tur nuts, Tur Lighthouse and the TopTur Travel. With departures in Maceió, the tour is offered by Receptive Luck.
TopTur Viagens, an agency in Aracaju, offers the tour to the Xingó Canyon via the Civitatis website. Tour reservations can be made in advance and canceled free of charge up to 12 hours before the activity. The price includes round-trip transfer, in addition to the catamaran ticket. Check it out here.
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