Lucena between the Coast, Lagoons and History

In the municipality of Lucena, a long coastline, lagoons and mangroves meet historic churches and a religious tradition. This makes the destination interesting for a variety of day plans: you can take in coastal and river landscapes, explore ecological trails or learn about the history of the churches. When looking for a holiday rental in Lucena, it is worth first considering which of these interests will shape your trip.

Beaches, River Mouths and Lagoons

The municipality’s beaches stretch along a 15-kilometre coastline. They include Costinha, Fagundes, Gameleira, Ponta de Lucena, Lucena, Camaçari and Bonsucesso. At Praia de Bonsucesso, fine white sand ends at the mouth of the Miriri River, on the boundary of the Barra do Rio Mamanguape Environmental Protection Area. Further north, the Miriri meets the sea, also along a boundary of the APA da Barra do Rio Mamanguape.

One of the larger protected areas associated with the municipality is the Área de Proteção Ambiental do Rio Mamanguape. It includes, among others, the municipalities of Rio Tinto, Marcação, Lucena and Baía da Traição, as well as a marine area. The municipality also has natural lagoons, including those of Mangue da Capivara and Mangue dos Homens. Mangroves and mangrove swamps complete this landscape. The municipality’s natural features are varied: from the open coastline to river mouths, lagoons and wetlands.

Ecological Trails and Views

There are several ecological trails in the municipality; many pass through natural Atlantic Forest and alongside clear-water lagoons. The landscape experience therefore extends beyond the beaches. If you are planning a specific outing, check current trail conditions and access in advance.

The Mirante das Falésias de Bonsucesso offers a special perspective. The trail to the ruins of Bonsucesso ends at the top of the cliffs, at this viewpoint. From there, panoramic views extend across the northern coast of Paraíba; to the south, almost the entire length of Lucena’s beaches is visible. Below the steep viewpoint lies the mouth of the Camaçari River. If you plan to visit the Mirante, check current access conditions in advance.

Churches, Ruins and Pilgrimage

The Igreja Nossa Senhora da Guia is located within the municipality. Carmelite friars built it on a plateau between the late 16th century and the second half of the 17th century. The site was chosen to monitor the mouth of the Paraíba River for enemy ships. The church is in a tropical Baroque style; figures of angels, imperial emblems and a skull are carved into its limestone façade. Anyone interested in architectural history will find a connection here between architecture, materials and historical function.

The ruins of the Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Bonsucesso also have a distinctive connection to the landscape: part of the structure consists of limestone and sandstone masonry, supported by a centuries-old Gameleira tree. The masonry materials and the tree create a different architectural detail from the decorated limestone façade of the Igreja Nossa Senhora da Guia.

Religious tradition is also reflected in the Romaria de Nossa Senhora da Guia. In 2023, the pilgrimage in Lucena reached its 35th edition. That year, the walk began at 4 a.m. at the Sagrado Coração de Jesus Menino parish church in the town centre and covered more than ten kilometres to the Santuário da Guia in the rural area of Lucena. The route thus links a starting point in the centre with a destination in the rural municipality.

Getting There and Choosing the Right Accommodation

The Cabedelo–Costinha public ferry is a water transport service for vehicles and passengers between Cabedelo and Lucena. It is managed by the Departamento de Estradas de Rodagem da Paraíba and travels via Costinha across the Paraíba River estuary. The Costinha terminal is in the Costinha district on the river’s right bank, not in the town centre. If you plan to take the ferry, check the schedule and fares in advance.

When choosing a holiday rental, it helps to plan your days around your interests: coastal landscapes and lagoons offer a different focus from churches, ruins and the pilgrimage. When searching, also consider how you plan to travel and which specific places you want to visit. This will help you choose Lucena as a base that suits your own itinerary.

Discover more destinations: Bananeiras, Pitimbu, Aroeiras, Duas Estradas, Barra De Camaratuba, Ibiara, Mamanguape and Teixeira.

Go to the main travel overview: Paraiba.