Capela: Nature and Festive Culture in the Municipality

At the municipal level, two themes stand side by side in Capela and may shape travel plans in different ways: the Mata do Junco protected area and traditional festivals. If you are looking for a holiday rental in Capela, you can use these themes as a starting point for further planning and consider whether nature and environmental education or culture interest you more.

Mata do Junco: protected area and environmental education

The Mata do Junco Wildlife Refuge is a protected area in the municipality of Capela. It was established in 2007 and covers 894.76 hectares. Its conservation goals include safeguarding the habitat and survival of the Guigó monkey (Callibebus coimbai). Protecting this species is therefore a specific part of the nature theme surrounding Mata do Junco.

The protected area’s administrative headquarters serves the advisory board’s activities and scientific research, as well as visitor services for ecotourism and environmental education. This describes different functions in one place: nature conservation and research are part of its work, as is providing services related to ecotourism and environmental education.

Another point of interest is the Pau-Brasil Interpretive Trail. It was presented at the protected area’s headquarters in May 2025 and described as Sergipe’s first hiking trail to be mapped and adapted to safety standards. The structured trail was designed as a tool for nature conservation and environmental education. It follows ABNT technical standards for mapping and structuring hiking trails, as well as signage guidelines recommended by ICMBio. This links the nature theme with a planned focus on education and protection. If you wish to include the trail in a specific visit plan, check access and visiting options in advance.

Festive traditions in the municipality of Capela

The Festa do Mastro in Capela is recognized by law as intangible cultural heritage of the state of Sergipe. In 2026, it was scheduled to run from May 31 to June 28 and was billed as its 87th edition. The announced lineup included Zé Vaquerio, Bell Marques, and Devinho Novaes. These dates and program details relate to the 2026 edition. For future travel planning, the dates of a forthcoming program will be the relevant ones.

During the Festa de São Pedro in Capela, hundreds of celebrants search the woods near the town for a tree and erect it as a Mastro in one of Capela’s squares. The description links the search for the tree with its installation in a public space. It gives the festival tradition a concrete form, distinct from the protected area’s focus on nature.

The Sarandaia has another distinctive sequence of events: it takes place on June 1, when a resident dressed as a “baiana,” accompanied by a pífano band and celebrants, goes from door to door collecting prizes. Together with the Festa do Mastro and the Festa de São Pedro, this example shows that the municipality’s cultural themes are not limited to event names, but also include specific customs.

For your further planning, one clear question is what to focus on: would you like to learn more about the protected area and environmental education, or is festive culture your main interest? This distinction can also help structure your search for a holiday rental in Capela. Check access and visiting options in advance if you are planning a visit to Mata do Junco, and check the dates of future events.

For the broader travel overview: Capela.