Beaches of Alagoas: the 76 we mapped, from north to south, with a map and how to visit each one

We mapped 76 beaches and stretches known by their own name, in 15 coastal municipalities, from the far north (Peroba, on the border with Pernambuco) to the far south (the Foz do São Francisco, the river mouth on the border with Sergipe). The count can vary depending on the source: some stretches get local names, others are considered a continuation of the neighbouring beach. What doesn't vary is the numbered map and, for each beach, a straight answer on how to visit: whether one of our tours stops there, whether the buggy passes by, whether it depends on the day's itinerary, whether it calls for a private tour, or whether we don't have a tour yet.

We use five categories, and they're worth reading before the table:

• Stop included — the tour stops at the beach, with time to stay.
• Buggy passes the beach — the buggy covers the stretch; a stop depends on the route and the time.
• May be part of the itinerary — depends on the day's operation; confirm when booking.
• Ask about a private tour — there's no van tour, but you can get there with our car and driver.
• We don't have a tour to this beach yet — no promises; when one opens, this table changes.

This is the coast of natural pools and coconut groves: Maragogi, Japaratinga, the Rota Ecológica dos Milagres (the Milagres Ecological Route: Porto de Pedras, São Miguel dos Milagres and Passo de Camaragibe), Barra de Santo Antônio and Paripueira. The Maragogi van tour stops at Barra Grande, Antunes and the central beach; the São Miguel dos Milagres tour stops at Toque and Porto da Rua. The buggies, booked separately, cover the rest: the Buggy Maragogi (North Route up to Peroba, South Route down to Japaratinga) and the Buggy Milagres (North Route up to Tatuamunha via Patacho, South Route down to Barra de Camaragibe).

From Ipioca to Pontal da Barra there are 15 beaches within the city limits. The beachfront ones (Jatiúca, Ponta Verde and Pajuçara) are where you sleep and where the vans leave from; Pajuçara has the natural pools by catamaran (and the Banho de Lua, the moonlight swim, at night), Ponta Verde the ones by jangada raft. Ipioca, at the far north, has become the beach club hub: we compare the four in Beach Clubs of Ipioca. The beaches between Pratagy and Jacarecica have no van tour: they're beautiful, they sit on the AL-101 Norte, and they call for a car.

South of Maceió the coast changes: cliffs, lagoons, dunes and the river. Praia do Francês is 25 km away; Praia do Gunga, which belongs to Roteiro, not Barra de São Miguel, even though the optional speedboat leaves from Barra, is our best-selling tour; the Marapé Dunes are in Jequiá; and the Foz do São Francisco is the end of Alagoas. Coruripe, Feliz Deserto and the Piaçabuçu beaches before the Foz don't have a tour of ours yet.

Maragogi + Gunga + Milagres, the best-selling combo, takes you to three big destinations and passes through regions holding eight beaches on this list. Sorting out what's what:

• Stops included: Barra Grande, Antunes, Maragogi (central), Toque, Porto da Rua and Gunga.
• Seen along the way, with no guaranteed stop: Japaratinga and Barra de São Miguel (where the optional speedboat leaves from).
• Optional extras on the same day: the Buggy Milagres adds Patacho, Lages and Tatuamunha to the Milagres day; the Buggy Maragogi adds the beaches from Peroba to Japaratinga to the Maragogi day.

If you want to combine the north coast, Maceió and the south coast, put together a tailor-made trip in Build your itinerary: one full-day tour per date, automatic discount, a single payment.