Tourism in the hinterland of Pernambuco combines nature and adventure – 04/12/2024 – Tourism

The northeastern backlands, beyond the stigma of poverty, reveal great attractions. Cities invest in tourism with nature, historic areas and unique cuisine, with visits to wineries, mango tasting, typical churches and contact with artisans.

In Pernambuco, where the largest territory is the hinterland, there are rural and adventure attractions. Ribeirinhos do Velho Chico is a roadmap designed to boost the sector. “These are extremely rich packages of experiences with the community itself, experimenting with flavors and bathing in São Francisco”, says tourism consultant Maria Izabel Bezerra, 46.

Santa Maria da Boa Vista, which grew up around the Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição, has its main attractions in traditions. It is known for the Serenade of Remembrance, which takes over the city’s streets every July, and has the highest concentration of listed kings in the state.

For adventurers, the stone wall of Monte Carmelo is ideal for rappelling, with a privileged view of the São Francisco River. And, in the waters, there are kayak tours.

The region has dozens of islands. Belém do São Francisco, which was once the setting for a soap opera, totals 88. In the city, all streets lead to the river. The tour passes by colonial-style chalets and sidewalks with stones taken from the river.

The city is the birthplace of giant dolls, where the first of the state’s Carnival appeared, in 1919. At the Zé Pereira and Vitalina Memorial, it is possible to learn about the story. Unlike the famous ones from Olinda, the dolls from the backlands are inspired by local figures and legends.

“It’s experiential tourism. We are preparing to allow tourists to use paper mache and make masks,” says director Antony Dunes, 42.

In the city, there are also places of mystery, such as Captain Alves’ haunted house, where they say no one can live because of the dragging of chains. And in the Church of Nossa Senhora do Patrocínio, there is a female corpse in the process of mummification that was found buried upright in the wall.

Another attraction of Belém do São Francisco is rural tourism. On the mango route, you visit the largest mango producer in Brazil, where you see the handling of the fruit that leaves the hinterland and reaches more than 11 countries.

The tour costs R$40 per person and includes a visit with tasting under the shade of a mango tree. The experience is complemented by a ferry ride that takes you to the water wheel, a historic irrigation instrument.

The proceeds go to the school that the company maintains to serve children in the municipality. The itinerary also passes through the institution, which offers a differentiated teaching structure.

“We have to make a profit from mangoes, but tourism will be useful for the region to develop and also help the school. So, it is social tourism”, says Paulo Dantas, 67, CEO of Agrodan.

In Orocó, rural tourism has a route with cowboys. The encounter with the figure that has become a symbol of the region takes place in the late afternoon, around a bonfire and to the sound of aboios.

In the resort of Estação do Sol, you can walk over rocks that were submerged by the river before the construction of the Sobradinho dam, in Bahia. The space serves local cuisine. A baião of two and fried fish for four people costs R$80.

Taking a boat, it is still possible to visit São Félix Island. The community, also of Trukás, has a tradition of reisado and preserves a church built with stones taken from the river in 1672.

Wine lovers can take advantage of the trip to visit one of the wineries in the São Francisco Valley. In Lagoa Grande, there is Garziera, which produces 20 million liters of wine and 200 million juices a year.

A simple visit and tasting package costs R$45. There is also a more complete package, for R$12, where you can learn about the entire production, in addition to the tasting and lunch included.

“As it is a region that produces crops all year round, you can see all the stages of the vine in a single day”, says guide Edvaldo Barbosa, 40.

At the farm, it is possible to make purchases at prices below market prices. Wines from R$12 to R$20, sparkling wines from R$28 to R$32, sparkling wines from R$20 to R$24 and, a new addition, draft wine for R$11.

In the same city, there is Ilha do Pontal, an agrarian reform area. The community of family farmers offers rural tourism with fish and pay, harvest and pay, flour mill and river bathing.

For the president of the community association Regivaldo Araújo Siqueira, 51, tourism “creates other economic possibilities for the community, which comes from 33 years of struggle”.

Transformations are already beginning to appear in the neighborhood. José Inácio de Oliveira, 76, known as Zé do Pife, rescued his fife band that had been silenced for 15 years. The group, which brings together friends and his younger brother, maintains the family tradition.

“I am leaving [de tocar] because I’m getting old and then the fire ends, but I’m going to record it, because the man dies and the name remains”.

In Cabrobó, traditional communities allow ancestral immersion. At Quilombo de Santana, visitors participate in a craft workshop using caroá fiber and watch the typical mazurka dance.

In the community memorial, built by the residents themselves, there are traditional artifacts. “We built the mud museum because the time will come when children won’t know what these things are”, says community leader Luzimar Maria de Andrade, 53.

A 2.5 km trail, in quilombola territory, leads to a water hole. Along the way, the guide talks about the importance of water for the region and presents medicinal plants.

In the same municipality, Asunción Island is the indigenous territory of the Trukás. Just after descending the bridge that connects to the city, there is a crafts center run by José Alfredo Carinhanha, 64, where you can find necklaces, earrings and rattles.

Carinhanha, the tribe’s juremeiro, says he has been producing handicrafts since he was a child and planting the seeds he uses. “I take my pipe, throw the smoke into the air. My pipe is a ‘blind’ for those who wish me harm”, he hums.

The reporter traveled at the invitation of Sebrae Pernambuco and Conrio (Intermunicipal Consortium of Vale do São Francisco).