Low tide and natural pools: how to plan

On the Maraú Peninsula, the clock that rules the day is the tide. The natural pools of Taipu de Fora only appear when the tide is low and the reefs are exposed.

What the tide table is

It is the forecast of the times and heights of high tide (preamar) and low tide (baixa-mar). In Brazil, the official source is the Navy’s Hydrography Center, which publishes the tide tables (“tábuas de marés”, in Portuguese) for the ports along the coast.

Step by step

1. Open the Navy tide tables and choose the reference port closest to the peninsula that is available on the list.
2. Look for the low tides on your travel dates: they show the smallest height values.
3. Prefer days when low tide happens in daylight and with a very small height.
4. Arrive at the pools a little before the time of low tide.
5. Leave when the tide starts to come in: the water rises and the pools disappear.

The tide at Taipu de Fora may differ slightly in timing from the reference port. If in doubt, ask at your accommodation or at the beach shacks.

Full moon and new moon

During the full moon and new moon, tides usually have a greater range: low tide is lower and high tide is higher. That is why these days are the favorites for the natural pools.

Precautions

• Do not step on the corals and do not take anything out of the water.
• Wear water shoes and use a sunscreen that does not leave a film on the water.
• Do not stay on the reefs while the tide is coming in.