Thread: Itamaraca

Very disappointing place Itamaraca, I spent nearly a week having a look and talking with the locals. I could have better spent my time in Joao Pessoa which is a really lovely place, clean well organized and property prices seemed reasonable. I had read reports about Itamaraca and arrived with an open mind but a few days there were enough to decide it was not the sort of place I would like to live with my family or spend our holidays there. Also properties were definitely not cheap which they should be given what the area is like

Hi Joaquim, in a very long distant time, Itamaracá island was designated for prisoners only. Yes, all the island was a prison.

I´ve been to the island many years ago, and I found it a wonderful place to stay for some days, many beautiful beaches, clear and green waters, etc.

There is a beautiful Fortress named Orange, built in the past when the Dutch people has invaded Brazil through Itamaracá island.

Anyway, I don´t know how the island is today, because I´ve been there for almost 20 years ago.

Hi
Well the prisons are still there but are supposed to be moved soon. Not that it will change the crime there as it not the prisoners as they are locked in.
I talked with dozens of local Brazilians who live there, shopkeepers and so on plus many visitors. No one actually showed me property as I had seen many on different websites and some of them I came across and saw from the outside. That was not the big issue as I could always modify or even built from new. The problem is the island of Itamaraca. It seems to be lost in a time warp. Roads are terrible, sidewalks pretty much non existent or very primitive, no drains to speak of, rubbish lying about everywhere, not one decent supermarket or butcher. Only one Hotel that is very tired and definitely not worth paying their rates for. No proper restaurants or bars. Place is deserted in the week and inundated with noisy revellers at weekends who leave trails of more rubbish and cans. Only one ATM in a pharmacie with a long line of people waiting. Rampant crime, murders, kidnapping , burglaries etc etc. not to mention a huge drugs problem.
Then the Schistosomiasis problem, hardly surprising with the lack of structure and hygiene.

What anyone would want to buy property there for beats me, I would opt for paying more to live in a decent, safe and clean area. If the prices are much better value there then you are talking about bricks and mortar not the local environment. I place more importance on my and my family safety to even consider living there.

Joaquim, when in Brazil again, please go to the most visited touristic places. Itamaraca isn´t the best place to go. In Brazil there are many places with excelent infrastruture, but other places, not. Itamaraca is only for a few days and it is for enjoy the beaches.

There are excellent places to buy houses, such as Fortaleza, Natal, Maceió, Recife, Salvador, I mean in the big cities that are usually in the capitals.

Joaquim, please visit Fernando de Noronha islands, near Pernambuco state, far about 300 kms from the continent. The infrastructure is better than Itamaraca, and you will see the most beautiful beaches of Brazil!

Yes next time in Brazil I will definately plan a trip to Fernado de Noronha it sounds lovely. As for Itamaraca it realy is a dump, dirty and full of crime. What is the best way to travel to the islands plane or boat?

Originally Posted by mprado

Joaquim, please visit Fernando de Noronha islands, near Pernambuco state, far about 300 kms from the continent. The infrastructure is better than Itamaraca, and you will see the most beautiful beaches of Brazil!

Hi Joaquim, the best way to travel to Fernando de Noronha is by plane. You have to take a plane in any Brazilian state, but with conection to Recife (Pernambuco state). Fernando de Noronha was declared environmental reserve, so you have to go there by travel agencies. There are weekly flights on every Saturdays and Sundays to the island. The plane that lands, is the same plane that takes back the tourists from the island.

You will love the beautiful island, now with a modern infrastructure, good services, etc.

Fernando de Noronha was used as a Military Base from the U.S.A. Government in the Second World War.

There is a nice little tourist attraction you can visit called - Fort Orange, which is 7km/4.5mi outside the town Itamaraca. Fort Orange was a Dutch fortification of 1630, later renamed for Forte de Santa Cruz.

Itamaracá isn´t the best place to buy lands for a living, Itamaracá is good only for resting some days.

Itamaraca island was founded for the Portuguese crown in 1526 by the famous Francisco Garcia and in that year the first settler was Duarte Coelho from Portuguese Pernambuco. In about 1631 the large fortification Forte Orange was built by the Dutch under Frederico Henrique de Orange, who once lived on Mauritius Island. In 1866 a lighthouse was established on the island.

Originally Posted by Joaquim

Very disappointing place Itamaraca, I spent nearly a week having a look and talking with the locals. I could have better spent my time in Joao Pessoa which is a really lovely place, clean well organized and property prices seemed reasonable. I had read reports about Itamaraca and arrived with an open mind but a few days there were enough to decide it was not the sort of place I would like to live with my family or spend our holidays there. Also properties were definitely not cheap which they should be given what the area is like

If you would dare the gamble, it is certainly worth any investment. If you had only seen some of the plans that are in the making. Time will bring change... for the better! I do have to say that I feel safer on Itamaracá than walking about in some of the mayor cities of Europe...

Itamaracá is a wonderful island for tourism. Many fantastic beaches, etc.

If you really want a nice island to visit and live in Brazil, so you go to Florianópolis island.

It is a fantastic island with a better infra-structure for living very well.