Which is better: Campos do Jordão or Porto de Galinhas?
Short answer
Campos do Jordão is in the Serra da Mantiqueira (SP), while Porto de Galinhas is on the Pernambuco Coast (PE): different regions of Brazil. Campos do Jordão: Brazil's highest town, at 1,628 m in the Serra da Mantiqueira; Porto de Galinhas: warm, clear natural pools you reach by jangada, a traditional sailing raft, to swim among the fish. For this month's weather, Porto de Galinhas has the edge.
Rates change with the dates: confirm the price on Booking.com.
Frequently asked questions
Campos do Jordão or Porto de Galinhas: which is better?
Campos do Jordão is in the Serra da Mantiqueira (SP), while Porto de Galinhas is on the Pernambuco Coast (PE): different regions of Brazil. Campos do Jordão: Brazil's highest town, at 1,628 m in the Serra da Mantiqueira; Porto de Galinhas: warm, clear natural pools you reach by jangada, a traditional sailing raft, to swim among the fish. For this month's weather, Porto de Galinhas has the edge.
What is the best time to visit Campos do Jordão and Porto de Galinhas?
The best time to visit Campos do Jordão is from June to September; for Porto de Galinhas, it is from October to December, based on INMET's climate normals (temperature and rainfall for each month). If your trip already has a date, check each destination's page for your month.
Which of the two is cheaper to get to?
By car, leaving from São Paulo, Campos do Jordão is 170 km (106 mi) and costs about R$ 94 each way (fuel only, tolls not included); leaving from Recife, Porto de Galinhas is 60 km (37 mi) and costs about R$ 46 each way (fuel plus tolls). The calculation assumes a car that gets 11 km/L. Lodging and activities vary with each place's season.
Where does it rain less, Campos do Jordão or Porto de Galinhas?
Averaged over the year, Campos do Jordão has 11 rainy days a month and Porto de Galinhas has 14. Campos do Jordão is the drier of the two over the year as a whole, but what decides the trip is the month: the rainiest month in Campos do Jordão is January and in Porto de Galinhas, June. For temperature, Porto de Galinhas is the warmer one (average high of 30° versus 21°).
How many days should you spend in Campos do Jordão and in Porto de Galinhas?
To see the main sights without rushing, Campos do Jordão calls for 3–4 days and Porto de Galinhas, 3–4 days. These are distant regions: with a week or less, it is usually better to pick one of the two and make the most of it.
Campos do Jordão or Porto de Galinhas with kids?
Both work with kids: Campos do Jordão (Brazil's highest town, mountain cold, and Winter Festival) and Porto de Galinhas (natural pools, warm sea, and family beach). The choice usually comes down to getting there, not to infrastructure. With small children, weather matters: Campos do Jordão has fewer rainy days over the year.
What should you not miss in each?
In Campos do Jordão: Campos do Jordão State Park (Horto Florestal), Morro do Elefante, Pico do Itapeva. In Porto de Galinhas: Natural pools of Porto de Galinhas, Maracaípe Beach, Pontal de Maracaípe. These are the sights that show up most in first-trip itineraries for each destination; the full guide to each has the whole list.
