Stand on the elevation beside the Church of Sant'Ana and the whole city of Macaé spreads out below you, with the cemetery of the same name alongside. That pairing of a 1630 church, a legend about a saint who kept fleeing back to her island, and a view over the rooftops is the kind of stop that rewards a slow half hour rather than a hurried photo.
Macaé suits travellers who are already in the region for work and want to add a day or two of coastline, forest and history, as well as visitors curious about a city shaped by the offshore petroleum industry rather than by a resort strip. The strongest draws sit at two extremes: the historic centre and its fort and lighthouse, and the forested interior around Arraial do Sana.
This guide covers the sights and experiences the sources actually document, in the order worth doing them, followed by a one-day plan and answers to the questions that come up most often.
Top things to do in Macaé
1. Arraial do Sana
A district of Macaé known for its forests and waterfalls, with several campgrounds on site. It is possible to practise rafting and abseiling here, which makes it the most active day out in the municipality.
Give it a full day rather than an afternoon, since the appeal is spread across forest and water rather than concentrated at one viewpoint. If you want to stay overnight, the campgrounds are the documented option.
2. Forte Marechal Hermes
The fort was built in the late 19th century on the ruins of a fort that may have been built in 1725 or in 1761, and it was raised to defend the Macanese coast from corsairs. Guided tours of the fort are allowed.
Plan around the guided tour rather than turning up expecting to wander freely, and combine the visit with the historic centre, where the Church of Sant'Ana sits on its elevation.
3. Church of Sant'Ana
The building dates from 1630 and stands on an elevation from where you can see the whole city, next to a cemetery of the same name. The legend of the Saint Fujona explains the façade: the main door was turned west so the saint, whose image was found on the island of Santana, could no longer see her place of origin and flee the altar. The image itself disappeared in the 1990s and was never found again.
The traditional procession of Senhor do Senhor Morto, which runs through the streets of the city centre every Good Friday, starts and ends at this temple. The address is Rua Maurìlio Rosa, 68.
4. Imbetiba Lighthouse
The old lighthouse was built in 1880 to meet the needs of the Port of Imbetiba, which served as an outlet for agricultural production from Baixada Campista and Macaé. It was restored in 1999, and visits are allowed.
Access is via the Petrobras interchange at Campista beach, so pair the lighthouse with a walk on the beach rather than treating it as a separate trip.
5. Cavaleiros and Pecado beaches
These are the city's most famous beaches, and they are the simplest way to spend a few hours between other stops.
Both are named in the same breath in the sources, so treat them as a pair and pick according to where you are staying rather than trying to fit both into one afternoon.
6. União Biological Reserve
The reserve is home to a population of endangered golden lion tamarin. You can only visit on a guided tour of 10 to 20 people, which must be reserved by phone or email.
The contact details are +55 22 2777-1115 and rebiouniao@icmbio.gov.br, and the address is Rodovia Br 101, Km 185, Rocha Leão, Rio das Ostras/RJ. Book ahead, because the group size is capped and there is no walk-up option.
7. The Monte Elísio manor house
The manor house was erected at the foot of a small rise on Avenida Santos Moreira, in the Visconde de Araújo neighbourhood, and its construction took place in 1852, following neoclassical lines. Inside, the highlight is the wooden staircase, carved with the initials of Visconde de Araújo.
Today it is the headquarters of the Nossa Senhora da Glória Institute, so approach it as a building to look at from the outside and around rather than as a museum with set visiting hours.
8. Serra de Macaé
The Serra de Macaé is a set of districts in the municipality with waterfalls, canoeing events and traditional festivals in honour of the patron saint. Its main access is via the RJ-168 highway.
Because the attractions are spread across several districts, this is a day for choosing one area and settling into it rather than trying to cover the whole serra.
9. Latiff Mussi Exhibition Park
Located in São José do Barreto, the park hosts Expo Macaé, with a rodeo and top quality Brazilian popular music shows.
This is an event-driven stop, so check what is on before building a day around it rather than assuming the park is the draw in itself.
10. Carnival in Macaé
Carnival here means parades of painted oxen, carnival blocks and the parade of samba schools, held on Linha Verde.
If your visit coincides with the celebrations, treat Linha Verde as the focal point and expect the city centre streets to be busy.
11. Macaé Oilers American football
The Macaé Oilers play American football, and the association behind the team was started in 2013, with citizens playing on the Macaé beaches.
This is a fixture to check rather than a sight to visit, so confirm a match is scheduled before planning around it.
If you only have one day
Morning. Start at the Church of Sant'Ana on its elevation, where you can see the whole city and take in the legend of the Saint Fujona and the west-facing door. Walk down into the centre from there.
Afternoon. Head to Forte Marechal Hermes for a guided tour, then continue to the Imbetiba Lighthouse, reaching it via the Petrobras interchange at Campista beach. Finish the daylight hours on Cavaleiros or Pecado beach.
Evening. Return to the centre for dinner, and if your visit falls during Carnival, make your way to Linha Verde for the parades of painted oxen, the carnival blocks and the samba schools.
Frequently asked questions
How do I visit the União Biological Reserve?
Only on a guided tour of 10 to 20 people, which must be reserved by phone or email. The contact details are +55 22 2777-1115 and rebiouniao@icmbio.gov.br.
Can I go inside Forte Marechal Hermes?
Yes, guided tours of the fort are allowed. The fort was built in the late 19th century on the ruins of a fort that may have been built in 1725 or in 1761.
What can I do around Arraial do Sana?
The district is known for its forests and waterfalls, has several campgrounds, and it is possible to practise rafting and abseiling on site.
When does the Senhor do Senhor Morto procession take place?
It runs through the streets of the city centre every Good Friday and starts and ends at the Church of Sant'Ana.
Decide whether your trip is a centre-and-coast day or a forest day in the interior, then start planning around the places above.