GEOGRAPHY

The island of Itamaracá is in the NE Brazilian state of Pernambuco, some 3 hours flight north from Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, and an hour south of the equator. The city of Recife, with its international airport, is an hour away by car, and the World Heritage city of Olinda is even closer. Connected to the mainland by a 1km long road bridge, and with an area of about 65 sq km, the majority of the island is covered in protected forests.

The ocean side of the island is basically one long, white sandy beach, protected by a reef 2 miles offshore, and it is here where most human activity occurs. The leeward side is saltwater mangroves, home to billions of oysters and crabs – providing plenty of local delicacies. The highest point is about 60m above sea level, and there are a few rivers, the smaller ones only existing during the rainy winter months May to July.

The climate is typically tropical, with annual temperatures in the range 26°-31°C, even in winter. The rainy months occur during the northern hemisphere's spring/summer, but despite frequent heavy rain at this time, there is also plenty of sunshine. There are no natural disasters (hurricanes, earthquakes, etc), the sea is always calm and safe, and there is a pleasant breeze that blows from the ocean. During the summer the sea can feel particularly warm, and as it does receive some rain all year round, the island really does appear as a green paradise.

There is no shortage of fruit trees growing wild on Itamaracá, including coconut palms, various species of mango, cashew, avocado, papaya, lemon, and many others that probably you will never have heard of. During the season, it is common for locals to sell these from roadside stands.