Maragogi (23.000 inhabitants), 130 km south of Recife and 125 km north of Maceió, is a city situated on the northern coast of Alagoas state, Brazil, a region with fine beaches surrounded by coconut trees and sunny weather all the year round. Main destination in the State of Alagoas after its capital city, Maragogi attracts visitors from Maceió and Recife. It offers calm-wave beaches, coral reefs and a huge natural pool known as Galés. From Japaratinga beach, on the southern tip, a ferryboat crosses Manguaba River into Porto das Pedras, where visitors find virtually deserted beaches. Maragogi was initially a small village called Gamela. In 1887, it was granted the status of a Town and adopted the name of Isabel, to honor the Brazilian Princess who signed a law ending slavery in Brazil. Later on, in 1892, it was named as Maragogi after the river that baths the city. “Maragogi”, according to some historians, comes from “Marahub-gy”, or river of the Marauba tribes.