Macaé

Macaé is a city of 262,000 people (2020) in northern Rio de Janeiro state that is often referred to as "Cidade do Petróleo" ("City of Petroleum").

Understand

Praia dos Cavaleiros at sunrise in Macaé

This is the base for most of Brazil's offshore oil exploration.

• Macaé city hall. (updated Jan 2023)

Get in

The urban area of the first district is accessed through Imboassica by those who come from the Baixadas Litorâneas by the RJ-106 highway, through Aroeira by those who come from the Baixadas Litorâneas by the BR-101 highway, and though Cabiúnas by those who come from other municipalities of Northern Rio de Janeiro.

The city is 180 km from Rio de Janeiro.

Frequent buses from Rio de Janeiro and Vitória.

The route from the long-distance bus station Rodoviária Novo Rio. , in the Central Zone of Rio, to the Macaé station is made by the bus company "1001".

• Joaquim de Azevedo Mancebo Airport (MEA  ^IATA, formerly Benedito Lacerda Airport). Scheduled frights from Rio de Janeiro–Santos Dumont and Campinas. (updated Jan 2023)

See

• Arraial do Sana. A district of Macaé that is known for its forests and waterfalls. It has several campgrounds. It is possible to practice rafting and abseiling on site. (updated Jan 2023)
• The Monte Elísio manor house was erected at the foot of a small rise, on Avenida Santos Moreira, in the Visconde de Araújo neighborhood. Today it is the headquarters of the Nossa Senhora da Glória Institute. Its construction took place in 1852, obeying the neoclassical and in the internal part, highlight for the wooden staircase, with the initials of Visconde de Araújo.
• 1 Forte Marechal Hermes (Fort Marshal 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. This fortress was built to defend the Macanese coast from corsairs. Guided tours of the fort are allowed.  

Igreja de Sant'Ana

• 2 Church of Sant'Ana, Rua Maurìlio Rosa, 68. According to the legend of the Saint Fujona, the main door was facing west, to prevent the saint, with the same name, from fleeing the altar, since her image was found in the island of Santana. As the main façade used to face east, the saint missed her island and disappeared (fled) from the altar of the church, always being found again on the island of Santana, so they changed the façade of the church to the opposite side , where the saint could no longer see her place of origin, and could no longer flee. The image of the saint disappeared in the 1990s and was never found again. Building with construction dating from 1630, is located on an elevation from where you can see the whole city, next to a cemetery of the same name. The traditional procession of Senhor do Senhor Morto, which runs through the streets of the city center every Good Friday, starts and ends at this temple. 
• 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. Visits are allowed and access is via the Petrobras interchange at Campista beach. It was restored in 1999. 
• The Serra de Macaé is a set of districts in the municipality that has, among other attractions, waterfalls, canoeing events and traditional festivals in honor of the patron saint. Its main access is via the RJ-168 highway.
• 3 Latiff Mussi Exhibition Park, São José do Barreto. It hosts Expo Macaé, with a rodeo and top quality Brazilian popular music shows. (updated Jan 2023)

Do

• Carnival: parades of painted oxen, carnival blocks, the parade of samba schools, held on Linha Verde.
• The municipality contains part of the Central Rio de Janeiro Atlantic Forest Mosaic of conservation units, created in 2006.
• União Biological Reserve, Rodovia Br 101, Km 185, Rocha Leão, Rio das Ostras/RJ, ☏ +55 22 2777-1115, rebiouniao@icmbio.gov.br. It 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. (updated Jan 2023)
• Its most famous beaches are Cavaleiros and Pecado.
• The Macaé Oilers play American Football.

Sleep

• Del Rey, Rua Vereador Manoel Braga, 192 – Centro. Quiet and clean inn with breakfast. (updated Jan 2023)