When the Xingó dam tamed the Velho Chico in the 1990s, it unwittingly created a spectacle: a lake of emerald-green water squeezed between orange rock walls up to 50 meters high — the 5th largest navigable canyon in the world. On the Sergipe-Alagoas border, 3h from Aracaju, the Cânion do Xingó became the most iconic outing on the lower São Francisco. Here is the complete guide to doing it properly.
How the boat trip works
The catamarans leave from Canindé de São Francisco (SE) and from neighboring points in Alagoas (~R$ 150, half price for children; ~3h long). The boat glides across the lake until it enters the canyon proper, where the walls close in — and then comes the signature moment: the stop at the canyon beach for a float in the green water, framed by 40 m walls. An unmissable optional extra: the small-boat trip through the Gruta do Talhado (~R$ 30-50), a narrow cleft where the rock almost touches above your head.
Putting the day (and the trip) together
| Item | 2026 reference |
|---|---|
| Catamaran (3h, with a swimming stop) | ~R$ 150 |
| Gruta do Talhado (small boat, optional) | R$ 30 – R$ 50 |
| Lunch at the harbor restaurants (the famous surubim catfish) | R$ 50 – R$ 90 |
| Full day trip from Aracaju (agency) | R$ 180 – R$ 280 |
| Xingó Archaeology Museum (MAX) | ~R$ 10-20 |
What nobody tells you
- The Mirante do Talhado, reached by land, delivers the aerial view of the canyon for free — combine it with the boat trip for both angles.
- The MAX (Archaeology Museum) holds 55,000 pieces from peoples who lived on the São Francisco 9,000 years ago — the perfect pairing with Serra da Capivara for anyone who loves deep Brazil.
- From Aracaju, the day trip usually includes a stop in charming Piranhas (AL), a nativity-scene of a town from the cangaço era — Lampião stories included in the package.
- The canyon is a hydroelectric reservoir: swim only in authorized areas and wearing a life jacket — that green beauty has treacherous currents and depths (170+ m in the original riverbed).
🥾 Who is it for?
Effort: easy — a catamaran between the canyon walls and beaches. Children: all ages; the swim in the green water is optional. Seniors and people with reduced mobility: boarding with a ramp in Canindé and the whole trip seated — one of the most relaxed experiences in the Northeast. Wheelchair users: the ramp helps on the quay; check the boarding conditions on the catamaran with the operator.