porto de galinhas (chicken port)

today felt like christmas morning to me!

I have never seen a more beautiful beach than porto de galinhas!

(even though natal came in real close, porto de galinhas has it beat)

We were able to take these boats out, walk on the reef, feed the fish and then go swimming!

The water was literally turquoise & clear.

not to mention..warm!

"Porto de Galinhas" in english means Chicken Port.

Why would they name a beach Chicken Port?

Well..when slavery was first abolished in Brazil, this beach was a huge importer of illegal slaves into the country.  Many of these slaves, who arrived on ships, were hidden below the chickens held on the ships. Therefore, when these slaves arrived into the port, the people transporting the slaves would tell others, as a code, that "the chickens have arrived at the port." chickens meaning slaves.

There are statues of chickens everywhere in Porto de Galinhas, and most of the souvenirs you can purchase there are also chickens. It is a breathtaking beach, and was even named 

"The Best Beach of Brazil" for 10 years in a row by a popular Brazilian travel magazine.

The only thing I wish was that they made a limit on how many people can step out on the reef each day. There were HUNDREDS of people out there today, a Thursday in the "winter"...I can't even imagine what it's like on a Saturday in the Summer. The reef is so unbelievably beautiful but it's all going to die from all the people who step on it every day! Brazil needs to preserve more of it's precious reefs.

Anyways, we could not have gone to Porto de Galinhas on a more perfect day. 

If I had to choose one place to honeymoon, have a beach house, go on summer vacation every year, etc it would be THIS place! It was unbelievable & these pictures don't give it any justice.

porto de galinhas- my heaven on earth!