Gita in bici di un giorno da Recife a São Lourenço da Mata

Roll out from Recife, the “Brazilian Venice,” where the Capibaribe and Beberibe rivers weave through a historic center full of bridges and colorful facades. Head west, loosely tracing the Capibaribe upstream toward the greener Zona da Mata. It’s about 37 km with roughly 427 m of climbing—mostly gentle rollers topping out around 135 m, so nothing too steep, but you’ll feel it by the end.

Routing keeps you on mostly quiet roads (over 80%), with a short busy link and a few stretches of rural track. Expect mixed surfaces—plenty of pavement but some rougher bits—so wider tires and a spare tube are smart. Traffic can be lively leaving Recife; once you’re past the suburbs it calms down. Start early, pack water and sunscreen—the coastal heat and humidity build fast.

You’ll finish in São Lourenço da Mata, gateway to the Atlantic Forest and home to Arena de Pernambuco, one of the 2014 World Cup venues. Grab a snack in town and enjoy the slower inland vibe before rolling back.