Praia Bela, Oceanfront beach in Pitimbu, Brazil

Praia Bela is a beach with white sand and turquoise water along the coast near Pitimbu. At low tide, natural pools form where the Mucatu River meets the ocean.

Praia Bela lies at the mouth of the Mucatu River in Pitimbu, south of João Pessoa. The settlement grew from fishing families working the river mouth and the open sea. From the late 20th century, guesthouses and restaurants opened along the access road, and the beach became a weekend destination for visitors from João Pessoa and Recife.

The beach lies where the Mucatu River meets the sea, and the river mouth is still used by canoes from the fishing settlement behind the sand. Restaurants along the shore buy the day's catch of fish and shellfish from these families and serve it grilled or in stews.

The beach is easy to reach from João Pessoa on well-maintained roads, with parking available for cars and buses. Swimming is better at high tide when the water is calmer and deeper.

At the mouth of the Mucatu River, floating restaurants are moored in the freshwater current, so diners eat on decks that rise and fall with the tide. The river water stays fresh at the surface while the ocean pushes in below, and boats ferry guests from the beach.