Quilombo dos Palmares Tour: Largest Refuge for Enslaved People

The largest quilombo in the Americas has its own memorial park and museum.

This nine-hour tour from Maceió travels to Quilombo dos Palmares Memorial Park in União dos Palmares, the largest, longest-lasting and most organized refuge for enslaved Black people in the Americas. A Portuguese-speaking guide leads the visit to the park, where the history of resistance to slavery unfolds through exhibits and the landscape itself. Air-conditioned transport and pickup are included. Entry to Serra da Barriga, lunch and drinks are paid on site in cash.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Quilombo dos Palmares Memorial Park

• Explore Quilombo dos Palmares Memorial Park
• Enjoy Afro-indigenous buffet lunch at Baobá Restaurant

The experience

What makes Quilombo dos Palmares different from other historical sites is that it is not a ruin you walk through. It is a living memorial that reconstructs the scene of one of the world's most important stories of resistance. The park sits in União dos Palmares, a city known as "The Land of Freedom," and the tour spends the day there moving through exhibits, cultural events, regional crafts and the natural landscape that sheltered thousands of enslaved people who built an independent settlement. The drive from Maceió takes about an hour and a half.

The Baobá Restaurant on the grounds provides the infrastructure for the day: you eat Afro-indigenous cuisine served buffet-style, with dishes prepared using exclusive seasonings and ingredients tied to the region's history. This is where the group gathers and where the visit anchors itself between the morning and afternoon sections of the park. The guide walks you through the significance of each space and the events that unfolded there, grounding the history in the place itself rather than in a classroom setting.

Entry to Serra da Barriga and lunch are paid on site in cash: R$ 70 per person covers both, with children under six free, ages six to ten at half price, and eleven and up at full price. Bring cash for this. The operator does not process cards for the on-site payment. The tour runs nine hours total, and you'll need a moderate level of fitness for walking the grounds and navigating the terrain.

What’s included

• Tour guide in Portuguese.
• air-conditioned vehicle with pickup from your hotel in Maceió.
• access to Quilombo dos Palmares Memorial Park and Serra da Barriga (paid on site in cash).

Before you book

Days and timesWednesdayDeparts at 06:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (18 to 59 years) · Senior (60 and older) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 50

Live guidePortuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 23

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPets welcomeNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Luck Receptivo Maceió

Is this one for you?The guide speaks Portuguese, so you'll need to understand the language or travel with someone who does to follow the commentary and the history as it unfolds. If Portuguese is not your language, consider whether a translator or a bilingual companion will join you, as the guide's narration is central to understanding the significance of each site within the park.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

How far is Quilombo dos Palmares from Maceió?

The drive from Maceió to União dos Palmares takes about an hour and a half, and the tour includes pickup from your hotel and transport in an air-conditioned vehicle.

What exactly is Quilombo dos Palmares?

Quilombo dos Palmares was the largest, longest-lasting and most organized refuge for enslaved Black people in the Americas. The memorial park reconstructs the scene of this pivotal history of resistance to slavery, with exhibits, cultural events and regional crafts throughout the grounds.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

Lunch is not included in the tour price but is available on site at the Baobá Restaurant, serving Afro-indigenous cuisine. Entry to Serra da Barriga and lunch together cost R$ 70 per person, paid in cash on the day. Children under six do not pay, ages six to ten pay half price.

What should I bring or wear for this tour?

Wear comfortable walking shoes and clothes suited to outdoor exploration, as you'll be moving through the park grounds. Bring cash for the on-site payment of entry and lunch. The operator does not accept cards for this. A moderate level of physical fitness is needed for the walking and terrain.

What language does the guide speak?

The guide speaks Portuguese and leads the tour in that language throughout the nine hours.