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Which is better: Caldas Novas or Maceió?

Short answer

Caldas Novas is in the state of Goiás (GO), while Maceió is on the Alagoas Coast (AL): different regions of Brazil. Caldas Novas: the largest hot springs in the world; Maceió: the capital of the green sea. For this month's weather, Maceió has the edge.

Sources: INMET (updated 2026) · ANP · OpenStreetMap
Most reviewed activity in MaceióBarra de São Miguel & Frances Private Beach Day Trip★ 8.8 · 16 reviews · from US$ 19 · via CivitatisSee dates and price →
Caldas Novas Maceió
Best time to visit May → Aug Oct → Dec
Weather this month 33° · 11 days of rain 30° · 10 days of rain
By car R$ 113 · from Goiânia R$ 148 · from Recife
Ideal stay 3–4 days 4–6 days
Best for Family, Relax, Romantic Relax, Family, Romantic
Choose Caldas Novas if

you want a trip for families and relaxation: naturally hot pools, water parks and the perfect contrast of a dry Cerrado winter.

See guide
Choose Maceió if

you want a trip for relaxation and families: natural pools reached by jangada, city beaches lined with coconut palms and warm weather all year.

See guide
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Where to stay

Where to stay: Caldas Novas or Maceió

The average nightly rate is around R$ 298 in Caldas Novas and R$ 396 in Maceió; what changes in practice is each place's season. Check current prices for your dates before deciding.

Compare hotels and places to stay in Caldas Novas on Booking.com, with up-to-date prices and availability, before you book.

Best Western Suites Le Jardin Caldas Novas in Caldas Novas 9 · 26 reviews Best Western Suites Le Jardin Caldas Novas See on Booking → Acqua Bella Thermas Hotel in Caldas Novas 8.7 ★★★ · 39 reviews Acqua Bella Thermas Hotel See on Booking →
See all hotels in Caldas Novas

Compare hotels and places to stay in Maceió on Booking.com, with up-to-date prices and availability, before you book.

Porto Kaete Hotel in Maceió 9.3 ★★★★ · 41 reviews Porto Kaete Hotel See on Booking → Hotel Brisa Suítes Pajuçara in Maceió 8.9 ★★★★ · 50 reviews Hotel Brisa Suítes Pajuçara See on Booking →
See all hotels in Maceió

Rates change with the dates: confirm the price on Booking.com.

Frequently asked questions

Caldas Novas or Maceió: which is better?
Caldas Novas is in the state of Goiás (GO), while Maceió is on the Alagoas Coast (AL): different regions of Brazil. Caldas Novas: the largest hot springs in the world; Maceió: the capital of the green sea. For this month's weather, Maceió has the edge.
What is the best time to visit Caldas Novas and Maceió?
The best time to visit Caldas Novas is from May to August; for Maceió, it is from October to December, based on INMET's climate normals (temperature and rainfall for each month). If your trip already has a date, check each destination's page for your month.
Which of the two is cheaper to get to?
By car, leaving from Goiânia, Caldas Novas is 170 km (106 mi) and costs about R$ 113 each way (fuel plus tolls); leaving from Recife, Maceió is 258 km (160 mi) and costs about R$ 148 each way (fuel plus tolls). The calculation assumes a car that gets 11 km/L. Lodging and activities vary with each place's season.
Where does it rain less, Caldas Novas or Maceió?
Averaged over the year, Caldas Novas has 9 rainy days a month and Maceió has 15. Caldas Novas is the drier of the two over the year as a whole, but what decides the trip is the month: the rainiest month in Caldas Novas is December and in Maceió, June. For temperature, Caldas Novas is the warmer one (average high of 31° versus 30°).
How many days should you spend in Caldas Novas and in Maceió?
To see the main sights without rushing, Caldas Novas calls for 3–4 days and Maceió, 4–6 days. These are distant regions: with a week or less, it is usually better to pick one of the two and make the most of it.
Caldas Novas or Maceió with kids?
Both work with kids: Caldas Novas (hot springs, hot pools, and water parks) and Maceió (warm green sea, natural pools, and jangadas). The choice usually comes down to getting there, not to infrastructure. With small children, weather matters: Caldas Novas has fewer rainy days over the year.
What should you not miss in each?
In Caldas Novas: Hot Park, diRoma Acqua Park, Lagoa Termas Parque. In Maceió: Pajuçara Beach, Francês Beach, Ipioca Beach. These are the sights that show up most in first-trip itineraries for each destination; the full guide to each has the whole list.