The lagoon sits in a gentle dip in the coastline where a coral reef close to the shore breaks the waves before they reach the beach. This makes the water inside very calm — more like a swimming pool than the open ocean. Families and children often swim here because it is so peaceful.
The jungle comes right down to the edge of the lagoon. Tall palm trees lean over the water, their long leaves casting shadows on the sand. Birds dart between the branches, and sometimes crabs scuttle along the shoreline. It feels like the forest and the sea are shaking hands.
Underneath the surface of Lagoa Azul, the reef is full of colour — pink corals, darting fish in yellow and blue stripes, and small creatures tucked into rocky crevices. Because the water is so clear, you can see all the way to the seabed even from a boat floating above.
Local fishermen have used the lagoon for centuries because it is a safe place to anchor their wooden boats out of the wind. In the evenings the water sometimes turns a golden colour as the sun sets behind the palm trees — a moment that visitors always remember.