Campina Grande is a city in Paraíba, Brazil. Second largest of its state, and the largest of the northeastern inlands (350 000 people), it has countrywide fame for midwinter parties, Festa Junina or São João, in June. It also hosts a large out-of-season carnival, Micarande, in April, and a few rodeos throughout the year.

Orientation

The city center lies on a hill along and around Avenida Marechal Floriano Peixito running east from the park Açude Velho with its obelisk known as Marco zero. Praça da Bandeira is bull's eye. Five blocks south of the center is the Açude Novo, a lake with some surrounding greenery.

Get in

By bus

The bus station, a blueprint of the one in João Pessoa, is on the SE outskirts of town, some 3 km from the centre. Take bus 500 or taxi (R$10) to the center.

• João Pessoa by Real Bus at least once an hour from 5AM-8PM, 2 hours, R$16.
• Sousa by Guanabara 6 daily, 5 hours, R$42.
• Juazeiro do Norte by Guanabara

By plane

There is an airport with regional flights

Get around

If you stay in the centre, most is walkable.

Drink

A few open air shacks around both Açude Velho and Açude Novo.

• Bar Arte, Rua Treze de Maio, centre. Live music several times a week. Can get crammed. Entry R$3, small beer R$2,50.. 
• Saloon Bar (Just west of Açude Velho). Live music and dancing on weekends. 
• Cachaçaria (By Hiper Bompreço, near Açude Velho). Slightly upmarket bar-come-club 

Sleep

During festival times prices can be as much as doubled, and posted prices might refer to these; always ask. A few hotels around the bus station, particularly newer ones of the fancier type. Downtown is a better option:

• Hotel Majestic, Rua Maciel Pinheiro 216, centre. Great value. Neat, bright and clean. Wi-fi zone and internet in the reception. Air con and hot water showers. Good breakfast. Double R$60. 
• Hotel Ellus, Rua Maciel Pinheiro. Basic, clean, also has larger rooms. Double R$45, add R$5 for air con..