Bahia Coast
Fishing villages, car-free islands and palm-fringed beaches, both north and south of Salvador.
Destinations
Trancoso, Caraíva, Arraial d’Ajuda, Porto Seguro, Morro de São Paulo, Boipeba, Praia do Forte, Imbassaí
Recommended stay
4 to 7 nights
Best time to go
September to March
Airports
Salvador or Porto Seguro
Which Bahia beach should you choose?
Bahia has more than 900 km (560 miles) of coastline. Each village has its own vibe: chic and bohemian in Trancoso, timeless in Caraíva, lively in Morro de São Paulo, family-friendly in Praia do Forte.
The simplest approach is to choose one or two stops based on your travel style, then connect them with Salvador, Chapada Diamantina or the rest of Brazil.
Where and when to go
Map
When to go
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Months
Discovery Coast
In southern Bahia, around Porto Seguro, where the Portuguese landed in 1500. Colorful cliffs, rivers and villages that have kept their authentic character.
Trancoso
The Quadrado, a grassy square lined with colorful houses, overlooks vast beaches. Charming pousadas and good restaurants.
Ideal for: couples, honeymoons, luxury stays
Access: about 1 hour from Porto Seguro airport, including the ferry
Caraíva
A car-free village with sandy streets, between river and ocean. You arrive by dugout canoe, and electricity only came here late.
Ideal for: unplugging, curious travelers
Access: about a 2.5- to 3-hour drive from Porto Seguro airport, then a few minutes by dugout canoe to cross the river
Discover Caraíva
Arraial d’Ajuda
A lively clifftop village, with long beaches below and a pleasant nightlife.
Ideal for: families, friends
Access: ferry from Porto Seguro, then a few minutes by road
Discover Arraial d’Ajuda
Porto Seguro
The historic town where the Portuguese arrived, a convenient base with its airport and its hilltop old town.
Ideal for: arrival stop, tight budgets
Access: airport in town
Dendê Coast
South of Salvador, car-free islands surrounded by reefs and natural pools.
Morro de São Paulo
On Tinharé Island, numbered beaches ranging from the liveliest to the quietest, and evenings on the sand.
Ideal for: friends, couples who enjoy a lively scene
Access: catamaran or small plane from Salvador
Discover Morro de São Paulo
Ilha de Boipeba
Morro’s quiet neighbor: fishing villages, coconut groves and natural pools at low tide.
Ideal for: peace and quiet, nature, honeymoons
Access: boat from Morro de São Paulo or Valença
Discover Boipeba
Coconut Coast
North of Salvador, a road runs along beaches lined with coconut palms and rivers, easy to reach for a few days of rest.
Praia do Forte
A pedestrian village with a sea turtle conservation center and natural pools right off the beach.
Ideal for: families, a first stay in Bahia
Access: about a 1-hour drive from Salvador
Discover Praia do Forte
Imbassaí
A river that runs parallel to the sea, between dunes and coconut palms: you go from fresh water to the ocean in a few steps.
Ideal for: families with young children, relaxing
Access: about a 1-hour drive from Salvador
Discover Imbassaí
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