Salvador and the Bahia Coast
We’ve compiled the best of the best in Salvador and the Bahia Coast - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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1. Casa do Rio Vermelho
Rio VermelhoDedicated to the life and work of Salvador’s favorite son, author Jorge Amado, this museum is one of the city’s star attractions for both literary aficionados and first-time explorers of Amado’s poetic world. Expert curation by artist-architect Gringo Cardia and its gorgeous location in the writer's former private home make this a must-see. Through his 32 novels, Amado did much to bring Bahia’s rich history to life and preserve its traditions through the most colorful of characters. This state-of the-art, interactive museum breathes life into the author's residence, where personal objects are coupled with short films and interviews with prominent Brazilian creatives that capture the essence of Amado and his important role in the country’s cultural development. Note that credit cards not accepted.
Rua Alagoinhas 33, Salvador, Bahia, 41940–620, Brazil071-3333–1919Sight Details
Rate Includes: R$20, Tues.–Sun. 10–5 -
2. Morro de Pai Inácio
The icon of Chapada Diamantina, this tabletop mountain sits at 1,120 meters (3,675 feet) above sea level and provides a spectacular 360-degree view across the Vale do Capão and Morro do Camelo. Access up a steep, short path is easy and can be undertaken without a guide. Orchids, bromelias, and cacti flourish on top of the rocky plateau. Local legend goes that the mountain was named after a black slave and local hero, Pai Inácio, who fell in love with the ruling colonel's daughter. In order to escape the colonel's men, he ran up the mountain and jumped off, breaking his fall with an umbrella and disappearing into the valley, where he was reunited with his true love.
Lençóis, Bahia, 46750–000, BrazilSight Details
Rate Includes: R$5 -
3. Museu de Arte Moderna da Bahia (MAM)
ComércioWhen Italian-Brazilian modernist architect Lina do Bardi set about transforming this 17th-century private fazenda overlooking the sea, she created one of the world's most picturesque modern art museums. Original white and blue Portuguese tiles lead up to the former casarão (mansion), which houses a permanent modernist/contemporary collection, while the former chapel plays host to a rotating schedule of individual shows. Walk through the sculpture garden, with works from artists like Bel Borba and Mario Cravo, before taking a break in the atmospheric basement restaurant, a magic spot for watching the sunset. JAM no MAM, the Saturday evening alfresco jazz shows that kick off at 6 pm, are something not to miss.
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4. Ponta de Mutá
Make for one of the beach bars that line the sand to watch Barra Grande's legendary sunset. The calm waters also make this a good choice for families to spend the day. Amenities: food and drink; toilets. Best for:partiers; swimming; walking.
Ponta de Mutá, Barra Grande, Bahia, 45520-000, Brazil -
5. Praia de Algodões
This breathtaking beach is said to earn its name from the cresting waves that look like balls of cotton—algodão means cotton in Portuguese. Aside from a handful of sophisticated beachfront restaurants, you'll find the long curved bay all but deserted. Amenities: food and drink; parking (free); toilets. Best for:surfing; swimming; walking.
Praia de Algodões, Barra Grande, Bahia, 45520-000, Brazil -
Recommended Fodor’s Video
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6. Ribeirão do Meio Waterfall
A visit to this waterfall, set within a verdant valley 3½ km (2 miles) from the center of Lençóis, is one of the most pleasant ways to spend half a day. The trail is accessible from the west of town, next to Pousada Canto das Aguas, and winds through the forest, with a number of small barracas set up along the way selling water and agua de coco. This is a local favorite for basking in the sun, swimming in the pools, and playing around on the waterfall's naturally crafted slide. The easy hike takes approximately 40 minutes each way and can be done without a guide.
Lençóis, Bahia, 46960–000, Brazil -
7. Vila Rosa
A visit to this impeccably restored 1930s fazenda is like stepping back in time to the golden age of the cacao boom. The cocoa plantation hosts daily experiences where visitors learn how cacao is cultivated and processed during a dynamic and interactive tour that includes exploring the grounds, sampling fresh cacao, and a hands-on demo in the chocolate factory. The four-hour tour includes transport from Itacaré. Don't miss staying for a delicious farmhouse-style lunch at the villa's historical pousada and restaurant, where you can also stay overnight in one of the nine rooms (starting from R$495 for two, including breakfast and dinner). Visits can also be arranged via Vila Rosa's chocolate store on Rua Pituba in the center of Itacaré
20 km (12½ miles) along the road from Itacaré to Taboquinhas, Itacaré, Bahia, 45530–000, Brazil073-9911–1930Sight Details
Rate Includes: R$50, Daily 9–4 -
8. Cachoeira da Fumaça
One of the most popular hikes in the national park leads to the country's tallest waterfall, 1,312-foot Cachoeira da Fumaça (Smoke Waterfall). Most of the falling water evaporates before reaching the ground, hence the odd name. A 6-kilometer (3-mile) path from the village of Caeté-Açú takes you to the canyon's rim, where you can marvel at the smoke rising from above. Visiting the waterfall from Lençóis takes the best part of the day and should be done with a guide.
Lençóis, Bahia, 46940–000, Brazil -
9. Cachoeira de Tremembé
One of the best ways to explore the peninsula is to join a boat trip or hire a private boat to explore the tropical islands, verdant coastline, and mangroves that line Camamu Bay down to the Tremembé Waterfall—one of the only freshwater waterfalls in Brazil that falls into saltwater, it's an impressive sight. Local kids act as guides to help the adventurous traverse it, and there are small pools for bathing at the top. Don’t miss lunch at Ilha de Venezia, a little restaurant set in the forest to the left-hand side of the waterfall, where you can feast on locally grown palmito (palm heart) roasted in butter, pitu (crayfish), pitu moqueca, and pitanga cherry caiprinhas. It's pricey but well worth it.
BA 001, Km 25, Maraú, Bahia, 45520-000, Brazil -
10. Centro Cultural Dannemann
Cross over the rustic wooden bridge to the small town of São Félix set across the water to pay a visit to Centro Cultural Dannemann. This cultural center is housed in a stunning colonial building that acts as both a working vintage-cigar factory and a contemporary-art space.
Av. Salvador Pinto 29, São Félix, Bahia, 44360–000, Brazil075-3438–2500Sight Details
Rate Includes: Tues.–Sun. 8–noon and 1–5 -
11. Forte de Santo Antônio da Barra
BarraA symbol of Salvador, St. Anthony's Fort has stood guard over Salvador since its construction in 1534, and is recognized as Brazil's oldest military structure. The lighthouse atop the fort wasn't built until 1696, after many a ship wrecked on the coral reefs around the Baía de Todos os Santos entrance. Inside, the small Museu Náutico has permanent exhibitions of old maps, navigational equipment, artillery, model vessels, and remnants of shipwrecks found by archaeologists off the Bahian coast. Go in the late afternoon to climb the 22-meter tower before watching the impressive sunset with the crowds who gather on the bank below. Across the road, don't miss stopping by Dinha's barraca for acarajé; her version of the typical Bahian speciality is rumored to be the best in town.
Salvador, Bahia, 40140–650, Brazil071-3264–3296Sight Details
Rate Includes: R$12, Museum Tues.–Sun. 8:30–7 -
12. Lapa Doce Cave
A 15-minute hike takes you down to the mouth of the Lapa Doce cave, where you will see a stunning collection of large stalagmites, stalactites, and columns. Access is only possible with a local guide, included in the price of admission along with a flashlight for navigating in the dark and exploring the unique frescoe-like coloring and natural sculptures. Local guides only speak Portuguese, so if you are looking for greater insight, plan to go with your own guide as part of a longer day experience. Because it's so accessible, Lapa Doce is especially recommended for children.
Lençóis, Bahia, Brazil075-3625–1084Sight Details
Rate Includes: R$15, Daily 9–6 -
13. Papa Gente
Praia do ForteSwim or snorkel in the crystal clear (and safe) waters of the Papa Gente, a 3-meter- (10-foot-) deep natural pool formed by reefs at the ocean's edge. Located 1½ km (1 mile) from Projecto Tamar, walk north along the beach when the tide is low and look out for a coconut vendor, who sits in front of the path that leads to the pools and has masks and snorkels for rent. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; snorkeling; swimming; walking.
Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro, 48280–000, Brazil -
14. Parque Nacional Chapada Diamantina
Established in 1985, the 1,520-square-km (593-square-mile) national park is one of the most scenic places in Brazil. Here you can find crystal clear creeks, rivers with abundant rapids and waterfalls, and more than 70 grottos and caverns. There are also the tall peaks of the Sincorá Range; the highest point is Barbados Peak (2,080 meters/7,000 feet). The flora and fauna of the area, which include many varieties of cactus, orchids, and bromeliads, and more than 200 bird species, have been the subject of two extensive studies by the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew in England. The best time to visit the park is in the dry season, from March to October, but expect high temperatures during the day (rarely above 36°C/100°F). From May to July, temperatures might drop to near 10°C (45°F). The park does not have a visitor center, but there's a small ranger headquarters in the town of Palmeiras.
Lençóis, Bahia, 46960–000, Brazil -
15. Praia de Bainema
BoipepaA 20-minute walk along a lovely trail that winds between the forest and the beach from Moreré, this deserted beach’s long stretch of golden sand is a favorite with families due to the calm waters and natural pools that form at midtide. Make sure you bring your own water and seek shade beneath a coconut palm. Amenities: none. Best for: surfing; swimming; walking.
Salvador, Bahia, Brazil -
16. Praia de Pitanga
While often busy, the calm, warm waters at this long beach framed in multicolored cliffs make it a winner with families, while the many beach bars that line the shore make it a good option to spend the day, relaxing with friends and enjoying the music; beach bar Flor do Sal is recommended. Amenities: food and drink; parking (free); toilets. Best for: swimming; walking.
2 km (1 mile) south of Arraial D'Ajuda, Arraial d'Ajuda, Bahia, 45816-000, Brazil -
17. Praia do Flamengo
Stella MarisClean sand, simple kiosks, and a beautiful view make this long stretch of golden sand a favorite among good-looking locals and surfers drawn to the strong waves. Buses, which run regularly from Barra and the City Center, take just over an hour; the journey is well worth it if you are looking for a serious beach day. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking; toilets. Best for: surfing; swimming; walking.
Thales de Azevedo s/n, Salvador, Bahia, 41603–285, Brazil -
18. Praia do Porto da Barra
BarraThis popular beach in Barra draws a wide variety of sunseekers from across the city and is a convenient option if you're staying in the hotel districts of Ondina and Rio Vermelho, where rock outcroppings make swimming dangerous and pollution is often a problem. Chairs and umbrellas are available for rent, and you can purchase food from one of the many restaurants lining the promenade. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; toilets. Best for: partiers; surfing; sunset.
Salvador, Bahia, 40140–130, Brazil -
19. Praia Stella Maris
Stella MarisOne of the northernmost beaches in the Salvador municipality, Praia Stella Maris's long stretch of sand is ever-popular with families in spite of the strong waves. The myriad of food-and-drink kiosks, serving delicious salty snacks and água de côco (coconut water), get busy on the weekends. The airport is located just 10 minutes away. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; toilets; parking (fee). Best for: surfing; walking.
Salvador, Bahia, 41600–010, Brazil -
20. Projeto Tamar
Praia do ForteThe headquarters of this nationwide turtle preservation project, established in 1980, has turned what was once a small, struggling fishing village into a tourist destination with a mission—to save Brazil's giant sea turtles and their hatchlings. Five of the seven surviving sea-turtle species in the world roam and reproduce on Brazil's Atlantic coast, primarily in Bahia. During the hatching season (September through March), workers patrol the shore at night to locate nests and move eggs or hatchlings at risk of being trampled or run over to safer areas or to the open-air hatchery at the base station. It is here that you can watch adult turtles in the small swimming pools and see the baby turtles that are housed in tanks until they can be released to the sea, something you can take part in between December and February. The headquarters also has educational videos, lectures, and a gift shop. Thirty-three other Tamar stations on beaches across Brazil protect about 15 million hatchlings born each year. If you are looking for a more intimate experience, seek out one of the smaller bases, as this project is certainly the most commercial.
Av. Farol Garcia D'Ávila s/n, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro, 48280–000, Brazil071-3676–0321Sight Details
Rate Includes: R$18, Daily 9–5:30
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