Things to do
Arraial d'Ajuda and surrounding are easy to explore on your own. Some excursions however need to be booked through a travel agent.
We would be happy to advise you. We could make reservations in advance for your excursions, rental car and boat trip.
Arraial d'Ajuda
Whale watching between July and the end of October
Boat trip to the coral island where you can snorkle or dive
Beach walk from Arraia d'Ajuda to Trancoso
Eco Parque: a water park with swimming pools and slides
Hang gliding
Bicycle rent
Squad trip via a jungle path to the beach www.quadriadventure.com
Various sport activities like wind and kite surf, yoga, tennis, golf, capoeira,lambada, forro or African dance classes.
Visit one of the oldest churches of Brazil in the heart of our village. Behind the church you´ll have an estonishing view over the beach
At night, in the cozy street Rua Mucugê you will find several restaurants, bars and live music to dance on. Before entering this street, make your purchase on the hippiemarket and in the tourists shops on"Broadway".
Porto Seguro
Shopping town with a small harbour and a beach with little bars and stalls. Dance axé on several beach podia along the coast.
Visit the historical centre and museum.
There is the fish market near the ferry. Waliking along the mangrove street you'll discover several interesting products, fruit and vegetables at the local market. Closed on Sundays.
Diving school: You can take diving lessons, or make a boat trip to snorkel or dive.
Night live: from 5 p.m. stalls are installed at the boulevard called "Passarela do Alcool". Order your cocktail made of fresh fruit, while scrolling around to see the local products.
On Friday and Sunday night a ferry goes to "Ilha dos Aquarius", the island between Porto Seguro and Arraial d'Ajuda. Apart from several aquaria there are 3 dance halls, which all offer different kind of music. www.ilhadosaquarius.com.br
Caraíva
After arrival cross the ferry and you'll feel the tranquillity of this small town which has only sand roads. No cars, An Indian region. Cross the ferry to arrive in this charming village with sand roads only. Transport through horses. Caraíva has electricity since 2007 but there is still a few lights at night therefor you can enjoy the sky full of stars. There is a choice between several pousada's and restaurants owned by Brazilians and 'gringo's'. The result of this mix of foreigners and locals is a convenient, international and peaceful atmosphere.
Take a boat or kayak through the mangrove forest or down the stream in a tire.
Boat trip or walk from this village to Espelho beach.
Visit the Indian reserve.
Rent a buggy ( includes a driver) to drive via the dunes and virgin beaches to the river opposite the village of Corumbau. Cross with a fisherman, have your lunch at this fishing village and make the same trip back.
Trancoso
Considered one of the most beautiful places in the world! Walk along the beach from Arraial d'Ajuda (about 14km),take a mud bath on the way at Taípe beach or rent a buggy and travel along the dirt road with natural red sand hills to Trancoso (36km).
From the "Quadrado" you'll have a beautiful view over its virgin beaches. Many artists maintain a second home here. Beautiful beach view behind the old church at the Quadrado. The shops at this square open around 4 p.m.
Santo André
Drive via Porto Seguro along the coast to Santa Cruz Cabralia. Take the ferry to the small, exclusive village Santo André were tourism is still on a very small scale. Virgin beaches and an international atmosphere. It's worth to spend the night in one of the few exclusive pousada's in rustic style. An exclusive condominiuim is built here for the German soccer team during the World Cup of 2014
Belmonte
Drive along the "Cacao coast" from Santo André via Guiau to Belmonte. Ask a fisherman to take you into the mangrove or take the beautiful boat trip to Canavieras and back.
After the boattrip you'll stop at beach town Guaiu to eat moqueca, a typical Bahian fish dish in the internationally famous beach restaurant Maria Nilza. This artist cooks on a wood oven. www.marianilza.com.br
Curuipe and Espelho
White sand, wild beaches. Known as one of the most beautiful beaches in Brazil .
You'll find there some restaurants and exclusive hotels. Take a tour or rent a car to visit these well-preserved beaches or walk from Trancoso or Caraíva with guide.
Corumbau
Horseback riding, kayaking, sailing and snorkelling. Rent a buggy in Caraíva, enjoy the ride through the dunes and part of the virgin beaches, crossing the river to have lunch in this fishing village. You'll find restaurants and stalls on the beach and exclusive resorts.
Rio Buranhém
Main river that runs through the city, the Buranhém River separates Porto Seguro from Arraial d' Ajuda. From the porto Seguro or Arraial following the river is a tourist attraction for those who appreciate beautiful scenery in nature, with a wide variety of ecosystems and river islands. The River dos Frades opens amid a valley (of the same name), constructing an image of rare beauty in the coastal landscape. In the Casa da Lenha in Porto Seguro, you can hire a river ride with boaters.
Also enjoy the best of Cabrália browsing quietly in schooner or punt from the mouth of the Rio João de Tiba.
Recife de Fora
Travel agencies offer tours to the In Reef Marine Park 'Recife de Fora', a training of 17.5 square kilometers of coral reefs, of which only three percent are used for visitors and the rest as conservation area. At low tide natural pools are formed which makes it possible to swim and snorkel among the colorful fishes.
The schooners are equipped with high marine technology and leave from Porto Seguro or Arraial d'Ajuda. The total trip takes about 4 hours .
Coroa Alta
There are also trips to the Coroa Alta's Marine Park, located 5 nautical miles from the coast of Santa Cruz Cabrália. It is the largest sand bank in the region, an island formed by coral fragments in the ocean.
The duration of the tour is about 6 hours , You can board the schooner in Porto Seguro or in Santa Cruz Cabralia. The trip includes visiting the reef and there after taking a mud bath in the river João da Tiba.
Humpback whales
A spectacular trip you don' t want to miss!
During the breeding season, the Humpback whales seek the tropics to mate and give birth to cubs. The spectacle of the largest mammal on the planet can be awarded annually in the period July until the end of October .
The whale watch trip starts with a lecture about the characteristics of whales, the migration process, the navigation and security tips.
Total trip is about 4h sailing : 1h30 to reach the site, 1h observation and 1h30 to return. Make sure you'll take a pill against sea sickness. It's worth!