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Barra Grande is the first destination that comes to people’s minds when they think of a trip to the Maraú Peninsula.

Barra Grande makes the “head” of the peninsula, and despite having a rustic appearance and soul,

Barra Grande has a complete infrastructure in terms of tourism. The largest concentration of inns, restaurants, nightlife, stores and support services are found here. Not to mention the natural beauty and its beautiful beaches.

There is a type of beach and style of pousada to suit anyone in your family, and below you will find the main beaches of Barra Grande.

There is a little square with a church, almond trees and capoeira circles in the evening.

Leaving here, gardeners face sandy roads to take visitors to the natural pools of  Taipu de Fora – where, at low tide, colorful fish make the party of those who dive.

The village of Barra Grande has a beautiful natural setting that leaves any visitor enchanted.

The complicated access made the place retain the typical atmosphere of an old fishing village.

Located on the south coast of Bahia, between the Atlantic Ocean and Camamu Bay, the Peninsula of Maraú brings together a wide variety of landscapes of rare beauty.

There are immense coconut groves, deserted beaches, rivers, lagoons, natural pools of clear water, mangroves, Atlantic forest and lots of wildlife. The village of Barra Grande is the starting point to discover this paradise.

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Few places on the Brazilian coast have managed to keep their charm and nature preserved. Barra Grande is one of them.

Quite different from the bustle of more famous tourist centers, the village has a climate of tranquility and a beautiful natural setting that leaves any visitor enchanted.

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Tourist Spots of the Maraú Peninsula

As Taipu de Fora is not the only beach, don’t just stick to it, also visit Ponta do Mutá, Três Coqueiros, Bombaça and Barra Grande.

A little further away, visit the beautiful beaches of Algodões, Cassange and Saquaíra.

1. VILLA DE BARRA GRANDE

The complicated access made the place retain the typical atmosphere of an old fishing village.

The houses are simple but have a lot of charm.

The sandy streets cross gardens with flowers and fruit trees. Few cars circulate. The village is always quiet.

Residents watch the time go by listening to the song of the sabiás, the sanhaços and the bem-te-vis.

The rhythm of life in Barra Grande is contagious.

It is not uncommon to find people who fell in love with the place and decided to stay.

This is how a community of people from different origins from Brazil and the world was created in the village, where natives and new residents live together in harmony.

This cultural diversity is reflected in the variety of bars and restaurants in Barra Grande.

2. MANGUEIRAS BEACH

The beach of the village of Barra Grande has calm waters, without waves, with some huts serving cold drinks and snacks.

You should spend at least one afternoon at Barra Grande beach to observe the variations in lights over the course of the hours.

It’s worth waiting until the end. The view of the sunset over Camamu Bay is fantastic.

V4X4 vehicles take visitors to the more distant beaches of the Peninsula.

It is also possible to rent a speedboat or a boat to explore the beauties of Camamu Bay and its numerous islands.

3. STARTING POINT FOR ADVENTURE

There is no shortage of beach options in Maraú. There is round-the-clock transportation to Taipus de Fora beach.

The region offers several types of beaches, for all tastes. The beaches facing the ocean are extensive, with good waves for surfing, clear sand and reefs that form natural pools.

On the Camamu Bay side, the beaches have calmer waters, usually with little bottom.

4. BARRA GRANDE BEACH

Facing Camamu Bay, Barra Grande beach is straight, with clear sands and warm, calm waters, ideal for children to play.

Barra Grande is the port of entry to the peninsula for visitors arriving by boat from Camamu.

It has summer houses, several inns, and the main bars and restaurants of the municipality.

5. PONTA DO MUTÁ 

Leaving Barra Grande, a short walk along the beach leads to Ponta do Mutá, to the extreme north of the Peninsula, and to Três Coqueiros beach, facing the ocean.

It has guesthouses. A lighthouse marks the entrance to Camamu Bay where there was once a Portuguese fort.

The beach has many coconut trees and beautiful rocks that outcrop on the surface of the water.

6. TRÊS COQUEIROS BEACH AND BOMBAÇA BEACH

It is an open sea beach, with strong waves, thick and clear sand and coconut trees.

It has hotels and inns and summer houses.

Very extensive, the beach is marked by the presence of reefs that arise from the water at low tide, forming natural pools.

It is the beginning of a succession of long interconnected beaches that goes all the way to Pontal beach in Itacaré, 50km to the south.

7. TAIPUS DE FORA 

With coconut trees, reefs and strong waves, Taipus de Fora is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Brazil.

The great attraction of the place are the immense natural pools that form at low tide between the coral reefs, with waters full of fish, great for diving and observing the underwater fauna.

There are inns, summer houses and beach huts serving drinks and regional dishes.

8. LAGOA DE CASSANGE 

Extensive, with weak waves and many coconut trees, Cassange beach has softer sand than the others.

There is the Cassange Lagoon, a freshwater lagoon separated from the ocean by a 300m wide strip of sand.

The lagoon is good for swimming and sailing sports. It has inns. Morro do Celular, a mandatory stop for those who come by jeep from Itacaré, offers a panoramic view of the lagoon and part of the peninsula.

9. SAQUAÍRA BEACH 

Saquaíra beach is a straight strip of sand with a sea of weak waves.

There are kilometers of almost deserted beach with coconut trees as far as the eye can see.

Saquaíra is a fishing village that has recently grown with the construction of several inns.

10. ARANDI BEACH AND ALGODÕES BEACH

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Further south, the beaches of Algodões and Arandi stretch for kilometers, with weak waves, vast coconut groves and fine, clear sand.

At Arandi, the low tide forms natural pools. They are the closest beaches to the city of Maraú.

There are inns, some summer houses and many deserted beaches.

11. AIBIM, PIRACANGA, PONTAL AND THE BEACHES OF ITACARÉ

Piracanga is the last beach of Maraú and borders the municipality of Itacaré. The waves are stronger, good for surfing.

Further south of Rio de Contas and Pontal beach, the coast changes radically, with a succession of hills forming small coves. Visit the Itacaré beaches guide.

12. CAMAMU BAY

Camamu Bay is home to a variety of islands of all sizes.

Some of them have beaches suitable for swimming.

Pedra Furada Island, Ilha Grande, Campinho, Sapinho and Goió Island are some of them. The bay has many treasures to be discovered.

GETTING TO BARRA GRANDE

The best access option to the Maraú Peninsula for those without a car is the transportation by boat or speedboat via the city of Camamu, located 195 km from Salvador, 55 km from Itacaré and 115 km from Ilhéus. In Camamu, buses arrive from Itaparica (for those in Salvador), Ilhéus and Itacaré.

The inauguration of the asphalt of the BA-001 between Itacaré and Camamu has facilitated access to Barra Grande.

The best option to get to the village is to leave the car in Camamu and cross the Acaraí River in speedboats or boats, which leave daily from the port.

Those who prefer to go by car should leave Itacaré, follow for 15 km by BA-001 and then face 40 km of land on BR-030 (which usually become impassable with heavy rain).

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