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Costa do Descobrimento has a paradisiacal setting, with 85 km of beaches with warm and calm waters, coral reefs that form delicious natural pools and the abundant green of the Atlantic forest.
The region known as Costa do Descobrimento </nbsp;is greatly favored by nature, which has remained untouched and preserved.
Costa do Descobrimento is for those who want to know the history of Brazil or want to enjoy life.
Considered the cradle of Brazilian history and civilization, the Discovery Coast, formed by the municipalities of Santa Cruz de Cabrália, Porto Seguro, Arraial d’Ajuda, Trancoso and Caraíva, offers an unparalleled set of historical and natural attractions.
The second largest tourist destination in the state, it has the most extensive hotel network in Bahia.
The region of the Discovery Coast is home to a preserved historical architectural ensemble that dates back to the beginnings of the History of Brazil, as well as stunning ecosystems and landscapes, including beaches, cliffs, mangroves, rivers and remnants of the Atlantic Forest.
On the Discovery Coast, there are three national parks – the Discovery, the Monte Pascoal and Pau Brasil – as well as environmental protection areas and indigenous reserves.
Indigenous handicrafts and traditions such as the reisado, the pastoral dances, the mast pulling and the mandus are preserved elements of the rich and diverse local culture.
The Discovery Coast preserves the memory of the first Portuguese initiatives to colonize America.
The historical monuments are mostly located in Santa Cruz de Cabrália and Porto Seguro, where the Marco do Descobrimento is located, but the small churches of Arraial d’Ajuda and of Trancoso are important witnesses of the arrival of the pioneers.
In the 150 km between Belmonte and Caraiva, there are deserted beaches and others quite busy, along with villages that have become points in the summer.
Accommodation ranges from campsites to luxurious resorts. There are many options for fun, recreation and learning about the country’s history.
In Santa Cruz de Cabrália there are nooks and crannies that have not yet been explored, excellent for those who want to get away from the hustle and bustle. There is also a village of Pataxós Indians in Coroa Vermelha, where the first mass was said in Brazil.
The city of Porto Seguro, which has the best tourist infrastructure, receives the largest number of visitors.
On the other side of the river is the Arraial d’Ajuda, which besides being rustic and charming gives access to the southern beaches, such as Taípe, Lagoa Azul and Pitinga.
In the vicinity, a good tourist structure has recently developed with hotels and inns.
Trancoso, a former “bicho-grilo” and naturist paradise, is now a sophisticated place where many Brazilian and foreign artists and craftsmen have taken up residence.
The small village of Caraíva, in turn, which retains its rusticity (there, the electric light is of recent installation), has among its attractions the Praia do Espelho, one of the most beautiful of the Brazilian coast.
The Discovery Coast has an international airport, located in Porto Seguro, as well as paved roads that connect the main locations in the region and allow the regular offer of air and road transportation services.
It is supplied with electricity, drinking water, sanitation and telecommunications in several locations.
Video about the Discovery Coast
Tourist spots of the Discovery Coast
1. Coroa Vermelha
The cove of Coroa Vermelha was the landing point of Pedro Álvares Cabral’s expedition on his arrival in Brazil.
Eight kilometers from the center of Santa Cruz Cabrália, Coroa Vermelha has, in addition to its historical value, quiet beaches with white sands and shops and craft stalls produced by the Pataxós Indians.
Eight kilometers from the center of Santa Cruz Cabrália, Coroa Vermelha has, in addition to its historical value, quiet beaches with white sands and shops and craft stalls produced by the Pataxós Indians.
2. Praia do Espelho
Praia do Espelho, about 30 minutes by car, on a dirt road, from the center of Trancoso, is considered the third most beautiful in Brazil. White and orange cliffs border much of its length and, next to the sands of the beach, the natural pools that arise at low tide are incredible.
There you can see colorful corals and a thousand shades of blue and green in the calm waters to dive with the whole family.
In addition to it, there are practically deserted beaches such as Itapororoca, which in winter becomes the point of surfing and Ponta de Itaquena, a wildlife refuge in the locality; hectic as Coqueiros, the closest to the center, Nativos and Rio da Barra, incredible scenery for photos; and Rio Verde, where a lagoon invites you to rest your body and wash your soul.
3. Caraíva
The fishing village, Vila de Caraíva with almost 500 years of history, has rustic houses in the middle of nature, in a paradisiacal place without cars or electricity. Relaxing in front of the sea, on the beautiful beaches of Caraíva, tourists discover the charm of a true jewel of the coast.
Go down the Caraíva river by buoy, practice Stand Up or kayak, walk to Satú beach, go to the beautiful Praia do Espelho by speedboat, take the buggy ride to the Ponta de Corumbau to spend a day in the most beautiful and calm waters of the region and to know the Porto do Boi Indigenous Reserve make Caraíva an unforgettable village with several leisure options.
Barra beach has its own particular charm: river beach and sea beach. It is where the daytime “point” of Caraíva is.
4. Historic Center of Porto Seguro
Porto Seguro on the Discovery Coast was the first place where the Portuguese arrived in the year 1500. However, it was only in 1535 that the village, formerly known as Nhoesembé, was created.
Much of what was built at that time has been lost over the years. Nowadays, it is still possible to find a very interesting heritage.
What remained until today is currently known as the historical center of Porto Seguro, a small village located at the highest point of the city.
Here, you can get an idea of what the old dwellings were like at the time of colonization. You can learn a little about the customs of the colonizers, as well as some indigenous peoples who inhabit the region.
In addition to the historical monuments and the exuberant landscape that the place presents, it is still possible to delight in the wonderful typical foods. It is these delights that make this historic city even more enjoyable.
Only 48 dwellings have not been destroyed over time. In addition, there are two churches, a historical museum, the lighthouse, the ruins of the old seminary school and the landmark of the discovery brought by the Portuguese in 1503.
The mixture of the rustic and the modern, the religious and the secular, the luxurious and the simple make this district of Porto Seguro, on the Discovery Coast, South of Bahia, a place of dream and reality within everyone’s reach.
The architectural ensemble includes the Marco do Descobrimento, the Church of Nossa Senhora da Penha and the Church of São Benedito, among other monuments.
5. Coqueiros Beach in Trancoso
15 minutes from the village of Trancoso, Praia dos Coqueiros is one of the most beautiful in the region.
6. Quadrado de Trancoso
The Quadrado is the historic center and the heart of the city. A place that makes a point of maintaining its original architecture and atmosphere, transporting its visitors to the past.
Around the square, interconnected by a dirt road, are the famous colorful colonial houses, former fishermen’s dwellings, now converted into bars, restaurants and stores.
To complete the look, on one side of the Quadrado is located the iconic church of São João Batista and a soccer field.
Trancoso as many mistakenly think, is not only about luxury hotels, exquisite cuisine and famous boutiques. Yes, they are all there and each one chooses the one that suits him.
The physical space is democratic and caters to all classes with different services and opportunities.
In Praça São João, the famous and cultured Quadradode Trancoso is the stage for the main religious and popular festivals of the village.
There is located the Church of St. John the Baptist, better known as “little church of the Square” dating from the seventeenth / eighteenth centuries.
In the heart of Trancoso village, the Quadrado is a large rectangular square surrounded by trees and colonial buildings.
At the bottom of the square, visitors have a beautiful view over the sea and the local beaches.
7. Memorial of the Epic of Discovery
Located in Porto Seguro, the Memorial da Epopéia do Descobrimento gathers different attractions in honor of Pedro Álvares Cabral.
Visitors can enjoy a large botanical garden of 20 thousand square meters, a replica of the Nau Capitana, which brought Cabral and his crew to Brazil, as well as an exhibition on the history of the discovery of Brazil by the Portuguese.
8. Lighthouse of Porto Seguro
Initially built in 1907, the Porto Seguro Lighthouse was replaced in 1947 by the current tower, a beautiful 12-meter construction in white stone.
From the lighthouse, visitors have a beautiful view over the Atlantic waters.
9. Humpback Whales
Many know Abrolhos, on the coast of Bahia, as a special destination for spotting humpback whales.
But these impressive marine mammals can also be appreciated on special boat trips that leave from Porto Seguro between the months of July and October.
10. Arraial d’Ajuda
Arraial d’Ajuda on the Costa do Descobrimento, in turn, has a bucolic feel, a beach village at first glance, but the district of Porto Seguro goes far beyond the church and its viewpoint full of colorful ribbons of promises from pilgrims and those who pass by.
Arraial d’Ajuda is a party and Broadway and Mucugê streets, nicknamed “the most charming street in Brazil”, a point of nightlife, concentrate a multitude of bars with live music, restaurants, designer stores, open-air shopping centers, hotels and inns.
With 16 kilometers of protected beaches, the town of Arraial d’Ajuda attracts numerous tourists in search of natural beauty.
Formerly a hippie stronghold located between Porto Seguro and Trancoso on the Discovery Coast, the town now has a number of charming and ecological inns ideal for enjoying the northeastern sun.
Religiosity is also a highlight of Arraial. The greatest representation of the local faith, although religious syncretism is omnipresent as it occurs throughout Bahia, is the Church of NS d’Ajuda, the first Marian shrine in Brazil, dating from 1550.
The religiousness is also a highlight of Arraial.
In Arraial, the beaches are a spectacle apart. There are eight in all (Apaga Fogo, Aracaípe, dos Pescadores, Mucugê, Parracho, Pitinga, Lagoa Azul and Taípe).
Almost everywhere along the shore, at low tide, the coral reef turns the sea into a calm natural pool, where small fish and crustaceans can be seen.
Mucugê Beach is the trendiest in Arraial and also the closest to the center.
For those who want a little more tranquility, just follow the waterfront, which has a large strip of fine white sand, which contrasts with the bluish green of the sea.
The beach of Mucugê is the most popular in Arraial.
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