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Porto Seguro, Cabrália, Arraial D’ajuda and Trancoso are the main tourist spots on the Discovery Coast.
Considered the cradle of Brazilian history and culture, the Discovery Coast was listed as a World Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999.
Surrounded by several natural attractions – such as beaches, bays, coves, cliffs, coral reefs, mangroves and navigable rivers – the region has favorable conditions for the practice of adventure tourism and ecotourism.
See the map Costa do Descobrimento
Videos about “The Discovery Coast”
Porto Seguro, Cabrália, Arraial D’ajuda and Trancoso
Porto Seguro na Bahia09:54
Santa Cruz Cabrália14:58
Trancoso na Bahia14:30
Drone - Santa Cruz Cabrália03:50
Arraial D'ajuda na Bahia07:20
Tourist Spots on the Discovery Coast
1. Porto Seguro
Party all year round in the cradle of Brazil
The history of Brazil begins in Porto Seguro, in Bahia.
Considered a national monument, the city is located on the Discovery Coast, where 500 years ago the Portuguese arrived, starting the colonization of the country.
Today, the monuments, churches and beautiful beaches make the municipality one of the most visited destinations by tourists from all over Brazil.
Porto Seguro has been considered a National Historic Site since 1976
Porto Seguro with beautiful beaches full of tents, bars, restaurants and an intense nightlife, the city is located in the extreme south of Bahia, 700 kilometers from the capital – Salvador -, and has its economic activities based on tourism, plant extraction, agriculture, livestock and fishing.
The fun ranges from a historical and cultural itinerary to more hectic tours, both during the day, when nautical leisure is practiced, and at night, when the waterfront bars, street stalls and restaurants of various types of cuisine fill up.
The so-called “Passarela do Álcool” has several stalls on the same street and is one of the busiest points of the night. On the waterfront, the famous “Reggae Night” takes place, with live music, on several days of the week.
If in Porto Seguro there is a party every night of the year, in Carnival and in summer the city simply goes crazy.
The Passarela do Álcool is packed with blocos, trios elétricos and bands, who perform amidst the party that dominates the city. If Carnival throughout the country ends on Ash Wednesday, in Porto Seguro the date is just the milestone of a new party: Carnaporto, the extended Carnival of Porto Seguro.
2. Santa Cruz Cabrália
Quieter than neighboring Porto Seguro, Santa Cruz Cabrália – just 23 kilometers from Porto – has a lot to offer tourists.
In addition to being the setting for the first mass said in Brazil in 1500 – a symbolic cross marks the spot on Coroa Vermelha beach – it has landscapes typical of southern Bahia, framed by a sea of crystal clear waters protected by reefs and Atlantic forest vegetation.
One of the most beautiful tours in the region is the boat trip, covering untouched corners such as the beaches of the village of Santo André and the coral banks of Coroa Alta.
The cultural attractions also reinforce the recognition that the region so deserves. In the upper part is the Historic City, a square where there are buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries and a viewpoint that highlights all the natural beauty of its surroundings.
On the seafront, the customs and creativity of the Pataxós Indians have an exclusive space – at the Indigenous Memorial, on Coroa Vermelha beach, there are craft shops and a small museum.
3. Arraial D’ajuda (Arraial da Ajuda)
About 16 km of paradisiacal beaches, with warm waters and white sands framed by coconut trees, draw the beautiful landscape of Arraial D’Ajuda.
Arising from the construction of the Church in invocation to Our Lady, legend has it that the village, located in Porto Seguro, was so named because of the emergence of a miraculous water source, which was of great help to remedy the supply problems of the locality.
The fountain, also called Nossa Senhora, would have been created by chance, from the fall of a hill that, when opening the land, also opened the most beautiful fountain.
In addition to pilgrims, Arraial was discovered by hippies in the 1970s, attracted by the casual lifestyle, simplicity and natural exuberance.
The privileged location, at 17º latitude – the same as Bali and other mystical addresses – attracts esoteric, alternative and adventurous people seduced by the unique atmosphere that surrounds the city.
No wonder, Arraial is called the corner of the world, where the various cultures meet and complete each other.
The village of Arraial d’Ajuda is a pleasant surprise. It is one of the best tourist centers, with many restaurants, bars and stores.
The main street, called Rua do Mucugê (or Estrada do Mucugê, although it is not a road at all), concentrates the commerce.
It is where the best food and drink options are, as well as the most “chic” stores for clothes, handicrafts, jewelry, bags, etc. There are many options for dinner, one better than the other.
The bars are also very lively and several have live music. For lunch, it is more complicated because few restaurants open at this time.
Rua do Mucugê starts at Praça São Bráz (village center) and ends at Mucugê beach. If you are excited, it is worth walking the whole street. But beware: it is a cobblestone street. Therefore, for women, I recommend flip-flops or sneakers instead of heels.
In Praça São Bráz is the common trade of the village, more focused on the inhabitants of the district. But it has good restaurant options (which I will talk about in other posts).
It is from the square that Broduei (spelled just like that) leaves, an alley with several shops and some bars and restaurants.
The alley ends at Praça Brigadeiro Eduardo Gomes, where the Church of Nossa Senhora d’Ajuda is located, originally built in 1550 and restored in 1772, when it took its current shape.
Around the church are several craft and souvenir stores. It is an excellent option to buy gifts for those with little money.
Big international stars have been captivated by the local charm: Jacques Villeneuve, Michael Schumacker, Robert de Niro, Richard Gere and Jimmy Cliff. Bikinis, shorts and flip-flops, in a free and relaxed fashion, are the usual attire throughout the day and even at luaus and night-time parties.
The Bróduei promenade concentrates the bars and restaurants with tables and chairs scattered along its cobblestone streets and to the sound of diverse musical styles.
You can eat well; from traditional Bahian cuisine, to exquisite French cuisine, Italian canteens, Mexican tacos, sushi and sashimi, as well as the always welcome homemade food.
The seed necklaces made by the Indians are mixed with hippie props and beautiful works of art in stones and wood.
A hotspot for young people, the night has no time to end. Surrounded by the Atlantic Forest and cliffs by the sea, Arraial seduces not only by its natural beauty, but by the tropical climate and its discreet and elegant charm, toasted by the sun that reigns absolute all year round.
4. Trancoso
It is a quiet, charming, preserved village, with a young and globalized frequency.
Founded at the beginning of the Portuguese colonization by the Jesuits as an indigenous village for the catechization of the Indians with the name of “São João dos Índios”.
A few years ago, it ceased to be the rustic and isolated village, discovered by the hippes in the 70s to become the tourist destination of the antenados and vips.
The calmness is still in the air, but now it is mixed with the small town way.
The Quadrado, the large square in the center of the village, framed by colorful houses and the little white church in the background, remains the heart of the place and where everything happens.
In the simple and colorful houses of the Quadrado, today there are bars, restaurants, stylish inns, craft shops and boutiques of famous brands.
All the charm of this village is surrounded by beautiful beaches and an exuberant nature with a mild climate all year round.
Bahia.ws is the largest travel and tourism guide for Bahia and Salvador.
Travel and Tourism Guide to the Tourist Spots in Porto Seguro, Cabrália, Arraial D’ajuda and Trancoso
