Exploring the Mysteries of Ilha do Medo in Todos os Santos Bay

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Ilha do Medo na Baía de Todos os Santos
Ilha do Medo in Baía de Todos os Santos

The Ilha do Medo in the Todos os Santos Bay is full of mysteries and stories of hauntings.

The small island is one of the 56 islands that make up the Todos os Santos Bay archipelago, located in the Brazilian state of Bahia.

Since 1991, Ilha do Medo and its surroundings have been part of the Ilha do Medo Ecological Station, making it the first ecological station in Todos os Santos Bay.

Ilha do Medo na Baía de Todos os Santos
Ilha do Medo

With a total area of 12,000 m², the small island is unpopulated and also belongs to the APA of Baía de Todos os Santos.

Ilha do Medo is an island that arouses curiosity because of its intriguing name. Despite its frightening name, Ilha do Medo is rich in history and nature, and the ‘fear’ probably refers to ancient legends and stories linked to the place, which may have involved pirates, shipwrecks or mystical events over the centuries.

The island has dense vegetation, with mangroves and preserved areas that harbour a rich biodiversity. Although it is less well known and visited than other islands in Todos os Santos Bay, such as Ilha de Maré or Ilha de Itaparica, Ilha do Medo offers a wilder and more mysterious environment, attracting explorers and nature lovers.

It can usually be reached by private boat from Salvador or other locations in Todos os Santos Bay. As it is a less inhabited and touristy island, those who visit Ilha do Medo are looking for tranquillity, contact with nature and, of course, to unravel the mysteries that surround the place.

Administratively, it is part of the municipality of Itaparica. It is situated to the north of the island of Itaparica.

See the map of Todos os Santos Bay

Watch the video about Ilha do Medo

Ilha do Medo na Baía de Todos os Santos

History and legends of Ilha do Medo

Ilha do Medo has no fresh water source, which is why it has remained uninhabited. In the 19th century, it was used for military purposes and as a leper colony, the ruins of which still stand.

The origin of the name is shrouded in mystery.

One version says that it originated because it was haunted by the ghost of a priest from Itaparica who, having refused to celebrate a mass, stayed on the island after his death, inviting any visitors to stay and watch the celebration of which he was a prisoner.

Other versions say that they are the souls of the sick who were confined there.

An older account says that the Bay ‘s fishermen feared the island because they heard screams and howls at night. Their stories evoked the souls of the Dutch who had invaded Bahia and stayed on the island.

Mapa da Ilha de Itaparica
Mapa da Ilha de Itaparica

It is also said that a fisherman saw a diabolical woman who was spewing fire out of her mouth. After reporting what had happened, the fisherman was mute.

The island’s ‘hauntings’ are said to be lepers who lived in an asylum in the 19th century. The fearless can hire a boat at Ponta de Itaparica and check it out.

Tourist guide to Bahia and the Northeast

 

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