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The municipality of Prado, in Bahia, offers paradisiacal beaches and a unique experience of relaxation and adventure, ranging from whale watching in Abrolhos to hiking on Mount Pascoal.

Located on the Costa das Baleias, Prado is the municipality with the largest tourist infrastructure in the region.

Municipality of Prado, Bahia

The municipality of Prado, in Bahia, has several towns and districts by the sea, some of the best known being:

1. Prado – The main town, with beaches and tourist infrastructure.
2. Cumuruxatiba – One of the most popular destinations, with quiet, unspoilt beaches.
3. Corumbau – Famous for its tranquillity and natural beauty, with deserted beaches and crystal-clear waters.
4. Barra do Cahy – Historic site with access to the Monte Pascoal National Park.
5. Ponta do Corumbau – A region known for its coral reefs and natural pools.

These districts are among the main coastal attractions in the municipality of Prado, offering natural beauty and various leisure options.

1. History and culture

The city of Prado was founded in 1755, Prado retains its 18th century houses, cobbled streets and historic churches.

2. Natural beauty

With 84 kilometres of beaches, the Prado coastline is a spectacle of diversity:

• Imposing cliffs of varying colours and rare beauty.
• Mangrove areas, freshwater lagoons, streams and waterfalls.
• Beaches fringed by coconut groves and natural pools.

3. Highlights

• Near the village of Cumuruxatiba, the Cahy River marks the spot where the Portuguese of Cabral’s squadron first came into contact with the native Brazilians.
• The Tororão waterfall, the Cumuruxatiba seaside resort and the Corumbau fishing village are among the most popular attractions.
• Schooner trips offer unforgettable moments of connection with nature.

4. Historical Heritage

Prado is situated on the border between the Costa do Descobrimento and the Costa das Baleias, and its history records the first contact between the Indians and Pedro Álvares Cabral ‘s fleet , at the mouth of the Cahy river, before arriving in Porto Seguro.

Even after more than 500 years, the scenery of the Cahy River still preserves the essence of the Brazil of the early years:

• The same winds, seas and clouds.
• White beaches, rivers flowing into the ocean, green forests and lush mangroves.
• Cliffs that vary between shades of ochre, beige and red, with undergrowth at some points.

5. Urban charm

Prado’s colonial streets, narrow and paved with cobblestones, are home to:

• Charming homes.
• Cosylittle shops and bars.
• Fine dining restaurants, offering a unique experience for visitors.

With its combination of history, culture and natural beauty, Prado is a perfect destination for those looking to enjoy the best of Bahia’s South Coast.

Videos about the municipality of Prado and Abrolhos in Bahia

Tourist attractions in the municipality of Prado

1. Beaches (from north to south)

1. Corumbau Beach
2. Tauá Beach
3. Barra do Cahy Beach
4. Calambrião Beach
5. Imbassuaba Beach
6. Moreira Beach
7. Rio do Peixe Pequeno and Grande Beach
8. Cumuruxatiba Beach
9. Dois Irmãos Beach
10. Areia Preta Beach
11. Japara Pequena Beach
12. Oyster Beach
13. Tororão Beach
14. Paixão Beach
15. Viçosa (or Amendoeira) Beach
16. Farol Beach
17. Lagoa Pequena and Grande Beach
18. Prado Beach
19. Barra Beach
20. Quati Beach
21. Guaratiba Beach

Prado is located about two hours from Porto Seguro. The small town of Prado has 84 kilometres of quiet, practically deserted beaches, as well as 30-metre high cliffs located on the strip of sand known as Praia da Paixão (Passion Beach), from where the more adventurous take paragliding flights.

Another very famous beach is Cumuruxatiba, from where boat trips depart to see humpback whales, which appear off the coast of Bahia between June and November.

Most of Prado‘s beaches have a similar setting: cliffs, coconut palms and streams.

Quiet is constant at Praia do Quati, which has no infrastructure whatsoever.

On the other hand, on the beaches of Paixão, Prado and Novo Prado, the buzz is guaranteed by the stalls and kiosks. In the middle ground is Tororão, a quiet beach with just one kiosk.

1. Corumbau Beach

Its main feature is a long (1.5 kilometre) reef point that juts out into the sea and disappears when the tide rises.

The place has a lighthouse, a fishing village, mangroves and lots of coconut trees. It‘s an excellent area for snorkelling (at Recife dos Itacolomis, accessible by boat) and fishing.

2. Tauá Beach

With fine white sand, cliffs and lots of coconut trees.

3. Barra do Cahy Beach

Bay with cliffs and reasonably strong waves. Dark sand (monazite), fine and soft. Ideal for bass fishing, especially when travelling up the gentle Rio Caí by boat.

4. Calambrião Beach

Similar to the previous one. Access via a farm

5. Imbassuaba Beach

Cove with weak waves, deserted, with cliffs, coconut and almond trees on the fine, dark sand. Suitable for angling, kayaking and windsurfing.

6. Moreira Beach

Similar to the previous one. Access via a farm.

7. Rio do Peixe Pequeno and Grande Beach

This beach is located next to a stream with clear waters. It has gentle waves and fine white sand.

8. Cumuruxatiba Beach

A cove with beaten sand, weak waves and shallow water (good for kayaking) and the coast is cut by reefs.

In the under-resourced village of Cumuruxatiba, there is an abandoned pier 650 metres long. Schooner trips leave from there to the Pataxós Reefs and Ponta do Corumbau. There are several inns, two campsites and many bars.

A village of just over 4,000 inhabitants on the south coast of Bahia, between Prado and Porto Seguro. A tropical paradise that still preserves its natural beauty, local culture, roots and customs.

A place of beautiful beaches, but also of excellent cuisine. From the capoeira circles in the square to the indigenous influence that gives the fishing village its face and shape.

9. Dois Irmãos Beach

A700 metre cove, beaten by weak waves, popular for windsurfing and kayaking. It has very fine monazite sand and cliffs.

10. Areia Preta Beach

It lies in a cove with weak waves, where the stream of the same name flows into it. It has a high concentration of monazite sands (dark) which contrast with the pale yellow of the rocks and cliffs (up to 30 metres high).

11. Japara Pequena Beach

Cliffs and mangroves make it difficult to access this cove with calm waters and monazite sands. Good for snorkelling and fishing.

12. Oyster Beach

Open sea, beaten by weak waves and with a wide strip of clear, fine sand, cut by several streams. Good for windsurfing.

13. Tororão Beach

A cove with green waters and fine, clear sand. A small waterfall runs straight down to the beach on one of the stretches of its impressive cliffs.

14. Passion Beach

A suggestive name for this small cove with shallow, calm and warm waters. It has reefs next to the clear, soft sand, cliffs, rocks and a stream. It is close to the snack stalls, accessed by a footbridge over the stream. There are also guesthouses nearby.

15. Viçosa (or Amendoeira) Beach

A solitary almond tree marks this straight beach of light, soft sand with cliffs all around. It’s an excellent spot for bass fishing.

16. Lighthouse Beach

Extensive, with greyish sand and a small stream to the north. There is a lighthouse and stretches with cliffs and reefs.

Trekking enthusiasts start their hikes from the local campsite to the town of Santa Cruz Cabrália. There are hotels, inns and camping sites.

17. Lagoa Pequena and Grande beaches

Straight beaches with rough waves hitting the fine white sand. The area is undergoing increasing urbanisation and has snack stalls along the shore. There is a hotel in Lagoa Pequena.

18. Prado Beach

This is a 2 kilometre stretch of soft, golden sand with a sea of big waves, which becomes dangerous in the middle of the year due to the strong winds.

The area has inns, restaurants, bars and straw parasols with tables and benches. To the north is Novo Prado, the nearest neighbourhood, which also has a good infrastructure of inns, places to eat and camping sites.

19. Barra Beach

It is beaten by strong waves, decorated by a few coconut trees and has fine white sand. To reach it, you have to cross the Jucuruçu River.

20. Quati Beach

This cove with calm, shallow waters has restinga vegetation and coconut palms on fine, loose sand. The sea is rich in octopuses and lobsters.

21. Guaratiba Beach

A long, unshaded 3 kilometrecove with soft, golden sand, beaten by crashing waves. It is a deserted beach, with the exception of simple fishermen‘s houses.

2. Other tourist attractions in the municipality of Prado

As well as beaches, the municipality of Prado offers a variety of tourist activities.

Options to include in your itinerary:

1. Barra do Cahy
2. Corumbau
3. Humpback whales
4. Monte Pascoal
5. Abrolhos Archipelago
6. Boat trip in Corumbau
7. Reefs in Guaratiba

1. Barra do Cahy

Barra do Cahy is a historic place; it was at the mouth of this river that the Portuguese of Cabral ‘s squadron refuelled themselves with drinking water and had their first contact with the Indians, before arriving in Porto Seguro.

The exuberant nature motivates hiking or horse riding along trails and boat trips upriver, observing the mangroves, birds and vegetation.

Nearby, at Fazenda Cahy, there is a bar and restaurant. It is 52 km from the centre of Prado and 20 km from Cumuruxatiba.

2. Corumbau

The village of Corumbau is bustling during the summer, when groups of all ages arrive by boat from the Costa do Descobrimento and Costa das Baleias.

The name Corumbau means, in Tupi-Guarani, ‘far away from everything’, ‘the end of the world and the beginning of the earth’ or ‘adistant place’. In other words, it’s the perfect place to hide away in the low season.

In high season, it’s very busy; you meet people from all over, your favourite artist and sometimes even someone you don’t expect, like that clingywork colleague…

The village is on the border with the municipality of Porto Seguro. You can go kayaking on the river, visit the Monte Pascoal National Park, the village of Caraíva or take an excursion to dive in the Pataxó and Itacolomis corals.

In Corumbau, due to the large differences between high and low tide, the reefs are exposed at low tide and submerged at high tide. It is 88 km from the centre of Prado. To get there, take the BR-489 to Guarani and then drive 56 km on a dirt road.

3. Humpback whales

Prado is in the region known as the Whale Coast, a maritime-ecological sanctuary. Humpback whales begin to appear in mid-June and stay until October.

You can watch humpback whales from the seafront or on a boat trip from Prado or the districts of Cumuruxatiba and Corumbau.

4. Mount Pascoal

‘Land in sight! They say that Monte Pascoal is the piece of land that Pedro Álvares Cabral spotted when he was arriving on the Brazilian coast.

You can start your tour at this historic attraction with its magnificent landscapes.

The destination is 80 kilometres from Prado. You can visit the Monte Pascoal National and Historical Park and hike up the mountain, which takes around 2 hours. Another option is to take the Rue Trail or the Jendiba Interpretive Trail.

5. Abrolhos Archipelago

The Abrolhos Archipelago is the most popular attraction in Prado.

The Abrolhos National Marine Park is located in Caravelas, from where the boats leave. On the ICMBio website, you can check out the authorised companies and other information. You’ll have the opportunity to dive in one of Brazil’s most beautiful archipelagos. Whales can sometimes be seen along the way.

6. Boat trip in Corumbau

At Ponta do Corumbau, take a boat trip to visit the Itacolomi coral reefs and dive into natural pools with clear waters and lots of little fish. The Pataxó and Carapeba Reefs are also worth a visit.

7. Reefs in Guaratiba

Guaratiba beach offers one of the best activities in the region.

Take a boat trip to discover the destination’s reefs and go snorkelling. It takes around 5 hours, including a 40-minute journey.

What to do in Prado at night?

Beco das Garrafas is Prado‘s most famous street. Some blocks are closed to pedestrians only.

You’ll find great restaurants, bars and, on selected days, live music. Families and young people frequent this gastronomic hotspot in Prado.

When is the best time to go to Prado?

From January to January! If you know the south of Bahia, you should know that the sun hardly ever disappears there.

In winter, there are a few rain showers. If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle, avoid the high season in December, January and Carnival. For those who like to try new dishes, it’s worth visiting Prado during the Gastronomic Festival in October.

Tourist Guide to Prado on the Whale Coast

Tourist Guide to Prado in Bahia