Todos os Santos Bay is the second largest bay in the world and the largest on the Brazilian coast.

Discovered on 1st November 1501, the bay was named to coincide with All Saints Day.

Located in the state of Bahia, Todos os Santos Bay is a depression in the Brazilian coastline, the second largest in the world after the Gulf of Bengal and the largest in Brazil.

To give you an idea of its size, the area of the bay is roughly equivalent to the municipality of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s second largest metropolis.

The wide and deep bay enchanted navigators, pirates and colonisers and attracted the interest of the Portuguese government as an excellent natural anchorage and strategic point of defence, with fresh water and fertile land.

Salvador, the cradle of Portuguese colonial civilisation in the Americas, became the largest export port in the southern hemisphere, sending Bolivian silver and Brazilian sugar to Europe. This port was also the main destination for African slaves brought to the New World.

With a penetration of 80 kilometres into the continent, Todos os Santos Bay has 300 kilometres of coastline and is actually a small gulf made up of three bays. The most prominent of these is Aratu Bay, home to the Port of Aratu and the Landulfo Alves Refinery.

On its shores lies one of the largest oil reserves on the Brazilian mainland.

From one end to the other, the bay is 14 kilometres wide, with about 9 kilometres between Ponta da Penha and Ponta de Itaparica.

The eastern edge of Todos os Santos Bay is marked by the Salvador Escarpment, a steep tectonic escarpment and the most notable example of a crystalline edge of a coastal tectonic trench in South America. Because of the panoramic views offered by this escarpment, Salvador is known as the City of Belvederes.

Todos os Santos Bay is home to 56 islands, including Ilha de Itaparica (the largest), Ilha da Maré, Ilha dos Frades, Ilha Cajaíba, Ilha da Bimbarra, Ilha das Vacas, Ilha das Canas, Ilha de Bom Jesus and Ilha do Medo.

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Ilha Bimbarras na Bahia03:40

Ilha de Bom Jesus dos Passos

Ilha dos Frades - Guia de Turismo07:13

Baía de Todos os Santos - Reportagem

Ilha dos Frades - Praias e Trilhas

Ilha de Itaparica - Praia da Penha04:04

Ilha de Itaparica - Barra do Gil04:47

Ilha de Itaparica - Drone02:55

Madre de Deus BA08:48

Ilha da Maré - Praia das Neves03:23

Ilha da Maré - Reportagem

Ilha de Matarandiba02:15

Ilha do Medo na Baía de Todos os Santos22:16

Ilha das Vacas na Bahia01:58

Ilha das Canas na Bahia04:54

Main islands in Todos os Santos Bay

1. Bimbarras Island

A mix of paradisiacal beaches, mangroves, preserved Atlantic forest, pastures and, as an extra show, a daily flock of multicoloured birds. Such is the lush landscape of this island, which has been declared a Sanctuary by Ibama for its beauty and biodiversity.

It combines low-intensity tourism with the routine of a productive farm in the centre of the island.

As it is privately owned, visitors must book in advance to enjoy the unspoilt beauty of its private and deserted beaches. Access is only by private boats and schooners. Romantic, good for diving, water sports and children.

2. Bom Jesus dos Passos Island

The Island of Bom Jesus dos Passos is located between the Islands of Madre de Deus and Ilha dos Frades. Covered by forests and mangroves, it has a calm blue sea, ideal for bathing, fishing and water sports.

The island has a large camping area which attracts bathers, who mainly go to the Pontinha and Ponta do Padre beaches.

The Church of Bom Jesus dos Passos, built in 1776, is one of the main local attractions and gives the island its name. The destination is considered romantic, great for diving, water sports and also suitable for children.

With 1,465 inhabitants, Bom Jesus dos Passos has the smallest population of the three islands of Salvador and is characterised by its religiosity.

The island can be reached by boat from Madre de Deus, 65 kilometres from Salvador.

The local church was built in 1766 and is maintained by the Brotherhood of Senhor Bom Jesus dos Passos, founded in 1815. Every January, the island celebrates a huge Festival in honour of Bom Jesus dos Passos, which lasts for 20 days.

Most of the locals live from subsistence farming and fishing for fish and shellfish. For those wishing to spend more time on the island, the campsite is a great place to stay and enjoy the surroundings.

3. Frades Island

Ilha dos Frades, one of the smallest islands in Todos os Santos Bay, is also one of the most important for its biodiversity and preserved Atlantic Forest. Its first inhabitants were the Tupinambás Indians.

It is said that after a shipwreck, the monks who arrived on the island were eaten by the natives, giving the island its name. With a coastline of 8 kilometres, the island has beaches with calm seas and clear waters.

The best beaches are

• Loreto, where the Church of Our Lady of Loreto is located, with calm waters ideal for swimming;
• Paramana, a fishing village;
• Tobar, a deserted beach with reefs;
• Ponta de Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe, famous for its lobster served as an aperitif, and a lively beach ideal for snorkelling, water sports and children.

From the top of the Church of Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe you can see the calm waters around Ilha dos Frades, an eight-kilometre-long paradise. Shaped like a 15-pointed star, each point is home to a beach.

For those departing from the Terminal Náutico do Comércio, the island is reached via the Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe beach. Other popular beaches include

• Loreto, with calm, transparent waters in the middle of the forest and home to the church of the same name;
• Viração, surrounded by dense vegetation and reefs;
• Paramana, with its charming fishing village.

The beach of Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe is famous for its local cuisine, especially fish, lobster and prawns. Among the attractions of Ilha dos Frades are two historic churches: Nossa Senhora do Loreto and Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe, both from the 17th century.

For those who wish to spend more time on the island, there are small inns with breakfast that offer a complete experience in this historical, tourist and architectural monument of Bahia.

4. Itaparica Island

Itaparica Island, the largest in Todos os Santos Bay, has about 246 square kilometres of bush vegetation, mangroves and beautiful beaches. With a 40 kilometre coastline, the island is 14 kilometres from Salvador and is connected to the mainland by the Funil Bridge, which provides easy access to the city of Itaparica.

In addition to road access, the island can also be reached by sea from Salvador. Surrounded by reefs, its waters are mostly calm, with crystal clear beaches surrounded by native forest and coconut groves.

The centre of the island has historic villas, as well as fishing villages and descendants of the region’s native Indians.

The most popular beaches are

• Ponta de Areia, the most structured, starting point for trips to other islands;
• Ponta do Mocambo, a cove with difficult access, known as an unofficial nudist beach;
• Penha, located in a luxury condominium and frequented by the owners;
• Cacha Pregos, from where boats leave for the Pantanal Baiano.

Itaparica Island is a busy, romantic destination, ideal for diving, water sports and families with children.

5. Island of Madre de Deus

In 1989, the island of Madre de Deus, formerly a district of Salvador, gained its emancipation and became a municipality. With the installation of the Petrobras oil bases, the population of the island increased, which boosted its development.

The island has almost all urbanised beaches, characterised by calm seas and crystal clear waters. The only exception is Ponta do Suapé, which is unsuitable for swimming due to the dangerous sea. Madre de Deus is a busy destination, ideal for surfing, diving, water sports and suitable for children.

6. Maré Island

Ilha da Maré, located in the centre of Todos os Santos Bay, belongs to the municipality of Salvador and covers an area of about 14 km². Its landscape consists of Atlantic forest, mangroves, coconut groves and several beaches. The island retains a primitive character and is divided into villages whose inhabitants live mainly from fishing and handicrafts. The local handicrafts are famous for their bobbin lace.

The most important beaches are

• Itamoabo, famous for its jeguetour;
• Neves, where you’ll find the historic 16th century Church of Nossa Senhora das Neves;
• Botelho, which has excellent views over Todos os Santos Bay.

Ilha da Maré is also an old fishing village, famous for its peguarí, an abundant mollusc used in the famous peguarí moqueca, a local speciality.

Access to the island is via the São Tomé de Paripe Waterway Terminal, on the outskirts of Salvador, and the crossing takes about 45 minutes. Another attraction is the bobbin lace makers, who make cloths, table runners and lace waistcoats, products much appreciated by tourists.

Curiously, Ilha da Maré is the place with the highest percentage of black population in Salvador, with about 93 per cent of its 4,236 inhabitants being black, according to Joilson Rodrigues Souza of the IBGE. For those wishing to extend their stay, there are pousadas with privileged views of Todos os Santos Bay.

7. Matarantiba Island

Ilha da Maré is also known for the Tororó Fountain, one of its main natural attractions. This fountain is a waterfall between the rocks that flows directly into the sea at high tide.

At low tide, a freshwater spring forms on the beach, surrounded by dense vegetation and mangroves, offering a unique experience of nature.

Another outstanding beach is Praia da Barra Falsa, with its white sand dunes and emerald-green waters, which are clear and ideal for swimming. A popular spot for surfers and bodyboarders, it also attracts visitors interested in the island’s ecological tours, which offer the chance to explore the local biodiversity.

8. Island of fear

Ilha do Medo, located in the bay of Todos os Santos, is surrounded by stories and legends that fascinate its visitors. In the 19th century, the island was used as a military refuge and a quarantine for lepers, who were isolated there.

Because of this, many stories tell of souls wandering the island, such as that of a priest condemned to wander after refusing to say a paid mass. Another oft-told story is that of a fisherman who, after seeing a mysterious creature spewing fire from its mouth, became mute forever.

Despite the legends, the island is an Environmental Protection Area, covered in restinga vegetation and mangrove trees. As there are no fresh water sources, the island remains uninhabited, leaving its nature almost untouched.

9. Cow Island

Ilha das Vacas, a private and virtually uninhabited island in the bay of Todos os Santos, stands out for its tranquillity and unique landscape.

10. Island of Canas

Ilha das Canas is one of the least inhabited islands in the Baía de Todos os Santos and is characterised by its tranquillity and natural beauty.

The island is almost uninhabited, making it an ideal refuge for those seeking direct contact with nature and an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Its beaches, with calm waters and unspoilt landscapes, are perfect for activities such as diving and exploring its rich biodiversity.

The peaceful and unspoilt environment makes Ilha das Canas an attractive destination for those who appreciate the tranquillity and beauty of nature.

Main islands in Todos os Santos Bay

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