Tourism in Bahia stands out because the state is one of Brazil’s main tourist centres.
Bahia’s immense diversity of scenery, cultural traditions and attractions has allowed it to be divided into tourist zones, each of which is named after its main physical and thematic identity.
The following map illustrates the tourist zones in the state of Bahia.
Bahia’s Tourist Areas
1. Baia de Todos os Santos
The main gateway for tourists visiting Bahia, this tourist area involves the state capital (Salvador), as well as the municipalities of Cachoeira, Itaparica, Jaguaripe, Madre de Deus, Maragojipe, Nazaré, Salinas de Margarida, Santo Amaro, São Félix, São Francisco do Conde, Saubara and Vera Cruz.
Rich in traditions and popular festivals, the Baía de Todos os Santos is a true cultural melting pot that uniquely combines European, indigenous and Afro-Brazilian elements.
Gastronomy, music, theatre and a vast historical heritage are some of the attractions of this tourist area, which is also home to natural beauty such as islands covered in native vegetation and preserved mangroves. The Bay itself, which lends it its name, stands out as an element of integration and access, offering excellent conditions for navigation and leisure.
Baía de Todos os Santos is served by Salvador International Airport, which is authorised to operate aircraft of any size, and by a single-engine airport in Itaparica.
It has a seaport for passengers in Salvador and ferry terminals between Salvador and Itaparica. It also has regular air, road and sea transport services.
View the map of Baía de Todos os Santos
2. Costa dos Coqueiros
Made up of municipalities located to the north of the Bahian capital (Camaçari, Conde, Entre Rios, Esplanada, Jandaíra, Lauro de Freitas and Mata de São João), the Costa dos Coqueiros is one of the most sought-after tourist areas in the state, home to well-known destinations such as Praia do Forte, Costa do Sauípe (the largest set of resorts in South America), Imbassaí and Mangue Seco.
Served by Salvador International Airport and the Linha Verde ecological route (parallel to the coast), the Costa dos Coqueiros is easily accessible and served by a variety of flight options.
With electricity, drinking water, sanitation and telecommunications services, this region has been attracting hotel developments integrated with high-end residential condominiums. Its small beach towns are home to inns, restaurants, shops and other tourist support services.
In addition to the vast coconut groves that adorn its almost 200 kilometres of coastline, the Costa dos Coqueiros is rich in stunning landscapes, framed by rivers, lagoons, small waterfalls and mangroves, forming a rich and diverse ecosystem.
Dendê Coast
Located south of Salvador, in an area adjacent to the Bay of All Saints, the Costa do Dendê is made up of the municipalities of Cairu, Camamu, Igrapiúna, Ituberá, Maraú, Nilo Peçanha, Taperoá and Valença. As its name suggests, it is here that the cultivation of the dendê palm, which gives rise to one of the basic ingredients of the popular Bahian cuisine – dendê oil – is concentrated.
Due to its geographical formation (jagged coastline), the Dendê Coast offers ideal conditions for practising a variety of nautical activities aimed at leisure and sport.
Filled with deserted beaches, archipelagos, historical relics and small villages, the region preserves unspoilt natural landscapes, as well as significant folklore and craft production. The natural scenery includes more than 100 kilometres of beaches, three large islands and Camamu Bay.
Valença Airport can handle Boeing 737 aircraft, and there is also a single-engine runway in Morro de São Paulo and another on the Maraú Peninsula.
Other modes of transport such as road and sea transport are also offered regularly in the region, which has electricity, drinking water, sanitation and telecommunications services in several places.
View the Costa dos Coqueiros map
3. Cacao Coast
Comprising the municipalities of Canavieiras, Ilhéus, Itacaré, Santa Luzia, Una and Uruçuca, this region became world famous through the stories of love and adventure told by Jorge Amado.
Producer of the fruit that gives rise to chocolate, the Cocoa Coast, which for a long time stood out for its wealth and prosperity, is still home to considerable architectural heritage from the golden age of cocoa farming.
The cocoa exploitation model – which used native vegetation to provide shade for the cocoa plantations – also contributed to the preservation of significant remnants of the Atlantic Forest, which are now part of Environmental Conservation Units.
In addition to 200 kilometres of clear sandy beaches and warm waters, the region’s scenery is complemented by rivers, lagoons, waterfalls and caves. It also preserves distinctive popular traditions.
The airports at Ilhéus and Comandatuba (private) are capable of handling Boeing 737 aircraft, while the one at Canavieiras can handle small planes.
The region also has the Ilhéus Sea Port and paved roads that serve several neighbouring towns. There are regular air and road transport services, electricity, drinking water, sanitation and telecommunications.
4. Discovery Coast
Considered the cradle of Brazilian history and civilisation, the Discovery Coast-formed by the municipalities of Belmonte, Porto Seguro and Santa Cruz Cabrália-offers an unparalleled array of historical and natural attractions.
The second largest tourist destination in the state, it has the most extensive hotel network in Bahia. The region is home to a preserved historical-architectural complex that dates back to the dawn of Brazilian history, as well as stunning ecosystems and landscapes, including beaches, cliffs, mangroves, rivers and remnants of the Atlantic Forest.
The region is home to three national parks – Descobrimento, Monte Pascoal and Pau Brasil – as well as environmental protection areas and indigenous reserves. Indigenous handicrafts and traditions such as the reisado, pastoral dances, mast pulling and mandus are preserved elements of the rich and diverse local culture.
The Costa do Descobrimento has an international airport in Porto Seguro, as well as paved roads linking the region’s main towns and allowing regular air and road transport services. It is supplied with electricity, drinking water, sanitation and telecommunications in several locations.
View the Costa do Descobrimento map
5. Costa das Baleias
Comprising the municipalities of Alcobaça, Caravelas, Mucuri, Nova Viçosa and Prado, the main tourist attraction of the Costa das Baleias is the annual migration of humpback whales to the coast of the extreme south of the state, which can be seen in the Abrolhos National Marine Park.
This beautiful spectacle is combined with the region’s extensive and diverse underwater geography, ideal for scuba diving and other water sports, as well as other land-based Conservation Units and Portuguese-influenced folklore traditions.
The region also has other attractions, such as the Descobrimento National Park, the Barra do Cahy region – the place where Cabral’s squadron first landed to supply water – and the Franz Krajcberg Ecological Museum, a cultural space located in Nova Viçosa.
The Costa das Baleias has a basic infrastructure that includes airports in Caravelas and Teixeira de Freitas (for small aircraft), roads, electricity, water supply and telecommunications services, as well as companies that cater for nautical tourism and ecotourism.
View the Costa das Baleias map
6. Chapada Diamantina
Divided into four circuits – Chapada Norte, Circuito do Ouro, Circuito do Diamante and Chapada Velha – the Chapada Diamantina is one of Bahia’s most extensive tourist areas. Located in the central region of Bahia, the municipalities included in these circuits have their history linked to important moments in national life, such as the exploitation of mining in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.
The scenery of this region, world-famous for its rich biodiversity, is made up of mountainous landscapes, free falls, underground lakes, as well as a large number of springs, rapids, canyons and caves that make it an excellent place for practising adventure tourism and ecological tourism. Its main attraction is the Chapada Diamantina National Park.
It is served by Lençóis Airport, which can handle aircraft the size of a Boeing 737, and is crossed by paved roads to the main natural areas.
It has regular road transport services and electricity, drinking water and telecommunications services in several locations.
View the Chapada Diamantina map
Circuits in the Chapada Diamantina
- Diamante:<nbsp;Its main attractions are its rich historical heritage, the Chapada Diamantina National Park, the Capão Valley, as well as relics from the opulent days of diamond mining, waterfalls and rivers. Main destination: Lençóis
- Gold: It is home to a great diversity of natural, historical and cultural attractions, such as waterfalls, natural pools, rapids, limestone caves and cave paintings. The Gruta das Mangabeiras stands out. Main destination: Rio de Contas.
- Chapada Norte: It has a peculiar geography, with caves, waterfalls and rivers protected by Conservation Units, as well as archaeological sites, cultural traditions and typical regional cuisine. It has low temperatures and high altitude. Main destinations: Jacobina and Morro do Chapéu.
- Chapada Velha: In addition to its natural attractions, the region preserves historical characteristics and customs that are manifested in traditional regional festivals. Main destination: Gentio do Ouro.
7. São Francisco Lakes
Characterised by the influence of the River São Francisco, this tourist area is made up of the municipalities of Abaré, Casa Nova, Curaçá, Glória, Juazeiro, Paulo Afonso, Remanso, Rodelas, Santa Brígida and Sobradinho, and its main attractions are fishing and water sports in general.
Among its main attractions are the natural monuments, dams and hydroelectric power stations and the culture of the sertaneja, while the irrigated fruit-growing centre and wine-growing are attracting agri-tourism.
In addition to these attractions, there are physiographic features that allow the practice of different types of extreme sports (abseiling, canyoning, zip-lining, bungie-jumping and base-jumping, hang-gliding, climbing and rallies, among others), which have generated a significant tourist flow to the region.
The basic infrastructure of the São Francisco Lakes includes the airports of Paulo Afonso and Petrolina, motorways and electricity, sanitation and telecommunications services.
View the Lagos de São Francisco map
8. Paths of the West
Located on the left bank of the São Francisco River, this region is made up of the municipalities of Barreiras, Bom Jesus da Lapa, Correntina, Santana, Santa Maria da Vitória, São Félix do Coribe and São Desidério.
Considered attractive for its exotic landscapes, this tourist area has seen significant economic growth, driven by significant advances in its agro-industrial segment, notably grain production.
It is also considered one of the richest in water resources in the north-east of Brazil, with the Branco, Corrente, Ondas and Grande rivers standing out. In addition to these characteristics, there is a tourist potential that is revealed in the presence of mountains, waterfalls, caves, rivers with rapids and river beaches, favouring the development of the nature segment in its various forms.
It has Barreiras and Bom Jesus da Lapa airports, an extensive road network linking the main towns in the region, as well as electricity, sanitation and telecommunications services.
View the Caminhos do Oeste map
9. Jiquiriçá Valley
Located around 150 kilometres west of Salvador, this new tourist area is made up of the municipalities of Jiquiriçá, Laje, Mutuípe, Santa Inês, Ubaíra and Amargosa.
With its beautiful waterfalls, rivers, mountains, exuberant flora and fauna, the valley attracts visitors who are looking for contact with nature, whether for simple contemplation or to practise nature sports such as horse riding, trekking, canoeing and fishing.
The historical and cultural heritage, the region’s rich handicrafts and rural tourism are also important attractions.
The region has paved roads linking its main towns, as well as regular road transport services, electricity, drinking water and telecommunications.
Comprising the municipalities of Feira de Santana, Candeal, Serrinha, Teofilândia, Araci, Tucano, Cipó, Nova Soure, Itapicuru, Ribeira do Pombal, Banzaê, Euclides da Cunha, Monte Santo, Uauá and Canudos, this new tourist zone is still in the structuring phase, although it is already attracting tourist flows on a regular basis.
It has a strong vocation for religious and historical-cultural tourism, especially in the municipalities of Monte Santo and Canudos, which were the scene of a social movement led by Antônio Conselheiro – an episode that culminated in the so-called “Canudos War”, the historical importance of which led to the creation of the Canudos Historical Park.
Thermalism is another strong attraction in the region, especially in Cipó and Tucano, where two hydro-mineral resorts are located.
The region has paved access between the main towns, as well as regular road transport services, electricity, drinking water and telecommunications.
Bahia.ws is the largest travel and tourism guide for Bahia and Salvador.
