Towns, beaches and the Abrolhos Archipelago in the far south of Bahia

The towns, beaches and the Abrolhos Archipelago in the far south of Bahia, on the Costa das Baleias, form a tourist route that starts on the border between Bahia and Espírito Santo and goes as far south as Porto Seguro.

Anyone who thinks of whales in Brazil immediately remembers Abrolhos, a well-known marine park, and it is right in front of the archipelago that the towns that form part of this route are located.

Tourism along the coast takes in the towns of Prado, Alcobaça, Caravelas, Nova Viçosa and Mucuri, which have been exploited for just over a decade, guaranteeing well-preserved nature and many empty beaches.

Humpback whales, known for their docile temperament and average size of 13 metres, leave Antarctica, swim for around two months and arrive off the coast of Bahia in July, staying until the end of October or the beginning of November. But throughout the year, the region offers many attractions for visitors.

Starting with the colonial villages, churches and townhouses with tiled frontages of Portuguese ceramics, passing through mangroves, waterfalls and endless beaches until you reach the sea, which offers islands and beautiful dives in coral reefs, where you can also see sea turtles.

In Prado, with 50 kilometres of fine white sand and a greenish sea, there is no shortage of beaches to choose from. The best are Tororão, Paixão, Cumuruxatiba, Barra do Cahy and Flor do Caribe, but it’s also worth taking buggy rides through the dunes and boat trips to Recife do Guaratiba, where you can dive and snorkel.

For those looking for adventure, Alcobaça is the place to dive to see two shipwrecks, submerged at 27 and 12 metres, in the Parcel de Paredes coral reef.

With a well-equipped centre and a choice of restaurants by the sea, two beaches stand out for their structure: the one that bears the town’s name and Farol. If you’re looking for peace and quiet, Coqueiro, Zeloris and Barra do Itanhém, where the river enters the sea, are your options. From the town, you can reach some of the waterfalls by taking the road towards the border with Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo.

In Caravelas, you’ll find the visitor centre for the Abrolhos National Park, some historic mansions, and several boats leave from the port for trips and dives. On the beaches of Iemanjá and Grauça, there are a few stalls and more traffic than on Barra do Sul, which is more deserted.

Nova Viçosa is the best place to see churches and buildings from the 18th century. The parish church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição was built in 1733 and still stands on the same site. There is also the Nossa Senhora da Piedade church, the Ajuda church, the São Benedito church and the São Sebastião church, all in good condition. The old railway station is also a point of interest.

Born out of coffee plantations, Mucuri has a history and two attractions that make it unique in the region: the Costa Dourada beach, with its cliffs and natural pools, and the Malvinas and Pôr do Sol beaches, with Tamar Project bases and sea turtle nesting sites.

mapa da Costa das Baleias no extremo sul da Bahia

Cities, beaches and the Abrolhos Archipelago in the far south of Bahia

Mucuri
Nova Viçosa
Caravelas
Alcobaça
Prado
Cumuruxatiba

1. Mucuri

Mucuri, located at the southern end of the Costa das Baleias, enchants with its beaches and simplicity. The town, which stretches for 11 kilometres along the seafront, has rustic houses and bars that welcome visitors. Among the tourist highlights are the Gigica Walkway, the Blue Lagoon, the Costa Dourada Beach and the Mucuri River, which gives the town its name.

The former fishing village, sustained by fishing and subsistence farming, is now open to tourism, attracting visitors, especially from Minas Gerais, Goiás and Bahia. With 35 kilometres of unspoilt urban beaches, adorned by cliffs and coconut trees, Mucuri is home to places like Praia da Barra, Praia de Malvinas, Praia do Pôr-do-Sol and many others.

In the southern part, there is a TAMAR Project base, dedicated to protecting sea turtles. The town also offers a hostel, a restaurant with regional food, and a regional airport nearby.

Praia da Costa Dourada em Mucuri na Bahia

Access to Mucuri is via the BA-698 motorway, 66 km from Teixeira de Freitas, or 31 km from Nova Viçosa, via the BR-101 motorway, making it easy to reach this destination full of natural beauty and welcoming culture.

2. Nova Viçosa

The last town on the Costa das Baleias is Nova Viçosa, known for its seven enchanting beaches and the island of Coroa Vermelha, a perfect destination for snorkelling. Among the most popular beaches are Pau Fincado and Lugar Comum, often visited by beach volleyball enthusiasts.

Nova Viçosa na Bahia

For those who prefer tranquillity, the beaches of Sabacuí and Costa do Atlântico are ideal, being practically deserted and excellent for fishing for sea bass and prawns. Costa do Atlântico is also home to a charming fishing village.

About two hours by boat from Nova Viçosa, there are coral reefs that offer excellent diving conditions.

To the north, the island of Coroa Vermelha, with its breathtaking underwater views, is a must-see. This maritime region is on the way to the famous Abrolhos Marine Park, making Nova Viçosa a gateway to a true natural paradise.

2.1. Must-see excursions in and around Nova Viçosa

2.1.1. Abrolhos Archipelago

The first man to mention the Abrolhos Archipelago, Américo Vespúcio, the sage of the nautical arts who guided the 1503 expedition led by Gonçalves Coelho, was already concerned with recording the dangers in the area. It was he who wrote in a letter: ‘When you approach the land, OPEN YOUR EYES’. The name Abrolhos came from a corruption of this warning, with a good dose of Portuguese accent.

On 06/04/1983, 480 years after the discovery, Brazil’s first National Marine Park, Abrolhos, was created.

It is undoubtedly a blessed place, a true paradise on earth. The archipelago has a great diversity of marine fauna, with countless species of fish, molluscs, corals, sponges, sea turtles and much more.

In addition, it is home to a variety of birds (such as atobás, trinta-réis, fragatas, grazinas and beneditos). From July to November, the place offers a unique spectacle: the presence of humpback whales, which come to the area to breed.

2.1.2. Coroa Vermelha Island

Coroa Vermelha Island is a small, charming sandy island, located about 1.5 hours by schooner from the port of Nova Viçosa. Its main attraction lies in the peculiar formation of coral reefs, which make up the top of an ancient crown reef, emerging in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

Ilha de Coroa Vermelha na Bahia

At low tide, several natural pools appear, allowing the observation of exotic marine species such as colourful fish, seaweed, starfish and turtles, among others.

2.1.3. Barra Velha Island

An unforgettable encounter with nature, made up of mangroves, sandbanks and the Atlantic Rainforest.

Ilha de Barra Velha em Nova Viçosa

The tour includes a 15-minute speedboat ride along the Peruípe River, where you can see the famous mangrove islands, full of birds and a rich marine fauna. It’s a safe and perfect option for those who enjoy walks, trails and moments of privacy in the midst of nature.

2.2. Beaches

2.2.1. Common Place Beach

The urban beach is a real hotspot for young people, with weak, warm waves and white, beaten sand, surrounded by green coconut trees. It is one of the beaches most frequented by tourists and the local community, offering a lively and inviting atmosphere.

2.2.2. Pontal da Barra Beach

Close to the centre of Nova Viçosa, on Avenida Beira Mar, you’ll find this quiet beach, which has an anchorage for small boats. The turbid waters are caused by the Peruípe river, which flows into the sea, giving the place a unique charm.

2.2.3. Pau Fincado Beach

Thisstraight beach, located on the urban perimeter, with weak waves and beaten sand, is one of the most popular in the region. The place is home to snack stalls and wooden handicrafts, providing a pleasant experience for visitors.

2.2.4. Atlantic Coast Beach

Praia da Costa do Atlântico em Nova Viçosa

Adeserted beach with strong waves and lots of coconut palms, located far from the urban centre, it is a true refuge for sea turtles. Ideal for those who like sea bass and shrimp fishing, it offers tranquillity and direct contact with nature.

2.2.5. Sabacuí Beach

Located 2 kilometres from the resort, the beach offers clean waters and clear sand. Its cove with calm waves is extensive, with whelks scattered over fine, loose sand. The Sabacuí river meets the sea and forms large sand dunes. During the high season, the beach has huts that offer comfort to visitors.

3. Caravelas

The town of Caravelas is 870 kilometres from Salvador and 36 kilometres south of Prado, on the BA-001, on the banks of the Caravelas River, which meets the sea. Along the coast, close to the town, there are beautiful beaches such as Kitongo, Grauçá and Iemanjá, in Barra de Caravelas.

The town of Caravelas is known for its religious festivals, which attract thousands of devotees. Founded in 1503, it became an important commercial centre in the 17th and 18th centuries. Today, this charming colonial town and its neighbouring beaches are ideal places for leisure, attracting many tourists.

Caravelas na Bahia

To get to know the area, the best option is to take a boat trip to Coroa da Barra, situated on the banks of the Caravelas River, opposite Barra de Caravelas. From there, head south to discover the mangroves of Cassumba Island, as far as Nova Viçosa and Coroa Vermelha, a small island of coral origin 12 nautical miles from the city.

Caravelas is one of the three departure points for visiting the Abrolhos Archipelago and Parcel das Paredes, where you can see humpback whales from July to November.

Caravelas can be reached by car, bus or aeroplane. Its airport, which used to serve the region with flights from Salvador, Belo Horizonte and São Paulo, no longer receives tourists. The town offers comfortable hotel accommodation and good restaurants.

4. Alcobaça

Alcobaça is a small town in the south, 26 kilometres from Prado, where there are five beautiful beaches. Among them are Coqueiro, excellent for surfing, with very strong waves, and Barra, ideal for fishing. In addition, the Farol, Alcobaça and Zeloris beaches are perfect for swimming.

Alcobaça na Bahia

Alcobaça is home to the Visitor Centre of the Abrolhos National Marine Park, one of the three exit points for visiting the park in the archipelago. The town has small hotels and some good restaurants.

5. Prado

The city of Prado is located in the extreme south of Bahia, strategically situated in the region known as the Costa das Baleias (Whale Coast), due to the occurrence of Humpback Whales, and on the Costa do Descobrimento (Discovery Coast), because Barra do Cahy, on Prado’s land, was the first anchorage for the Portuguese fleet in 1500.

Guia Turístico de Prado e Abrolhos

The town centre is flat, with old houses and cobbled streets, offering cycling for all age groups in a pleasant, country atmosphere. On the city’s street corners, tourists discover what the Baiana has to offer, with lacy dresses, turbans and colourful necklaces, serving everything from spicy acarajé to delicious cocadas.

With 84 km of little-explored beaches, the city offers beautiful cliff formations in a gradient of colours that vary between ochre, beige and red; creeks that meander along almost the entire coastline and beaches with calm, warm and inviting waters. Monazite sand, much sought after for its medicinal properties, is found on several beaches, such as Areia Preta, Cumuruxatiba and Japara.

Boat and schooner trips show the beauty of the meeting of the river and the sea, such as Barra do Jucuruçu and Barra do Cahy, and from Cumuruxatiba you can follow the same route taken by the Portuguese fleet in 1500.

For snorkelling enthusiasts or those who prefer to relax, the reefs of Guaratibas, Timbebas and Ponta do Corumbau are unmissable destinations. Ponta do Corumbau, with over 1 kilometre of sand that juts out into the ocean at low tide, offers a spectacular view. At its back stands the imposing 530 metre Mount Pascoal, which soothed the hearts of navigators in the 1500s.

Corumbau, whose name means ‘Far from everything’ in the language of the Pataxós, is a place away from all worries. The destination offers reef diving, kayak, canoe and schooner trips, as well as beach walks, horse riding, visits to the Pataxós Indian reserve and the National Park, making it a true ecological paradise.

In the north of Prado, there are eight beautiful beaches, ideal for trekking, as many of them are formed by high, steep cliffs. To the south, there are five more beaches, especially Novo Prado, Prado and Barra, which are the best for swimming. As for fishing, the beaches further south, Quati and Guaratiba, are the best. The former is rich in octopus and lobster, while the latter, with its long bay, is excellent for bass fishing.

Prado can be reached via the BA-489 motorway, 47 km from Itamaraju, 200 km from Porto Seguro and 812 km from Salvador. The city has a regional airport and a good range of hotels and inns.

5.1. Prado’s beaches

Most of Prado ‘s beaches have a similar layout: cliffs, coconut palms and streams. There are more than 80 kilometres of coastline, with options for all tastes.

Quietness prevails on Quati beach, which has no infrastructure. On the beaches of Paixão, Prado and Novo Prado, the buzz is guaranteed, with stalls and kiosks livening up the place. In the middle ground is Tororão, a quiet beach with just one kiosk.

5.1.1. Prado Beach or Centre

Very busy in high season, the central beach offers music stands, coconut palms, soft golden sand and plenty of waves. During the summer, concerts enliven the area, making the atmosphere even more vibrant.

5.1.2. Praia Novo Prado

1 km from the centre, the beach stands out for its coarse sand. It is one of the most popular, due to the excellent infrastructure of the beach huts, which offer delicious snacks, cold beer and, of course, lots of iced coconut.

Novo Prado is full of inns and holiday homes scattered along dirt roads. There is a lot of activity in the summer, fuelled by the beach huts. The beach has a long stretch of coarse sand, ideal for walking.

5.1.3. Praia da Paixão

Praia da Paixão is popular for its good infrastructure, framed by cliffs, rocks and streams. The Estrada Litorânea, which links Prado to Cumuruxatiba, starts there and offers a beautiful view, with huge cliffs full of coconut trees.

A small river, parallel to the shore, separates the strip of sand from the area where the huts are. The beach is located 13 kilometres from the centre.

5.1.4. Praia da Barra

The name Praia da Barra comes from the meeting of the sea and the Jucuruçu River, forming extensive coves. The highlights are the coconut trees, the strong waves, the long stretch of sand (good for walking) and the refreshing waters of the river. The beach is located three kilometres from the centre.

5.1.5 Guaratiba Beach

The access, via a condominium, leads to a long sandy beach dotted with kiosks. From there, boats leave to take you to the reefs, perfect for snorkelling.

The beach is a meeting point for foreigners, especially Italians. It is located 14 kilometres from the centre.

5.1.6. Viçosa (Almond Tree) Beach

Between the Paixão and Farol beaches, the small cove is quiet and protected by reefs. The scenery, with no huts, is dominated by coconut palms, a solitary almond tree, cliffs and a stream. It is ten kilometres from the centre.

5.1.7 Oyster Beach

The left-hand corner offers a beautiful gradient view of the cliffs. The calm sea and the natural pool formed by the River Ostras are great for swimming. It is 20 kilometres from the centre.

The region’s most colourful cliffs are on Farol beach. From the top of them, next to the Navy Lighthouse, you’ll find the best view of the entire Prado coastline. Extensive and full of coconut palms, it is seven kilometres from the centre.

5.1.8. Tororão Beach

The main attraction of Tororão beach is the fresh water cascade that falls onto the beach. The scenery is further enhanced by reefs, cliffs and a calm sea. It is 18 kilometres from the centre and has a hut serving snacks.

5.1.9 Lagoa Pequena and Lagoa Grande

Lagoa Pequena beach, to the south, has a small strip of sand and a few stalls and restaurants. To the north, at Lagoa Grande beach, you can also swim in fresh water – the dark lagoon joins the sea at high tide.

5.1.10. Guaratiba Beach

The semi-deserted Guaratiba beach (southbound) is ideal for those seeking relaxation in a setting with calm, shallow waters and lots of coconut palms. It is 16 kilometres from the centre and is the continuation of Guaratiba beach.

5.2. Cliffs

Prado’s coastline is a natural spectacle with kilometres of cliffs that stand out in a gradient of colours ranging from ochre, beige and red, with undergrowth covering some spots. These cliffs dominate the environment, imposing, creating an unparalleled beauty. The sea, always inviting, is ideal for snorkelling, making Prado an unmissable destination for nature lovers.

5.3. Mangroves

Mangroves are a crucial ecosystem in tropical and subtropical regions, formed by the meeting of fresh water from rivers and salt water from the sea. These mangroves, known as seaside forests, have soil composed of decomposed organic matter and a clay structure, creating a favourable environment for marine life. They are natural nurseries, essential for the reproduction of various species such as fish and crustaceans, which in turn feed the food chain, including humans.

The richness and variety of foods from these ecosystems, such as fish and seafood, demonstrate their ecological and economic importance.

In Prado, the mangrove areas are practically untouched, providing a unique experience of contact with this vibrant and exuberant environment. Walks along its waters reveal the beauty and biodiversity of this essential ecosystem.

5.4. Jucuruçu River

The Jucuruçu River offers stunning scenery, meandering between the town of Prado and the beach, with its calm, crystal-clear waters. Along the river are banks surrounded by practically untouched mangroves, creating a natural and unspoilt atmosphere.

The surrounding lush vegetation, with green forests and mangroves, makes for unforgettable walks, allowing visitors to connect with the unspoilt nature of the region. The scenery is framed by rustic wharves, which serve as anchorages for colourful fishing boats, carrying out artisanal fishing that respects and preserves the local ecological balance.

This peaceful and harmonious environment offers a perfect refuge for lovers of nature and marine life.

6. Cumuruxatiba

Cumuruxatiba, a cosy fishing village, is a place where the pace of life goes smoothly and the locals sum up its essence with the phrase: ‘In Cumuruxatiba, time is not in a hurry and laziness is more enjoyable’. The exuberant nature of this village enchants visitors, with its beautiful beaches cut out by small rivers of clean, rusty water, contrasting with the sea of warm waters and preserved areas of Atlantic forest.

Ponta do Corumbau

The Cumuruxatiba Pier, one of the largest in Brazil, is one of the town’s main postcards. Built in the 1950s by a German company to facilitate the access of ships to the beach to remove monazite sand, it is one of the largest in the world, over 600 metres long, and blends into the landscape, offering a breathtaking view of the coastline.

Cumuruxatiba - Roteiro de 2 dias

O que fazer, como chegar em Cumuruxatiba15:21

Guia de Cumuruxatiba10:35

Praias de Cumuruxatiba09:35

Baleia Jubarte04:24

Praia de Guaratiba, Cumuruxatiba, Barra do Cahy e Corumbau17:26

Corumbau, a nearby village, also has a good infrastructure to welcome visitors in comfort. Ponta de Corumbau, about 32 km north along the beach, is another natural spectacle, a sandbank that juts out more than 600 metres into the sea. Its beach of green waters and the contrast with the white of the sand and the coca-cola colour of the river that flows on the other side create a stunning sight, and a colony of seagulls adds a special touch to the landscape.

Corumbau, which means ‘far from everything’ in the Pataxó language, is a perfect place to relax, with its calm, crystal-clear waters. Boat and schooner trips reveal the beauty of the meeting between the Corumbau River and the sea. At low tide, the point of sand that extends more than 600 metres into the sea becomes visible, creating a scene of pure tranquillity and beauty. On the other side of the river is Barra Velha, the Pataxó Indian reserve, famous for its beautiful handicrafts.

This natural paradise offers an immersion in wild beauty and local history, making it a must-see for those seeking contact with nature, history and the culture of Bahia.

This tour is by boat and includes a stop at the Pataxó corals, an ideal spot for snorkelling and underwater fishing. It is also the spot where you can see MONTE PASCOAL, the first Brazilian point spotted by the Portuguese lunettes.

The cliffs that surround the village beach are perfect for snorkelling and diving. Also noteworthy are the colourful Itacolomi reefs and the Pataxó corals. For fans of snorkelling, the ideal destination is the Abrolhos archipelago, 70 kilometres off the coast, with its rich marine life, caves and cliffs.