When the beach bars close for the evening at around sundown, the village road begins to light up. People hit the village shopping for a restaurant or bar or just walking around to take-in the charm of the place. Things really get moving at around 10pm and it’s a good idea to already have chosen your spot by then, as the best seats...
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Excursions available in Arraial d’Ajuda are pretty much the same ones available in Porto Seguro. Whether you book your excursion in Porto Seguro or Arraial is just a matter of comparing prices and options. Some agencies in Arraial are just re-selling an excursion that leaves from Porto Seguro anyway, so be sure to ask about the...
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In my opinion, the best shopping is in the old village, but by all means check out the more upscale offerings all along the Estrada do Mucugé too. An interesting shop in the Praça Brigadeiro E. Gomes is the Casa de Renda, with hand-made and hand-painted fabrics. There is also a well-stocked souvenir store on the far corner of the...
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Most travelers who come to the south of Bahia remember Arraial d’Ajuda as their favorite place on the coast. It has a kind of rustic charm to it that seduces just about everyone who comes here. It’s difficult to say whether the highlight is the village itself, or the beaches. Thankfully, you don’t have to choose between them....
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Walking up along the northern beaches is a must while you’re in Arraial. First, the beaches themselves are long and excellent for swimming–with clear, warm water that is generally shallow and calm. Plus, there are kiosks spread at intervals all along this part of the coast, many associated with some pousada or other (but the...
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The main beach in Arraial is Praia do Mucugé, at the bottom of the Estrada do Mucugé just below the village. Due to its proximity to the village, it is by far the most popular and crowded of the beaches here. There are plenty of beach bars with plenty of beach chairs and umbrellas to keep the sun off. Some trees line the area...
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Arraial d’Ajuda means Settlement of Help and the original village center is just that–a kind of small settlement on top of the bluff overlooking the beautiful ocean. (As a side note, the village was not named because of its helpful nature, but was in honor of one of the principal ships that landed here in the discovery,...
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There is no official tourist information office in Arraial d’Ajuda, but you can get information at any of the tour agencies. There are Internet services all around town. On the Estrada do Mucugé, you’ll find CyberPoint, which always has people inside. There are ATMs in the Shopping d’Ajuda and if you run into any trouble,...
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You get to Arraial d’Ajuda from Porto Seguro via the ferryboat that operates 24 hours per day. It costs R$5 to get to Arraial and it’s free to get back to Porto Seguro. Once you get to the Arraial side, you can take a taxi to the village for R$20. If your hotel it on the northern coast, then you can probably walk to it. If you...
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