After the river, you walk onto an excellent stretch of beach–with warm, blue water and medium-sized waves. This was once a nudist beach, known as Praia do Nudismo. Today you might come across a few people looking to revitalize the practice (fique a vontage, ok?) but mostly it’s just a great place to swim and get some sun. At the far end of this beach is the best beach kiosk on the coast, the Pé Na Praia barraca. It has an excellent position on the beach with plenty of wooden chairs, hammocks, and places to lay out on a straw mat or sit and sip a cold one. They usually have some kind of electronic groove music going, which puts you in a great, relaxed mood (or maybe that’s the beer).

If you walk further south, you won’t come across anything but lovely sand and surf for about five kilometers. This is a good place to get away from the crowd. There are reefs just off shore in this area, and the beach is slightly murky with seaweed and kelp (evidence of the reefs). You can go snorkeling out in these waters and in peak season, you will find groups of people doing just that–on some excursion or other. It doesn’t look so inviting from the beach around the point (called Ponta de Itapororoca), but once you get out beyond the barrier reefs, you’ll understand the attraction. Again, there are no kiosks around this area until you get all the way to Praia Jacumã, where you’ll find some great beach bars at the Jacumã coconut plantation. There are also more natural tide pools for snorkeling at jacumã and boats to take you out.

If you don’t like the idea of walking on your own all the way to Jacumã to go snorkeling, then join an excursion from Trancoso or Arraial d’Ajuda that visits these pools. Alternatively, you can take a taxi or bus from Trancoso directly to Jacumã to spend the day there. South of Jacumã are the very sought-after Praia Curuípe and Praia do Espelho, which receive visitors from Porto Seguro excursions. If you get to Jacumã, you can walk to these two beaches in about 30 minutes.

To get to the southern beaches from the village, take the trail that leads from the right side of the Quadrado down until you reach the sand and surf. You can’t miss it.

The Beach

Barra is a busy beach just about every day of the year. It is situated in front of one of the most active areas on the coastline for hotels, bars, and restaurants. During the day, the Barra beach is a place to kick back and get some sun on the sand. You won’t be there but two minutes before you’ll be interrupted by someone selling something: roasted peanuts, sunglasses, sunscreen, and roasted cheese. The water in Barra and all of the beaches of Salvador is mercifully pollution free, due to a major clean-up program initiated by the mayor. The city installed sewage treatment facilities in every beach from Bonfim to Itapuan and you can swim anywhere on the Salvador coast, with the exception of Boca do Rio (the river does not get treated before it empties into the ocean). Of course, there are many beaches that you should not visit due to risk of assault, such as anything within 20 kilometers of Rio Vermelho Beach.

If you go into the water in Barra, just be sure that you have someone to watch your stuff. If you are alone on the beach (perhaps watching somebody’s stuff), be aware of people who may try to distract you from what you are watching over. Some of these misdirection schemes are performed in pairs, so if one person approaches you, open the eyes in back of your head. There is almost no risk of outright assault on the Barra beach during the day.

Sights

Barra is more about beaches and less about sites than Pelourinho. You may also find yourself in Barra because of the abundance of hotel options there. Still, there are a couple of sites worth checking out. First and foremost is the Santo Antônio da Barra Forte, also known as the Farol da Barra (or Barra Lighthouse). It is perhaps the most important fort in Brazil’s history. It was here that the Dutch first invaded Brazil (unsuccessfully) in 1624 and then again (successfully) in 1629. It has played an important role in the protection of the Bay of All Saints since its construction in the mid 1500s. Inside the fort is the Nautical Museum, which has a bunch of artifacts from a 16th century Portuguese ship that sunk offshore, as well as nautical maps and historical documents.

Most impressive is the view from the lighthouse platform, which lets you see both the bay side and ocean side of the coastline. There is a small coffee shop inside the fort. Open 9am–7pm in low season and 9am–9p.m. in the summer months. Closed Wednesday. The second most interesting fort in Salvador is also in the Barra region, called the San Diogo Forte. It overlooks the Barra Port at the end of Av. Princesa Isabel. Open 9:30am–noon and 1:30–5:30pm Next to this fort is the Instituto Mauá (see Shopping below). Finally, on the hill above Barra is the Igreja Abadia da Graça (Largo da Graça in the Graça neighborhood). This church was built in 1557, making it one of the city’s oldest original structures. It’s small and not as flashy as the churches in Pelourinho, but if you want to take a walk in the Barra neighborhood, you can check it out. Open 8–11:30am and 2–5pm

Shopping

There are shops all along Av. Sete de Setembro, the coast highway at Barra. If you want a more formal shopping experience, then Shopping Barra is within walking distance. It’s one of the best shopping malls in Salvador and has a tourist information booth inside, as well as movie theaters and Internet cafés. There are also some excellent lunch buffet restaurants in the food court and a bank of relatively quiet public phones. The best way to enter is from Rua Miguel Bournier. You’ll enter at the arts and crafts fair, which is in the east wing. This fair has some of the same items that you’ll find in the Mercado Modelo and probably at about the same prices. Another arts and crafts fair is at the Instituto Mauá (Praça Azevedo Fernandes 2, across from the gas station). Again, the merchandise here is similar to that of the Mercado Modelo at about the same prices, but it’s worth a look.

Nature and Wildlife Encounters

Brazil has some of the most exotic and fascinating wildlife on the planet and you can get a close-up look when you visit Brazil’s nature hotspots. Everyone knows about the amazing plant and animal species in the Amazon Rainforest, featuring pink river dolphins, manatees and huge caiman (a type of crocodile). The pantanal area is the world’s largest wetlands and a haven for birds and land mammals. Giant anteaters, wild stork and rare blue macaws are just a few of the highlights there. Underwater animal encounters can be found all along the coast of Brazil, including Fernando de Noronha and Abrolhos and feature whales, dolphins and sea turtles. Unforgettable natural wonders include the desert dunes of the Lençõis Maranhenses and Foz de Iguaçú.

Eating and Drinking Brazilian Style

Brazilian food is a wonderful mixture of cultures and traditions. Fish and seafood is plentiful all along the coast, while country comfort foods are the specialty in the interior states. The Northeast Region is known for its African influences with spicy dishes, stews made with coconut milk, and dendê or palm oil. Get more information about Brazilian food in our food section.

Brazil’s Nightlife

There is always something going on at night and depending where you are, the options range from festive to completely off the hook! Festivities include dancing and drinking, outdoor festivals, concerts, and parties. Did I mention dancing? Here are a few top nightlife centers:

• Lapa and Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro
• Iracema in Fortaleza
• Ponta Negra in Natal
• Jardins and Vila Madalena in São Paulo
• Pelourinho in Salvador
• Porto Seguro in Southern Bahia
• Lagoa da Conceiçõo in Florianópolis

Incredible Brazilian Cities

Brazil has more than a dozen cities with more than three million inhabitants and they all have something interesting to offer, including regional festivals, dining options and a piece of Brazil’s history and culture. Shopping and eating are always in abundance and each region has something unique to highlight. Here are some of Brazil’s top urban destinations:

• São Paulo
• Rio de Janeiro
• Salvador
• Maceió
• Recife
• Curitiba
• Porto Alegre
• Belo Horizonte
• Brasília

Brazil’s Sizzling Beaches

The Brazilian coastline seems to have no end and the variety of beaches you can visit is nothing short of astounding. There are urban beaches, like Copacabana in Rio and Pajuçara in Maceió. There are laid-back beaches for tanning and people watching, like Praia Grande in Ubatuba and the coastline at Arraial d’Ajuda in Southern Bahia. And there are remote, secluded beaches, like those around Paraty and on the northern coast of Natal. Here’s a quick list of some top beach destinations:

• Southern Bahia
• Rio de Janeiro
• Maceió and the Coast of Alagoas
• Natal and Fortaleza
• Porto de Galinhas and Vicinity
• Florianópolis

For a visual tour of some of these great beaches, check out our beach photo gallery at Brazil’s Beaches (A Photo Journey).

The Islands of Brazil

Brazil’s coastline is dotted with islands of all sizes and shapes. Some are tropical paradises and others are urban centers. Like just about everything in Brazil, the islands are many and varied. Here are some worth exploring:

• Ilha Grande: Brazil’s second largest island (next to Florianopolis) has no cars and one small village that serves as the port of entry. Hikes to pristine beaches, snorkeling and boating are the features here.
• Ilhabela: Not far from São Paulo, Ilhabela is a weekend getaway for many city residents. Half of the island features casual beaches and villages while the other half is wild and secluded.
• Fernando de Noronha: A remote and secluded island that specializes in clear water and pristine beaches. Scuba adventures are a popular activity.
• Florianópolis: Almost like a small country, Florianópolis (whose actual name is Santa Catarina Island) offers half of the state’s capital city, several small beach towns and remote beach villages. There’s something for everyone.
• Abrolhos: An archipelago of small islands about 70 kilometers from shore where snorkeling and scuba diving are at their best.
• Morro de São Paulo: An archipelago with a main tourist village and two remote towns. Beaches vary from crowded central beaches to remote and secluded.
• Ilha do Mel: This southern island offers a village atmosphere with miles of beaches and two principal villages for hotels and restaurants.

For more information about these and other islands, see our feature story The Islands of Brazil.

The People of Brazil

Brazilians can be the most accommodating people on Earth and they are proud of their country and culture. Brazilians celebrate their great racial and economic diversity with many regional festivals and dances.

History and Culture of Brazil

Brazil has over 500 years of history and culture, since its discovery in 1500 by the Portuguese. European and African influences are strong, as are the marks left upon this land from the many great historical movements: the sugar era, the Dutch occupation, the gold rush and the days of Bossa Nova are just a few.

Brazilian Adventure Sports

With its great coastline and diverse landscape, Brazil ends up being a fantastic destination for adventure sports. White water rafting, hand gliding, caving, scuba diving and rock climbing are a few of the possibilities.

Shopping All Over Brazil

Everywhere you go, you’re likely to find something unique and precious that comes from that area. From handicrafts to fine art and sculpture, from clothing to kitchenware…shopping is one of the best ways to enjoy Brazil.

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Key:

1. Wide beaches in Alagoas
2. On the boardwalk in Maceio
3. The beauty Redinha in Natal
4. Beaches north of Recife
5. Arraial d’Ajuda beaches
6. Santa Catarina beaches
7. Ilha Sao Francisco
8. Beaches of Pernambuco
9. The Coast of Salvador
10. Porto de Galinhas
11. Maracaipe Beach near Porto de Galinhas
12. Dunes near Natal
13. Beachfront in Fortaleza
14. Arraial d’Ajuda northern coastline
15. Praia do Frances