If you’re contemplating a stay in Salvador de Bahia, you will be joining an increasing number of travellers choosing to visit Brazil’s first-ever capital city.
With around 80% of the population being of African descent, many consider Salvador de Bahia the birthplace of modern Brazil. It covers an area of around 270 square miles and has a population of just under four million people.
With a history and culture that includes 15 ancient forts, over 160 Catholic churches, more than 1000 candomblé temples, and some of the country’s best beaches along the northeast coast, it’s a mystery how beautiful Salvador de Bahia has remained the city no one has heard of for so long.
Situated on Brazil’s Atlantic coast, the city is split in two, with an upper city perched on a high plateau for defensive purposes, and a lower city area beneath it.
Steep, rough, cobbled roads take you from one area to the other, although the Lacerda Elevator, commissioned in 1873, is the favourite mode of transport and provides some good photo opportunities as you go up or down the face.
With its large bay and port area, Salvador was designated Brazil’s capital in 1549 by the country’s Portuguese colonists.
As trade increased, in 1558, the first slave ships began to arrive, carrying African men, women and children who would be sold in Salvador de Bahia to work the sugar plantations and fell the coastal forests of Brazil’s Redwood timber.
In 1763, the honour of capital of Brazil was passed to Rio de Janeiro by the Portuguese authorities, and remained as such for nearly 140 years after Brazil gained her independence in 1822.
Today, Salvador is the capital city of the State of Bahia, and remains a lively, affluent melting pot of cultures and ethnicities made up of indigenous South Americans, Amerindians, Africans and Europeans. A mix that many research platforms believe makes up the real Brazil.
It is most famous for its rich past and cultural heritage from the 17th to 19th centuries and its Renaissance-style religious, military, and civil architecture. Its old town area is one of historic stuccoed properties painted in pastel colours of the rainbow.
Most importantly, it is famous for its relaxed, laid-back lifestyle, love of carnivals and the hypnotic beat of the many percussion street bands you will find on street corners and the city’s squares. Salvador is also one of 23 UNESCO World Heritage sites in Brazil.
In this blog, I’ve looked at the city in depth, and come up with nine of the best places to stay in Salvador de Bahia, to get maximum bang for your bucks on your first visit to this incredibly fascinating city.
Where to Stay in Salvador de Bahia: 9 Best Areas
1. Barra, a great choice for first-time
When planning a vacation to Brazil, many travellers automatically think of the south of the country and Rio de Janeiro. Yet for those seeking some genuine history and culture of the world’s fifth largest nation, the north is where the action is, with a stay in Salvador de Bahia.
Barra sits in the south of Salvador and is just a 15-minute cab ride from the old town area. A beautiful coastal town established in 1698, Barra, and the beach area of Porto de Barra, could almost be described as a resort, and is a favourite weekend and holiday destination with locals and international visitors.
For beach lovers choosing to stay in Salvador de Bahia, you have golden sand and the calm, warm waters of The Bay of All Saints on one side of the peninsula, and the open Atlantic Ocean on the other.
Depending on whether you are an early riser or a night owl, you can watch the sunrise from the Atlantic in the east or the sunset as it lights up the bay in the west.
For those self-catering, the town area has excellent shopping facilities for all your daily needs, including supermarkets, smaller shops, souvenir shops, pharmacies, fitness clubs and numerous bars, cafes and restaurants for snacks, lunch or dinner.
For those looking for a busier nightlife experience, the popular nighttime district of Rio Vermelho is close by and great for everything from top restaurants to mouth-watering street food and late-night clubs. While the music scene district of Pelhorinho is just a short cab ride away.
For the culture vultures, Barra has an ancient fort built in 1534 and a famed black and white lighthouse originally built in the 16-hundreds, but replaced with the current one in 1850.
It has Morro do Cristo Hill and its famous statue of Jesus Christ the Redeemer, and an excellent museum, The Museo Náutico de Bahía, exhibiting all things nautical through the centuries.
For those looking to stay in Salvador de Bahia, accommodation in Barra is generally good, with a range of self-catering apartments and a good selection of mid to high-end hotels.
If you’re flying into the local Salvador airport, you can grab a bus that will take you straight into Barra. The journey time is around an hour. A more expensive cab or Uber will take 30 minutes.
BEST PLACES TO STAY IN BARRA
2. Ondina, a popular district for lovers of carnival
Located a few miles along the coast and joining the districts of Barra and Rio Vermelho, Ondina is the end point of the Salvador de Bahia carnival and a popular holiday destination with Brazilians and foreign visitors looking to stay in Salvador de Bahia.
It is also the finish line of what is affectionately known as the ‘Dodô Circuit‘ part of Salvador’s carnival, which begins in Barra and ends in Ondina.
The local Ondina Beach runs next to the main road and is one of seven beaches, all within five miles of Ondina town. The old town area of Salvador city is just 3.5 miles away.
If you’re considering touring the area by hire car, parking is directly on the beach alongside the main road.
The main beach is one of golden sand and sparkling blue waters with sunbeds and shades available on the beach, and shops, snack shacks, bars and eateries along the back of the wide promenade.
As the tide recedes, it leaves several natural pools safe for younger children to splash about in.
Away from the beaches, Ondina is an affluent town that is much more than just a carnival add-on.
You will find numerous squares where you can relax and do a little people-watching, sample some of the tempting street food, or enjoy the rhythm of a nearby street band.
It has a prosperous residential district and is home to a large Federal University of Bahia campus. Ondina is also home to the state’s main weather station and the Ondina Palace, official residence of the state’s governor.
You will also find Bahia Sol Square (Praça Bahia Sol) in front of the Bahian Institute for Rehabilitation.
The square recently underwent a significant facelift, with outside gym equipment such as strength-building machines and stationary cycles added, providing extra rehabilitation options for the institute while attracting any passers-by who wish to up their fitness levels.
There are also several interesting statues and sculptures around Ondina. You will find the ‘Gordinhas de Ondina’ (Statues to Chubby Women) at the end of Adhemar de Barros Avenue. And the ‘Monumento Meninas do Brazil‘ (Girls of Brazil monument) down by the beach.
Ondina is also home to Salvador Zoo, which began life in the 19th century. As time passed, a covered orchidarium was established, and in 1958, the Getúlio Vargas Zoo Botanical Park was officially opened. The zoo is a dedicated reference centre for over 1400 species of endangered flora and fauna.
Accommodation around Ondina for those wanting to stay in Salvador de Bahia is reasonable with private lets, Airbnb, self-catering apartments and budget to 4-star hotels.
BEST PLACES TO STAY IN SALVADOR DE BAHIA IN ONDINA
3. Rio Vermelho, where to stay in Salvador de Bahia for nightlife
If your nighttime experience is as important as your daytime experience on vacation, take a close look at Rio Vermelho. Founded in 1557 as a small village, it was later absorbed into Salvador and sits along the coast between Ondina and Amaralina.
It is an area renowned for its stunning beaches, high-class Bahian restaurants – many of them inside repurposed old colonial mansions – and its energetic music scene.
Rio Vermelho is a pleasant, attractive district with many upper/middle-class residents and an enclave of artists and designers who give the district its bohemian feel.
Its numerous sandy beaches stretching along the Atlantic coast make it a popular area for locals and visitors during the day.
At night, affluent Bahians and vacationers hit the town to enjoy the many high-quality restaurants, nightclubs, and buzzing music scene.
If saltwater swimming or hours on the beaches soaking up the sun doesn’t do it for you, stroll the beach promenade, find a welcoming beach bar, order a cocktail full of ice and fresh fruit, and just chill.
If you want to find that bohemian vibe and enjoy the local culture, head for LáLá. Opened in 2014, LáLá sits on the front at Rio Vermelho and is a large townhouse converted into an experimental creative art space for young Brazilians.
You will find a small market, an art gallery, exhibitions by local artists, live theatre performances, and, on the weekends, DJs and live music. The venue also has a pleasant wine bar on the ground floor and a romantic rooftop cocktail bar.
For evening dining, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Choose from small family restaurants or large national eateries. Wherever you choose to dine, the service and cuisine will be excellent.
Enjoy a quiet, romantic meal for two, or seek out a restaurant offering traditional dancing or live music while you dine.
Choose from fresh seafood in a range of options—local Bahian dishes such as shrimp-filled fried bean cakes or Caruru (Okra Stew).
Sample traditional Acaraje. A local dish using black-eye peas, shrimp, chopped onions, peppers and salt; and fried in palm oil. Or choose a sweet or savoury Tapioca or delicious Moqueca, a local rich, spicy seafood stew.
Shopping in Rio Vermelho tends to be just the basics and a few small markets. Nonetheless, you are just a short distance from Salvador city centre and all the high-end stores you could want.
Accommodation comprises private lets, a number of mid to high-range hotels and some excellent, comfortable apartments.
BEST PLACES TO STAY IN RIO VERMELHO
4. Vitoria, the place to vacation in style
The Corredor da Vitoria, a beautiful avenue lined with giant mango trees, stretches just over one kilometre from Largo da Vitoria to Campo Grande, and is close to various other popular places to stay in Salvador de Bahia such as Barra, Graca and Canela.
Vitoria grew economically in the 16th century, with rich colonial merchants and plantation owners building large townhouses and mansions.
Although the 1940s were probably the zenith of this high-end property boom, Vitoria still attracts wealthy and influential families to reside on the avenue.
The area is also packed with cultural and religious gems, including museums and churches such as:
- The Bahia Art Museum founded in 1918
- The Carlos Costa Pinto Museum:- Numerous historical artefacts, jewellery, and decorative arts from colonial times
- The Geological Museum of Bahia:- Ancient rocks, minerals and fossils
There are also a couple of impressive churches to visit. One of the most famous, the Church of Nossa Senhora da Vitoria, dates to the 16th century, and is listed in the National Institute of Artistic and Historical Heritage.
It is said to be the first church built in Salvador and the second oldest church in Brazil. However, it has undergone major renovations over the years, with a neoclassical-style façade added in 1910.
According to ancient records, it presided over the first religious marriage in Brazil in 1534.
For our German friends, you can visit the Goethe-Institute Salvador-Bahia, a hub for Germanic culture and language where you can often enjoy a concert in the courtyard.
Other visitors can spend the afternoon taking in a movie at the Cinema do Museum. Book tickets for an evening show at the Castro Alves Theatre, or relax with a glass of wine at Campo Grande Square.
You will find plenty of bars and restaurants on the Corredor da Vitoria, although you will generally pay a premium. For more affordable bars and eateries, just branch off the avenue, and a short walk will get you to the less expensive areas of Barra, Canela, or Graca.
Likewise, high-end accommodation tends to be the norm on Victory Corridor. If pockets aren’t that deep, you are not far from a good selection of economy to mid-range hotels in the nearby districts, from where you can still enjoy a pleasant evening stroll along the Corredor da Vitoria.
BEST PLACES TO STAY IN VITORIA
- ($$$) Wish Hotel da Bahia
- ($$) Pousada Casa da Vitória
- ($) Hotel Bahia do Sol
5. Pelourinho, almost a city within a city and popular with carnival goers
No matter where you stay in Salvador de Bahia, visiting the city’s old town area should be high on your to-do list.
Made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985, Pelourinho is a vibrant, bustling city quarter circa the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.
The word Pelourinho translates to whipping post, referring to the form of stocks, where indigenous and African slaves were tied to be sold, or whipped for some minor misdemeanour.
It is an area of narrow cobbled streets, and tall multicoloured colonial terraced properties squeezed into both sides of the thoroughfare.
Today, traders, shops, general businesses, numerous cultural centres and schools of traditional music and dance all operate from these buildings.
For lovers of old architecture in Pelourinho, it’s all around you, including numerous places of worship. Look up:
- The Church and Convent of Sao Francisco (Igreja de São Francisco). A Catholic church of breathtaking Portuguese/Baroque architecture with an intricate gold-covered ceiling.
- Church of Our Lady of the Rosary of the Black People (Igreja Nossa Senhora do Rosário dos Pretos). A Roman Catholic church circa the 18th century that took 100 years to build, and is dedicated to the increasingly close association between the African and Brazilian population of Salvador.
- Cathedral of Salvador (Catedral-Basílica Primacial de São Salvador). Officially the Primatial Cathedral Basilica of the Transfiguration of the Lord, it is the official seat of the Archbishop of Salvador and was consecrated in 1672.
If you’ve decided to pick Pelourinho for your stay in Salvador de Bahia, be prepared for tingling taste buds when you stop at a street-food cart or call into the local cafes, bars and restaurants.
With a mix of African, Brazilian and European flavours and many fabulous fusion dishes, you could spend a long time just sampling the numerous cuisine styles.
You’ll find deep-fried bean cakes (Acaraje) everywhere, along with Moqueca, the local spicy fish stew.
In the evenings, you can enjoy your meal while tapping your feet to a range of different beats, from the Samba to the Bossa Nova and even Samba Reggae.
To get you in the mood for the evening’s musical entertainment, sample a small glass or two of Cachaca. It’s a potent sugarcane spirit popular across Brazil and can be enjoyed as a shot, with a mixer or in a cocktail.
Accommodation in the Pelourinho district of Salvador is surprisingly varied, from hostels to apartments to mid-range and top-end hotels.
If you intend to stay in Salvador de Bahia during the carnival period running from the Thursday before Ash Wednesday to completion on Ash Wednesday, early booking is an absolute must.
BEST PLACES TO STAY IN PELOURINHO
6. Santo Antonio/Comercio, for lovers of history and artsy vibes
Although Santo Antonio and Comercio are located in the old city area of Salvador and close to the district of Pelourinho, they are two separate districts.
San Antonio
Santo Antonio is very much a residential neighbourhood, with a rich cultural heritage that has undergone something of a facelift in recent years.
Like many areas that are working to attract increasing numbers of visitors to stay in Salvador de Bahia, Santo Antonia has the Largo de Santo Antônio. A large square surrounded by artsy shops, indie cafes, and retro clothing boutiques.
It also has a bandstand regularly occupied by one of the local percussion street bands or a group rocking it up with a samba, while you enjoy some excellent views of the bay.
Overlooking the square, you will also find the Rococo church of Igreja de Santo Antônio and the Capoeira Fortress, with its Afro-Brazilian martial arts and dance exhibitions.
The area is full of delightful family-operated cafes and restaurants run from tastefully converted colonial properties and specialising in their own style of local and national dishes.
Limited accommodation comprises private lets, guesthouses, Airbnb, apartments and boutique hotels.
Comercio
Comercio, also a part of the old town area of Salvador and known locally as Mercado Modelo, sits below the Historic Centre of the city.
It stretches from the Bahia Marina in the south and runs parallel to The Bay of All Saints through to the breakwater by the Port of Salvador in the north.
The neighbourhood includes the 17th-century Sao Marcelo Fort on a small plot of land 300 metres off-shore.
Comercio, in English, meaning commercial or commercial area, operated as the port of entry to Salvador from the beginning of the colonisation period and was where the slave boats off-loaded their cargoes of human misery.
As the economy grew, Comercio became the first real business district in Brazil, and remains to this day the leading financial centre for the State of Bahia, as well as a main transport route and hub for visiting tourists.
The district has several national heritage sites dating from the early days of colonialism and was listed as a national historic district of Brazil by the National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage in 2008.
Other buildings of interest include Bahia’s oldest fort, Forte de Santo Antônio da Barra23, which houses the Farol da Barra, South America’s oldest lighthouse. The 1861 Customs House, where newly landed slaves were held to be processed, is also located here.
Today, Comercio remains a centre of commerce with national and international companies such as Bradesco, Citibank, and the Bank of Brazil in Bahia, maintaining headquarters in the district.
National agencies headquartered in the Comercio include the Bahia State Board of Trade (JUCEB), the Port Customs of Salvador, and the National Social Security Institute (INSS) in Bahia. It also includes the 2nd Naval District of the Brazilian Navy and the Naval Hospital of Salvador.
As you would expect in a busy commercial district, plenty of hotel accommodation is available, with accessible apartments, guest houses and private lets.
BEST PLACES TO STAY IN COMERCIO – SANTO ANTONIO
- ($$$) Aram Yamí Boutique Hotel
- ($$) Pousada Des Arts
- ($) Pousada Beija Flor
7. Caminho das Arvores, a taste of modern Brazil for your stay in Salvador de Bahia
One of Salvador’s newest neighbourhoods, Caminho das Arvores, saw the first bricks laid down in the mid-1970s. It was envisioned as a district where its resident population could work, rest and play in the same area.
Nearly fifty years later, with a few tweaks along the way, it is a bustling, modern, prosperous neighbourhood with two major shopping malls. The original Iguatemi Mall was renamed Shopping Salvador, and the newer mall was named Salvador Shopping, with numerous designer-label outlets.
Within a short time, major retail, commercial and business enterprises were establishing themselves in the district. New high-class apartments and houses were constructed to house those moving into the area for work in the shops, department stores, offices and businesses.
Hotels were also constructed to accommodate an increasing number of business travellers and tourists preferring to stay in quieter, high-end lodgings when exploring the city.
While cafes, bars and restaurants began opening to cater to the increasing foot-fall on the streets.
Avenue Espatodea and Avenue Paulo VI are the main areas for Salvador’s commercial district, along with the area from the centre to Avenue Tancredo, where many national and international businesses have their headquarters.
Caminho das Arvores was also designed with leisure activities in mind. Large mature trees on almost all of its 17-plus avenues and boulevards provide shade on the walkways from the hot Brazilian sun.
It also has several green spaces, including Praca dos Eucaliptos, a relaxing park popular with nature lovers and with numerous paths that wend their way through mature trees and diverse plant life.
The park is also popular with keep fitters who regularly arrive to use its jogging track, exercise equipment or its selection of table-top games.
Caminho is an excellent central district offering easy access to Salvador, its old town neighbourhood, and the coast and beach areas.
With a good selection of café/bars and restaurants open in the evening, you can stay local or enjoy a change of scenery with a short taxi or Uber ride to a nearby area.
Accommodation is primarily mid-range to high-end hotels, Airbnb and good-quality apartments.
BEST PLACES TO STAY IN CAMINHO DAS ARVORES
- ($$$) Mercure Boulevard Side – Carnaval
- ($$) Sotero Hotel by Castelo Itaipava
- ($) Iguatemi Business & Flat by Avectur
8. Pituba, a pleasant upscale district born in the early 20th century
Pituba is situated in the southeast of Salvador and stretches along the coastal area called Pituba Beach, with its two original avenues of Manoel Dias da Silva and Paul VI.
From the early 1920s, as the economy grew, so did the Pituba neighbourhood, with the main avenues running parallel to the coast and numerous streets added, criss-crossing the area.
Today, the district contains over 25 boulevards and 150 streets and is a busy, prosperous retail and commercial district and home to over 250,00 people.
Visitors will find plenty to keep themselves busy through the day with large corporate buildings standing alongside swish hotels, banks, offices, theatres, galleries, shopping malls, bakeries, cafes, bars, clubs and restaurants.
Plazas, squares, and green spaces are also aplenty in Pituba, where you can take the weight off and enjoy a coffee or beer while watching the world go by. Or sway to the beat of an impromptu concert by one of the street bands.
Likewise, during the evenings, there is no shortage of entertainment options with more bars, clubs, and restaurants opening up to cater to local and visiting diners.
Although Pituba Beach is a popular area with locals for walking, jogging or cycling along the coast, I can not recommend it for bathing due to a water pollution problem caused by the increasing number of residents and visitors, and a heavy Atlantic swell which keeps pushing the effluent back into the bay.
That said, a short ten-minute walk from either end of Pituba Beach will take you to better areas for bathing, such as the Jardim de Alah Beach. Also, a glance at the number of locals bathing in the sea will give you a good indication of water quality.
Although the number of cultural interests are a bit thin in Pituba, you may be interested in visiting:
- Valantine Gardens:-A coastal park which has football (soccer) pitches, basketball courts, an amphitheatre for concerts and a promenade walk. Enquire at your hotel for any events that may be upcoming.
- Iroko de Oxossi:-A secluded park where you can enjoy the flora and wildlife, and popular with locals enjoying their leisure time.
- Carlos Costa Pinto Museum:-A colonial mansion converted into an attractive museum exhibiting a collection of jewellery, gold, silver, art and furniture dating back to the colonial era.
Accommodation in Pituba is varied and plentiful and ranges from Airbnb, private lets, apartments and hotels from economical to 5-star.
It is an increasingly popular district with visitors due to the ease with which other districts can be reached on foot, by taxi or Uber.
BEST PLACES TO STAY IN SALVADOR DE BAHIA IN PITUBA
- ($$$) Fiesta Bahia Hotel
- ($$) Pituba Praiamar Hotel
- ($) Hotel Verdemar
9. Itapua, Stella Maris and Flamengo, places to head for the best coastal holidays
With the Bahia State Authority’s determination to increase its share of Brazil’s tourist industry, some of the best beach areas in the north have undergone major infrastructure upgrades in recent years.
The districts of Itapua, Stella Maris and Flamingo, sitting alongside each other on the north coast, are a case in point. New condos and hotels have been built, infrastructure improved, and visitor attractions added or upgraded.
Itapua
What a difference a few centuries make. In the 17th century, Itapua was a difficult-to-reach coastal village that specialised in the fishing of humpback whales for their much-needed oil, used to power the city’s street lighting.
Nowadays, boats laden with tourists leave the harbours to observe and study these elegant animals as they arrive in warmer waters during July through November to give birth.
With the beauty of Itapua being recognised by Brazil’s film-makers, it recently provided the backdrop to a popular and successful film, ‘Dona Flor’ and over the years, has been home to several of Brazil’s most lauded playwrights, poets, lyricists and writers.
I seem to mention the unique rhythmic singing and dance style of Salvadorian music every couple of paragraphs, and you can find more of it close to the lagoon at Casa da Musica.
The club regularly entertains with theatre productions, soirees, workshops, exhibitions, and dance performances involving Capoeira.
Capoeira is a dance form combining martial arts steps and samba dance movements to form the rhythmic swaying and dancing you watch as many percussion bands make their way along the streets and avenues.
With the band and bystanders getting into the groove, you’ll have difficulty stopping your feet from tapping or fingers clicking as you sway up to the nearest ice cream vendor. It’s that kind of atmosphere.
The district is also home to a sizeable Afro-Brazilian enclave, noticeable by its 100-plus places of worship known as terreiros. Another popular attraction is its red and white lighthouse, circa 1823.
You’ll find excellent bars, cafes and restaurants all over Itapua, and two of the most popular streets for evening dining and entertainment are Largo de Itapua and Praca Dorival Caymmi.
Stella Maris Beach
Moving from Itapua Beach to Stella Maris Beach on the palm-tree-lined promenade will bring you to one of the prettiest beaches on Salvador’s north coast.
A long straight strip of golden sand and a few large boulders, the beach has sunbeds and shades, while to the rear are green spaces where the kiddies can run around, picnic areas, dunes and palm trees, shops, bars, snack-shacks, apartments and hotel complexes.
With a strong Atlantic swell and breaking rollers as the tide comes in, it is a popular beach with local and visiting surfers and kitesurfers and regularly hosts surfing competitions.
As the tide recedes, it leaves numerous shallow sand and rock pools where the little ones can splash in the shallows or do a little shrimping. For the more energetic, there are volleyball courts on the sand and a marked-out football pitch to the rear.
For the evenings there are excellent restaurants. While bars and clubs offer lay-back and chill or let your hair down and party options, the choice is yours.
If you want to push the boat out with real personal service, from Itapua to Stella Maris and Flamingo, you will find a small number of exclusive beach clubs.
Often converted colonial mansions overlooking the beach, you can enjoy personal service to your sunbed, excellent restaurants, and make use of a seawater pool, showers, and a lounge area. Some also include massage, wi-fi, children’s play area and an events area.
Accommodation, as you would expect in a popular resort area, is varied, with self-catering apartments and numerous hotels and villas.
Flamengo Beach
It has to be said, if you’re looking for the best places to stay in Salvador de Bahia away from the noise and bustle of the city centre but close enough for easy access, Itapua Beach, Stella Maris Beach and this last one, Flamengo Beach have to be high on your list.
Another long, wide beach of white/gold sand, that is popular with novice surfers as the gentle Atlantic swell rolls onto the beach.
When the tide is out, you will find more sand pools ideal for children to play in, without the rocks found on many other beaches.
The natural beauty of this stretch of coast and its updated infrastructure, is what makes this stretch of the northeast coast so unique compared to other coastal areas.
Flamengo is just a 40-minute drive or cab ride from Vitoria and the noise of the big city, yet most of the year remains pleasantly uncrowded.
Along the beachfront walkway, you will find small bars (Barracas) where you can stop for a drink or snack, and numerous street vendors who will crack you a coconut to enjoy the milk straight from the nut.
As well as food and drink, showers and WCs – sunbeds and sunshades are also available for hire from the sizeable beachside restaurant.
To the rear of the beach is an ecological reserve called Parque das Dunas, where organised tours are available to guide you through ecosystems of tropical forests, sand dunes, lagoons and numerous species of birds and wildlife.
You will also find green areas to lay your towel, and areas where the kiddies can play on the swings and slides.
There are plenty of organised guided tours all along this area to visit Salvador city centre, the old town area, or smaller towns along the coast or countryside.
There are also a number of boat tours operating out of Salvador where you can visit some of the islands, such as Frades or Itaparica, or call into the pretty villages around the coast.
For those preferring not to stay in Salvador de Bahia city but a little further away from the busy touristy areas, accommodation at Praia do Flamengo village is modern and varied with Airbnb, studios, apartments, boutique hotels, large hotels and villas.
BEST PLACES TO STAY IN ITAPUA – STELLA MARIS – FLAMENGO