I had been wanting to go somewhere in a Brazil that was a popular place with nice beaches and nightlife, but not too full of foreign tourists. I found what I was looking for in Itacaré, situated halfway along the coast of Bahia in northeast Brazil.
After staying in a month in a quiet place like Serra Grande, this was a nice change of pace. It’s a seamless mix of beaches, restaurants, samba, and beautiful sunsets. You’ll even come across groups performing Capoeira outside to add to the ambiance. I think if I were to spend a few months in Brazil again, I’d spend half of the trip here, and the other half in Pipa or Buzios.
How to Get to Itacaré
The most common way to get to Itacaré is by bus, which can be done from Salvador or Ilheus, depending on which direction you’re coming from. You can even catch the bus from as far as Rio de Janeiro. If you prefer to fly, Ilheus is the closest city with an airport. It’s pretty straightforward to be honest. Not much to worry about, and bus station is close to the town center when you finally arrive.
Where to Eat
Itacaré is a vacation town, so there is no shortage of things to eat. Choose from budget options to some nicer restaurants, but nothing too extravagant that gives off any bougie energy, which was appealing to me.
There is a supermarket within walking distance from the main boardwalk and a few different places to by fruits and vegetables, not to mention the abundance of cacao shops, acai and ice cream. I was cooking my own food for the most part in my hostel if I ate out it was quick budget options.
However, when I did go out to eat I enjoyed the Rustico sandwich from El Sitio, which was absolutely delicious. Next was the Amor, a very tasty and filling Tapioca wrap/sandwich with beef, platano, and mozzarella cheese, from Tapiocaria da Sandra, an extremely popular place; expect to wait for a while for your order if you go in the evening, especially on a busy weekend!
Sunsets
I was legitimately enchanted by the sunsets here. The best place to view the majestic moment is from Mirante do Xaréu, a spacious grassy area to watch the Sun disappear with reggae music playing in the background. I haven’t had too much sunset experience, but this is on my list of memorable ones for sure! Pardon me for all the photos.
The Main Beaches of Itacaré
Itacaré has an excellent selection of beautiful beaches accompanied by fairly large waves for you to surf or just have fun with.
There is a well known series of 5 beaches in that are essentially one after the other, with each one being progressively more chill due to the distance from the town center:
- Praia do Resende
- Praia da Tiririca
- Praia da Costa
- Praia da Ribeira
- Praia do Siriaco
A couple notable ones that require a walk/hike and a drive
- Prainha
- Praia do Jeribucaçu
MY PERSONAL FAVORITES
PRAIA DA TIRIRICA
Praia Tirica is probably my favorite beach for the vibes and aesthetics. I took the following photos during high tide, so nobody was able to sit and chill directly on the beach. During low tide it’s a different story, with plenty of sand to hang out and sun bathe. The scenery is beautiful and more expansive than the photos show. There’s tons of space in the higher grassy areas and there’s a restaurant on site.
It’s common to see people playing Altinha, where a group (usually 4) passes a football (soccer ball) in a circle, using their feet, thighs, chest, and head to keep it in the air and off the ground. The beach gives cool surfer energy. I really enjoyed this place a lot.
Tiririca actually connects to another beach, Praia do Resende, directly around the bend of the coastline by a path of large rocks. Resende is the closest beach to the town center and is more crowded with an older demographic (a lot of tables and umbrellas). I didn’t like it that much there, but one thing that was cool was a calm natural pool to swim in a specific part of the beach, which is refreshing to swim in. It was nice experience no waves for a while!
PRAIA DO JERIBUCAÇU
Jeribucaçu is one of the nicest beaches I’ve ever been to, perfectly surrounded by forest. In order to arrive, you have to drive or take a taxi to a trailhead and then take the trail for 30 minutes to get the beach. The whole journey adds to the sense of pure remoteness. It feels like a paradise once of arrive…..and to be honest, it is a paradise!
Side note: It’s not advised to take the trail after heavy rain
PRAIA RIBEIRA
I love this beach for the beautiful scenery. It serves as a tranquil alternative to Tiriripa and Resende because it’s further away from the center of town. If you’re looking for a more chill secluded vibe without having to ‘leave’ Itacaré, then this is a great option.
Again, the photos you see below were taken during high tide, so it was kind of empty with less space to chill. During low tide, you’ll see more people on the sand.
OTHER BEACHES
Various beaches exist in and around Itacaré. Feel free to do some research and see if there are some other ones you may want to see.
Prainha, specifically, can be reached by foot from the town. It’s about an hour away through a trail, so if you’d like to visit, make sure you go early enough to get back before dark.
Night Life
There is a nice little scene in town to enjoy yourself with Samba, some bars, and dj sets popping up here and there. Great vibes all around! To stay informed about everything that’s happening at night, follow @roles.itacare on Instagram.
I had an opportunity to see DJ KL Jay, an iconic hip hop dj from Sao Paulo. Keep an eye out for events going on in Itacaré around the time you plan to visit!
Conclusion
Don’t skip this wonderful place during you trip in Brazil, especially if you find yourself in Bahia. Do yourself a favor and stay here for a few nights. Relax and enjoy to good energy.
