I had been wanting to go somewhere in a Brazil that was busy enough to meet people, but not foreigner touristic’. I found what I was looking for in Itacaré, situated halfway along the coast of Bahia.
The good vibes really make it great for a nice getaway, and even to stay put for a while. I could totally picture myself having stayed for a month if I wasn’t on such a mission to see more places in Brazil. 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.
Arriving
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.
Eating
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.
However, when I did go out to eat I enjoyed the Rustico sandwich from El Sitio, which was probably one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had in my life. 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, staring in amazement.
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.
Beaches
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
PRAIA DA TIRIRICA
Tiririca actually connects to Praia do Resende directly around the bend of the coastline. It’s probably my favorite for the vibes and aesthetics.
I took these photos during the high tide, so nobody was able to sit and chill on the beach. During the low tide it’s a different story, with plenty sand to hang out and sun bathe. During the high tide, it’s common to see people playing Altinha, where a group (usually 4) passes a soccer ball in a circle, using their feet, thighs, chest, and head to keep it in the air and off the ground.
PRAIA RESENDE
This is the closest and most populated beach with a lot of chairs and umbrellas. There’s also a restaurant on site. One cool thing you’ll find is a natural pool on the other side of the sand where you can enjoy a nice swim.
PRAIA RIBEIRA
I love this beach for the beautiful scenery. It serves as a tranquil alternative to Tiriripa and Resende.
Again, the photos you see were taken during high tide, so it was kind of empty with less space to chill. During low tide it’s even more photogenic.
PRAIA DO JERIBUCAÇU
This 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, then take the trail for 30 minutes to get the beach. Bring your own food and drinks as it is pretty remote.
Side note: It’s not advised to take the trail after heavy rain
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.
