If anywhere in world received a helping hand from Mother Nature then it would have to have been Itacare, the small fishing village turn surfing mecca at the mouth of the Rio de Contas on the Atlantic coast. One of an abundance of blissed-out towns in the state of Bahia, Itacare triggers all the sense, with its picturesque palm fringed beaches backed by dense rainforest and lazy rivers complimenting the sounds and colors that Brazil has famously come to be known for. Understandably not as remote as it once was when the first hippies and surfers arrived, Itacare remains an alluring destination where all that is needed for survival are the waves, the environment, a little forro and capoeira and some reggae beats.
To access Itacare, the best option is to catch a local bus to/from either Itabuna or Ilheus, which run hourly from early morning to the evening. From these destinations connections are available south to Porto Seguro and north up to Salvador. Once landed on the town’s captivating shores, explore the neighborhoods of Pituba and Concha, the beaches and surrounding forests on two lazy feet. Itacare Beaches
The coast of Itacare is an endless sweep of wonderful beaches backed by palms and forests. Close to the village the beaches are all equipped with hotels, shops and restaurants, however, a few miles in either direction are many idyllic and unspoilt coves. Closest to town, Concha Beach is ever busy and full of the expected amenities and water sporting activities. Moving south the beaches of Resende, Tiririca and Ribeira are far less developed and favourite spots for surfers. Further on, Prainha is widely regarded as one of the most idyllic spots in Brazil. On the northern side, across the river, the beaches of Pontal stretch for over 10 miles.
Surf Itacare
Surfing is huge in Bahia and no more so than at the beaches of Itacare, where beginners and seasoned pros enjoy the clean and powerful breaking waves. In fact, the waves are held in such high esteem that a number of competitions are held at Tiririca Beach. First timers can find affordable lessons and board rentals at any of Easy Drop, Thor Surf Point and Escola de Surf Equilibrio.
Rafting & Boating
Take it easy on a leisurely paddle-powered cruise on the ContasRiver or get an adrenalin rush on a white water rafting trip. Either way, both activities offer the chance to bask in the stunning forest surroundings and gaze at the beautiful waterfalls. Eco Trip and Planeta Rafting both organise day long rafting trips and other activities.
Walk Among Nature
One thing is for certain, visitors to Itacare are never far from the pleasures of Mother Nature. Whilst staying here, take time out to enjoy the spectacular natural surroundings, whether it be lazing on the beach or exploring the nearby forests. Numerous easygoing walking trails lead along the beaches and through the forests, passing picturesque waterfalls and abundant flora, making it a nature lover’s paradise.
Capoeira in Itacare
The Afro-Brazilian combination of music, dance and martial arts plays a huge part in the culture of Itacare and can be seen from the beaches to the clubs. Filhos de Zumbi is local group aiming to promote the dance/sport to the young community and any travellers wishing to give it a go.
Itacare Nightlife
Itacare comes alive at night and every night with endless parties at the wealth of bars and nightclubs and wild luaus (beach parties). Pituba Street is a great place to start the things off before moving on to ConchaBeach in order to shake the body down to the beats of forro (Brazilian folk dance) and reggae. Mar e Mel at ConchasBeach is a new and increasingly popular bar and restaurant playing live forro music, as does Cabana Corais. For something more chilled, park up at Casa Maya and sample its great homemade cakes and excellent caipirinhas.