Itacare
Surf coves cut into Atlantic forest on Bahia's cocoa coast, reached down trails from a road that only arrived in the 1990s.
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Itacare sits where the Rio de Contas meets the sea, and the paved road from Ilheus only opened in 1998 - before that it was effectively cut off, which is why the forest along this coast survived and why the town went from fishing village to surf destination inside a generation. The beaches south of town run in a sequence reached on foot through Atlantic forest: Concha, Resende, Tiririca, Ribeira and Prainha, each a cove between headlands, with Tiririca the surf break and Prainha the furthest and quietest. Itacarezinho and Engenhoca are further out along the road. Behind the town are waterfalls and rafting on the Rio de Contas, and the cocoa farms of the surrounding coast run visits.
What you actually see
- Coves reached through forest - Concha, Tiririca, Ribeira and Prainha in sequence.
- Atlantic forest to the sand - the coast that survived because the road came late.
- Surf at Tiririca - the town's main break.
- Cocoa farms inland - the plantations of the surrounding coast.
When to go
September to March. Three days.
Honest expectations
Beach trails are muddy and involve climbs; the furthest coves take a good hour on foot. Rain is frequent on this coast year round. The town is busy and noisy in peak season. Currents at the open beaches are strong.
Nearby
Ilheus is south; the Marau peninsula and Barra Grande are north.
What to pack for Itacare
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
