Praia do Forte

The Projeto Tamar was set up in 1980 to stop the collapse of Brazil's sea turtle populations, and its main visitor centre and headquarters are here - open tanks with turtles of all five Brazilian species, an explanation of the nest protection work, and hatchling releases in season, with the beaches around the village among the monitored nesting sites. The village itself is a pedestrian main street of shops and restaurants, comfortable and thoroughly geared to visitors. A few kilometres inland stand the ruins of the Castelo Garcia d'Avila, built from 1551 and the only medieval-style castle ever built in Brazil, put up by the family granted an enormous stretch of the north-east. Tide pools form along the beach at low water.

The main sights

• The Tamar turtle centre - the programme's headquarters, with open tanks.
• Nesting beaches - monitored sites with hatchling releases in season.
• Castelo Garcia d'Avila - a 1551 fortified house, unique in Brazil.
• Low-tide pools - forming along the village beach.

When to go

September to March, which is also the nesting and hatching season. Two days.

What to expect

The village is expensive and heavily commercial, and the main street is essentially a shopping strip. Hatchling releases are not scheduled to order and depend on the nests. The castle needs transport. Weekends bring crowds from Salvador.

Nearby

Imbassai is north; Salvador is south down the coast.