Travel to Morro de Sao Paulo

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Morro de Sao Paulo, Brazil

On the Brazilian coast, 2 hours 30 minutes away by boat from the south of Salvador de Bahia, is the very beautiful Island of Tinharé and its village called Morro (hill) de São Paulo. Tinharé is an archipelago made up of 26 islands covered with tropical forest and surrounded by crystal-clear waters. This has remained a heavenly and even idyllic place. Generally, tourists reach the islands by taking one of the regularly-scheduled boats, which moor at Morro de Sao Paulo, a village with sandy streets. You will discover beautiful deserted beaches here, among the most beautiful in Brazil. A small preserved paradise with a wide choice of pousadas (more than 300!), restaurants, and bars, all overflowing with local culture. One thing you may really appreciate is that cars are not allowed here, so visitors walk along the beaches on foot, use the shuttles provided by the hotels located further away from town, or hire a cart. The beaches are numbered 1 to 5. Those who love a good party meet up at beach no. 2. Beach no. 5, Praia do Encanto (the enchanted beach) is a heavenly, unspoilt lagoon bordered by a mangrove forest. More curious visitors won't be able to resist trying out the clay baths of Gamboa. Further away, the island of Boipeba is the best preserved, home to no more than a few pousadas. At the top of the Morro (hill) de Sao Paulo, the plunging view from the lighthouse is very pretty. The more adventurous will take the zip-line to get down to the beach! At the foot of the hill and near the jetty you can visit the ruins of an old 16th century Portuguese fortress.

The many charming pousadas.
The absence of cars.
Heavenly beaches.
The superb mangrove.

cons

The crowds and the extravagant prices during high season.
2 hours 30 mins away by boat from Salvador.

Visit Morro de Sao Paulo

To see

The Morro de Sao Paulo lighthouse, the ruins of an old 16th century Portuguese fortress, at the top of a hill from where you can enjoy a beautiful panorama.

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To do

Travelling around in a cart, hiking in the mangrove, scuba diving, snorkelling... More curious visitors won't be able to resist trying the clay baths of Gamboa. At the top of Morro de São Paulo, the more adventurous will take the zip-line from the lighthouse to get down to the beach! At night the bars are alive and the party is in full swing. Further away, the island of Boipeba is the best preserved, home to no more than a few pousadas. From August to October, you can see whales swimming along the coast.

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To think about

Morro de Sao Paulo, where no cars are allowed, is 2 hours 30 minutes away by boat from El Salvador. The sea can sometimes be rough, so take some anti-nausea medication with you. You will have to pay an entry tax (some of the hotels include this in their rates). The streets of the village are covered with sand so it goes without saying that we advise you to wear havaianas! Have 10 reals (around £3.50) ready for the porter who will transport your baggage to your hotel by wheelbarrow.

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To avoid

During high season, from December to March, Buzios is throbbing with tourists and the prices go through the roof!

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To try

Among the specialties from Bahia, its regional cuisine famous throughout the whole country consists of fish, shrimps or chicken with coconut cooked in dendê (palm oil), considered a real treat... 'Moqueda de peixe' (a kind of fish stew) and 'mariscado' (seafood stew). Two popular Brazilian dishes can also easily be found, namely 'cozido' and 'feijoada', prepared with beans, rice, manioc flour and meat. All dishes are served with 'pirao' (a thick manioc sauce), 'farofa' (a mixture of manioc flour, warm butter and salt) and a hot sauce to spice things up a little. During your stay in Brazil you'll have plenty of opportunities to sample the traditional local fruit: bananas, mangos, watermelon, pineapple, oranges, papayas, passion fruit and guava, as well as the less known ones like cashews, star fruit and Surinam cherries. Alcohol made from sugar cane, cachaça or pinga is enjoyed neat or with a mixer. Combined with sugar, lime and the right mixing technique, this becomes caipirinha. Mix it with fruit juice and you get a 'batida'. Finally, Brazilians often drink a can of guarana with their meals, a popular fizzy drink made from Amazonian grain and which offers a great exotic alternative to Coca Cola!

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To bring back

Fashion enthusiasts won't be able to resist bringing home a pair of Brazilian flip-flops, Havaianas, as they are half the price in Brazil as they are in Europe. Other popular souvenirs include a bottle of Cachaça, Brazilian rum, hammocks, wooden sculptures, and trendy hippie jewellery. Capoeira trousers are also very light and comfortable to wear, or you may even fancy bringing back a wooden samba whistle, if you manage to find one!

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Country guide

Brazil, All you need to know!

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Brazil: where to sleep when not partying

Loaded with history and tropical fauna, Brazil is a mythical destination where adventure is the norm and the culture shock is welcomed with open arms. You will find the colonial cities of Salvador de Bahia and Paraty, miles of sandy beaches devoid of people from the fisherman's village of Praia do ...

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