Itacaré is a small town located in the cocoa zone of the state of Bahia, south of Salvador, 70 km north of Ilhéus, with beautiful beaches, good vibes and generous nature. It is in Itacaré that the river Rio de Contas, which comes from the Chapada Diamantina, meets with the ocean.
The region that includes Itacaré, Serra Grande and Maraú Peninsula constitutes a perfect setting for Adventure Tourism. In only a few places in the world has nature been so generous, offering such a diverse array of attractions in a single place.
The exceptional combination of forests, rivers, waterfalls, mangroves and beaches make possible countless unforgettable experiences; from a simple swim in the translucent water of the sea, a quiet canoe excursion on the Contas River, to extreme sports like white-water rafting.
With many people from all over the world who came to live in Itacaré, the atmosphere is cosmopolite, relaxed, typically Bahian and definitely different from any other place in Brazil.
The coast of Itacaré is a succession of beaches and hills covered with palm trees and forest. On the beaches located close to the village, there are hotels, bars and restaurants. Just a few miles from the village, the there are many beautifully preserved beaches without any infrastucture.
Besides more than 20 beaches, Itacaré has rivers, waterfalls and a great Atlantic Reainforest reserve. The harmony of forests with waterfalls and beaches is one of the most exotic and beautiful ever seen in Brazil.
The region in the south of Bahia, more specifically the band contained the Jequitinhonha and Contas Rivers, preserve the most significant parcel of Atlantic Rainforest in the northeast of Brazil. The forests of this region are characterized by tall trees with leaves that always remain green and the abundance of epiphytes. There you'll find species threatened with extinction like the yellow-breasted twig monkey and the ring-necked sloth.
The Atlantic Rainforest is considered by the worldwide scientific community one of the richest combined ecosystems in diversity of animals and plants species in the world and the second most threatened with extinction. Because of this fact, in 1991 UNESCO elevated the Atlantic Rainforest to the category of Biosphere Reserve, being today one of the three mayor conservation priorities in the world.
PARKS AND RESERVES
The principal conservations areas of the region are APA of Itacaré/Serra Grande and Serra do Conduru State Park.
The Area of Environmental Protection – APA of Itacaré/Serra Grande – is considered as a "Heritage of Humanity". Its limits are marked in the north by the mouth of the Contas River, in the south by Sargi Creek and in the east by the Atlantic Ocean; with an area of approximately 16,000 hectares (40,000 acres) of rich fauna and flora.
The Serra do Conduru State Park has an area of approximately 9,000 hectares (22,000 acres). It covers important sections of Atlantic Rainforest which are still preserved. A survey performed there by botanists from the New York Botanical Gardens identified 456 different vegetal species in a single hectare (2.47 acres), a world record.
WALKING THROUGH FORESTS AND AMONG RIVERS
Nature is the main tourist attraction of Itacaré. There is no shortage of attraction for those who enjoy listening to birds, to be in contact with great trees and to dive into the waters of rivers and natural pools.
The Contas River enchants whoever ventures in canoe or boat. At sunset the waters reflect the colors that contrast with the living green of the forest, reminiscent of a classic oil painting. The canoe trips passing through mangroves, arriving at waterfalls are unforgettable.
