Brazil Travel

Brazil Travel / Mata Atlântica – Itacaré is located in southern Bahia, at the so-called cocoa coast, 440 km south of Salvador and 70 km north of Ilhéus. The charming village is the main starting point for tours to the Environmental Protection Areas (APA) Itacaré - Serra Grande, in the south, Peninsula Maraú, in the north and Conduru State Park, in the southwest.

The first inhabitants of today´s Itacaré were the Pataxós Indians, which nowadays still can be found at Monte Pascoal National Park. In the beginning of the 18th century, the Jesuits settled here and built the church São Miguel, still standing today. In 1732, the village was named São Miguel da Barra do Rio de Contas and received the status of a municiple.

Only in 1931, the name was changed to Itacaré, which in tupi - guarani means "roundshaped stone". During the 18th and 19th century (similar to Ilhéus), Itacaré became an important cacao production centre in south Bahia. After the cacao crisis, caused by the Vassoura da Bruxa fungus, Itacaré´s economy collapsed, surviving nowadays basically from tourism, particularly ecotourism. Different from most of Bahias beaches, which are bordered by large coconut forests, southern Itacaré still preserves significant Mata Atlântica remnants – Brazil Travel / Ecotourism.

See also: Tour Porto Seguro - Salvador