Introduction
Itacare is a friendly fishing town in the south of Bahia, known for its laid back Afro-Brazilian culture. Just 100 miles from Salvador, the bustling state capital, Itacare is yet another example of what Bahia's diverse coastline has to offer Brazil holidays. It's popular with surfers and backpackers, but offers a broad range of accommodation, from modest pousadas to smart upmarket hotels. The town is surrounded by thick forest, quiet deserted bays and beautiful sandy beaches, as well as superb offshore breaks - which attract Brazil's best surfers year round.
The Atlantic rainforest that surrounds Itacare is protected by UNESCO, making the town a popular destination for wildlife enthusiasts. This charming setting also lends Itacare a real sense of isolation - blissfully stranded between a thick forest and the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean. The road from nearby Ilhéus passes strait through this stretch of rainforest and, complete with high-wire monkey bridges, offers a great chance to pass slowly through this dense vegetation and listen out for the sounds of the forest.
