Introduction
Trancoso is a relaxed coastal town that has become one of Bahia state's most fashionable holiday destinations. Situated on a long stretch of beach, Trancoso offers luxury hotels, boutique shops and fine restaurants, all of which nestle neatly into the town's sleepy streets and dusty squares. Though it's no longer the quiet fishing village it once was, this chic resort is a world away from the hectic beaches found elsewhere - yet still attracts some of Brazil's rich and famous.
Trancoso's main square, the Quadrado, is home to the town's pretty church, the white washed 17th century Sao Joao Batista. It sits alongside a set of colourful casas, which house the town's shops and eateries. Trancoso's main draw, however, is its wonderful golden-sand beaches and the clear blue waters of the Atlantic that lap gently at the shore. The Praia do Trancoso and Praia dos Nativos are the best known, the buzziest and the closest beaches to Trancoso. Another, Itapororoca, further south, is all but untouched and offers excellent snorkelling opportunities.