The gorgeous little surf town of Itacaré, Brazil is the sort of place you may never want to leave. In this guide you’ll find everything you need to know to plan your visit including the best things to do in Itacare, where to eat and where to stay.
Three weeks.
That's all we had remaining of our mammoth two year Latin American adventure when fate guided us to Itacaré. We were looking for sun, sand and relaxation.
What we discovered was paradise. A small cocoa scented village where shoes were not required and time did not matter. A perfect hideaway edged by secluded beaches and wrapped in rainforest, where days turned into weeks and we pretended we never had to leave.
Great plans were never made, days instead guided by the tide and the sun, passed on beaches with wonderfully tropical names, the scent of coconut, suncream and lime in the air and another icy caipirinha in our hand.
How long Itacaré can continue to be so deliciously under the radar remains to be seen, but one thing is clear - something this beautiful cannot remain hidden forever.
So, heading to Brazil? You simply have to add Itacaré to your itinerary - and here's everything you need to know for when you get there!
Best Beaches in Itacaré
For those of you nursing a hangover or craving beach time with no fuss, you'll be pleased to know that there is not just one, but four beaches within short walking distance of the town - and these are not just your run of the mill beaches. No, these are the sort that people travel across oceans to lay upon, one of which is widely regarded by many as the best beach in Brazil!
Praia da Concha
Praia Concha is the beach closest to the centre of Itacaré, and as such is the busiest (particularly during the summer months).
Given the calibre of coves you’ll find a little further along the coast, we wouldn’t necessarily recmmend spending the day here, however what it lacks in peaceful vibes it more than makes up for with facilities! You’ll find a variety of beach shacks offering simple meals and cold beers / soft drinks, plus some have sunbeds which you’re free to use if buying food or drinks.
The water is also super calm so ideal for a paddle or swim (meaning it’s quite popular with families).
Find the beach on Google Maps.
Top Tip // Located at the very end of Praia da Concha you’ll find Mirante do Xaréu (maps), widely regarded as one of the best spots to watch the sunset in Itacaré.
Praia Resende
A short walk from Praia da Concha (should take no longer than 15 minutes), you'll arrive at picture-postcard Resende.
This small cove, backed by a handful of wooden shacks serving coconuts and cocktails is a beautiful spot to lay down your towel and watch the world go by - as long as it's not high tide, when the beach disappears!
Facilities are much more limited than Concha, but in addition to the food/drink stalls and you can also rent umbrellas and chairs (expect to pay around 25R for two chairs and a parasol for the day).
You can find the beach on Google Maps.
Top Tip // There's a small tapioca cart here that sells the most amazing cheese, tomato and basil tapiocas - if you haven't tried one of these Brazilian delicacies, now is your chance.
Tiririca Beach
Tiririca Beach is a busier but still beautiful spot popular with surfers. We spent a couple of afternoons here, but quickly learnt that the higher cost of cocktails meant nipping back around the corner to Resende worked out considerably cheaper!
You can find Tiririca beach on Google Maps, accessed by a short coastal trail from Praia do Resende.
Praia Prainha
For an area that is all the more stunning for its lack of development, it is of little surprise that the area's most beautiful beaches require a tad more effort to reach - think long walks through rainforests, under waterfalls and, in some cases, over small streams.
However, in the case of a couple, good things certainly do come to those that, well, hike!
Case in point? Praia Prainha. This isn't just a pretty beach, this amazing stretch of white sand is considered by many to be the best in Brazil - and, despite what local guides will tell you, it is possible to reach independently following a well-trodden path from Ribiera (the last beach on the Itacarés main road).
Due to our paranoia, and the odd documented case of robbery along the path, we didn't bring a camera with us for this adventure (we advise you not to take valuables either), but this blog post has some great pictures, and an explanation of the route.
Jeribucaçu
The final beach you absolutely have to visit during your time in this tropical paradise is Jeribucaçu. Famous in equal parts, for its excellent surf break, crystal clear lagoon and amazing beach-made barbecued fish, this praia falls very much under the descriptive term 'off the beaten track', and you may well have the entire place to yourself.
To get there, take any local bus heading out of town towards Ilheus and ask to be dropped off at the start of the trail, around 9 km outside of Itacare. From here there is a sign indicating the entrance to a dirt road - follow it down a steep hill for 3 km through the trees and have a well-earned ice-cold coconut on the beach.
Surfing in Itacaré
We know, we know.
If you're anything like us, the most 'active' you're going to get here is walking to and from your beach towel and lifting a caipirinha. However, given that Itacaré is famous for its surf breaks and consistent swell, there may well be a few of you that want to catch a few waves between coconuts.
For absolute beginners (or those looking to up their game) there are a number of surf schools in town offering multi-day classes - Easy Drop Surf School or Medians do Mar both come highly recommended - whilst pros can rent a board from any of the many spots along the main street and hit up one of the four surf breaks within walking distance.
other things to do in Itacaré
(if you’ve got the energy!)
Not into surfing? The rugged landscapes of the Cocoa Coast mean that there is still plenty for the adventurous sort in Itacaré including:
| White water rafting on the nearby Contas
| Rainforest treks
| Whale watching tours from July to August.
Where to eat in Itacaré
We were bad budget-backpackers in Itacaré.
With an abundance of fresh seafood, amazing Bahian cuisine and the most delicious black beans and mashed potato we have ever eaten, we really couldn't relegate ourselves to the kitchen very often. Throw in a fantastic veggie burger, and even better veggie middle eastern food and it's amazing we ever went to the supermarket!
There are so many restaurants in town, it would take you weeks to visit every one, put here are a few that should definitely check out:
Agua na Boca (maps) | We went back to this restaurant three times, and only tried one dish (a hearty plate of fried fish, beans, rice and creamy mash) it was that good! Simple home-cooking at its finest.
Sabores da Bahia (maps) | Widely agreed to serve the best moqueca in town, and deemed bloody delicious by us.
Bestante Elefante (maps) | Hands-down the best burger in town with an exceptional veggie option.
Alamaim (maps) | - It's rare to find good Middle Eastern food in Latin America. It's even rare to find a restaurant that only serves vegetarian versions! Lots of mezzes and wraps so you can mix and match, but be warned that the portions are pretty large.
Tio Gu Café Creperia (maps) | Amazing crepes served in a place oozing with cool surfer vibes.
For those of you staying somewhere with your own kitchen, be sure to check out the local fish market. The opening times are a little hit and miss (more often than not after midday), but a great place to pick up some great value fresh seafood. You can find it here on Google Maps.
Where to drink
It is not until the shadows grow long and the sun begins to set that the streets of Itacaré come alive - and nowhere is this more apparent than in the handful of bars along Pedro Longo (the main cobblestone street).
Whilst the night life is tame compared to big cities like Rio, you can still find some great post-beach action in this small town, centred around Jungle Bar (maps) and its neighbours. Here, amongst creaky distressed wooden benches, lothario-like bartenders mix dangerously strong caipirinhas atop old wooden carts and the the road fills with sidewalk drinkers and impromptu buskers.
Expect to pay around 8R for a drink from a bar, or 6R from a stall.
For something a little more upmarket, be sure to check out Marley's down by the harbour. Run by expats, it offers food, live music and great cocktails!
Oh, and one last tip: should you hear an amazing voice singing about chocolate, follow it, listen and then buy a bar or two - trust us, you won't regret it!
Where to stay in Itacaré
There are lots of great studios and apartments for rent in Itacaré, and that's what we chose to do for the majority of our stay, spending two weeks in our own place a couple minute's walk from the beaches. You'll find a lot listed on Airbnb too.
Hostels
Bananas | By far one of the most popular hostels in town (and definitely one for the social backpacker), bananas offers nice but basic rooms, a guest kitchen, bar, good breakfast and a large garden. This is where we stayed. For more information, check prices and availability here.
Che Lagarto | Part of a large chain that stretches across South America, Che is definitely one for the more discerning backpacker. Modern design, a guest kitchen and a bar that gets pretty busy. For more information, check prices and availability on booking.com or hostelworld.
Guest Houses
Mar Ilha Pousada | A firm favourite amongst visitors to Itacaré, and at just £30 a night for large rooms, balconies with garden views, great staff and an even better breakfast it's not hard to understand why. For more information, check prices and availability here.
Pousada Encantos Da Mata | New guesthouse with slightly dated but clean rooms, fantastic staff, great location close to beach but with lovely gardens and breakfast included - and just £20 a night. For more information, check prices and availability here.
Pousada Galeão Itacaré | Come for the good reviews, stay for the location - this place is just a few minutes from the beach. Smart little rooms, all with hammock and balcony and yet another great breakfast (we think it's a 'thing' in Itacaré). For more information, check prices and availability here.
Getting there and away
Unless you have a car, the only way into or out of Itacaré is by bus, which head north and south regularly throughout the day (there are buses to Ilheus every hour).
If you arrive late at night, jump in a cab. It really isn't very far and at 15R is pretty overpriced, but we really wouldn't recommend anybody walking into town with all their valuables in poorly lit streets - especially single females.
If like us, your next destination is a little further afield, then we'd recommend a flight from Ilheus, which is two hours from Itacaré and has flights all over Brazil.
