Itacaré is a picturesque coastal city located in the state of Bahia, in the Brazilian northeast. Best described as a small fishing town, Itacaré holds a unique position at the mouth of the Rio de Contas. In 1998, an asphalted road was made and the city developed quickly, with numerous places to stay in Itacare, restaurants in Itacare Brazil and bars opening up. Since then many people from all over the world have discovered the wonders of the place.
Itacaré is a great place to discover on an Itacaré tour as there is a lot to see and do in Itacare, Brazil. The surfing in Itacare Brazil is the natural home of the surfing fraternity due to its scenic beaches. Nature lovers and hippies enjoy its endless verdant Atlantic rainforests. This place pulsates to the sounds of reggae and forró music as locals and tourists alike enjoy the youthful buzz. So the order of visitor attractions generally reads surfing, reggae, forró, ecotourism and adventure. However, it is also ideal for simply relaxing. So if soaking in the sun on a quiet beach is your idea of a holiday, Itacaré brings pristine beauty with privacy.
Options in Itacaré are plentiful and there is something to suit all travellers. Those wanting a light activity can sit in a canoe on the Contas River and take in the wonderful landscapes and waterfalls, whereas those wanting a more adventurous activity can practice rafting or rappel on the same river. After all, the city is a model in ecotourism in Brazil and has many different and interesting environmentally friendly activities and tours of Itacaré.
Itacaré is a picturesque shelf spanning just eight miles on the Bahian coast. This ensures that ocean waves hit it with consistency and vigour. That's why Itacaré is one of the best places to surf in Brazil and South America, with surfers coming from all over the world looking for the perfect wave. Recently, a stage of WQS was held at Tiririca Beach. Other great surfing beaches include Engenhoca, Havaizinho, Prainha and Jeribucaçu.
Until 1998 Itacare was a small town with an economy based on the cultivation of cocoa and fishing. At that time, Itacaré was visited only by regional people and the first surfers who discovered the perfect waves of Itacaré. Today, the town has great facilities. Delicious restaurants prepare traditional cuisine based on fish and shellfish. The various pousadas and hotels in Itacaré offer the comfort that the visitor requires, and the lively Itacare nightlife provides entertainment and good music for everybody.
Itacaré is made up of various areas - Porto de Trás, Marimbondo, Passagem, Centro, São Miguel and Pituba, Concha, Tiririca. Visitors can use the interactive Itacaré map to choose a hotel in Itacaré based on its location, as each area is a mixture of diverse cultures, traditions and lively people. Time almost stands still here, with lingering lunches and languorous conversations.
If you like star spotting, you may be in for some luck as you explore this exotic place - the perfect setting for many a film and TV series. Endless stretches of vast, uninhabited beaches in Itacaré are dotted by swaying palms and coconut groves. Rainforest trees and cocoa plantations stretch high into the sky, making it the perfect destination for an Itacare Brazil Holiday!
The Portuguese discovered Itacaré in the sixteenth century and settled here in 1532. Both Dutch and Portuguese pirates set up cocoa plantations and undertook whaling. Given the official status of a city in 1881, Itacaré now has almost 24,000 residents. Cocoa farming in Itacaré met an untimely death in the 1980s when Witch's Broom or Vassoura de Bruxa ravaged the plantations. Since then, its economy has depended mainly on tourism.
In the early eighteenth century, the Jesuits impacted Itacaré immensely, leaving behind a Catholic legacy. The beautiful São Miguel Church, built in 1718, bears testimony to their influence. The area took its name from this church and continues to be called São Miguel da Barra do Rio de Contas.
The early nineteenth century saw a cocoa boom in the region, with landowners reaping huge rewards from exporting it to Europe. These well-heeled ‘colonels' or landowners had a lavish lifestyle and lived in big mansions. The remnants of this colonial grandeur can still be seen in Itacaré, some in the shape of skeletal wooden frameworks. Eco Trip offers a range of accommodation and comfortable Itacare Brazil hotels to ensure guests' holiday in Itacare is nothing but relaxed!
The transition from a cocoa economy to a buzzing tourist hub has not been without its challenges. For instance, landowners along the coastline have wanted to levy charges for accessing the beaches. It has taken a few hard hitting campaigns to stop that. Also with the boom, many Itacaré hotels, pousadas and condominiums have sprung up close to the beaches. Still much is in the fore at Itacaré. It remains the high seat of Bahian revelry and glory. Many travel across the globe to enjoy the Capoeira or the ‘dance/fight to music'. This, coupled with typical Brazilian food and drinks, makes it an unforgettable party.
Two distinct parts of Itacaré have emerged over time. One side has the original houses, shopping attractions and bars. The other side is more tourist-centric where eating out in Itacare and shopping in Itacare are focal points, with Itacare internet cafes, Itacaré tour agencies, water sports/equipment shops and souvenirs aplenty.
For convenience, tourists need to focus on just one main street, Pituba, which runs straight up to the port. With modern buildings on either side, finding pousadas and hotels in Itacaré, eco lodges and posadas is very easy. This is the main street of Itacaré and pulls out all the stops to welcome tourists and make their stay extremely comfortable.
Surfers, hikers and eco-tourists flock to Itacaré in the thousands every year. What attract them are the cosy beaches with mysterious coves along with vast stretches of powdery sand. Nestling beside one of the few remaining large Brazilian rainforests, Itacaré also reveals many a species of wildlife and taking an exciting Itacaré tour is a great way to see the sights. Out of the ordinary, invigorating and entertaining, all visitors carry a piece of Itacaré in their hearts. So choose your Itacaré Brazil hotel or pousada and then come and discover Itacaré!
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