FREE TIME

There are some websites that helps a lot.

www.bahia.com.br
www.braziltour.com


BAHIA

1 – PRAIA DO FORTE

A trip to Praia do Forte is a day trip that is worthwhile. It is located at 60 km north of Salvador, a 1 ½(easy) trip by car. Along the way there are lovely white sand beach and palm trees beaches.
It also contains a Turtle Project and there you can see turtle nesting and birthday center (the female lay their eggs in November and December; the hatch ling strive to make it to the sea in January and February at night, after dark. Only at 1% make it).

CCS Volunteer
01/11/2002

Beautiful and restful if you want quiet, you can have it by booking a hostel on a side street and asking for a side (garden) room. If you want good restaurants and night life (live music by 10pm on sat) it’s on the main walkways.
Many vendors bargain at the main square (near light house entrance to turtle Project which is very interesting, allow at least 1 h and visit the gift store. If you stay several days, there are horse back rides; dune buggy rides, etc but has to book these with an agency. Great ice cream at a self service place. For good Brazilian food - OGUM - It is also a beautiful Inn (pousada). I stayed at the Pousada dos Artistas which I loved. Nice room, huge buffet breakfast. The rooms had ceiling fans or air conditioning and probably slightly more for air conditioning. Owners speak excellent English.

Pousada dos Artistas - Phone – (0 xx 71) 3676-1147
Pousada Ogum Marinho – Phone – (0 xx 71) 3676-1062

Highlights – after great beach morning (the farther you walk, the fewer people there are) I showed and lay in my hammock. I kept hearing a Bird but couldn’t locate it. Finally I looked down and saw in the flowering Vines on the balcony railing a ting white face, belonging to a ting gray monkey!

How to get there:

Take a bus to RODOVIÁRIA (bus station)
Get a ticket to PRAIA DO FORTE 1 ½ bus ride
Very cute and cool village *Must See*
To get home take one of the vans near the bus stop (not a comfortable ride home but very interesting and a good experience) or take the bus in the same place that drop you off.

CCS Volunteer
01/12/2002

This is definitely a worthwhile trip, and it is an easy day trip or could certainly be turned into an overnight.
Take a taxi to the bus station RODOVIÁRIA in Salvador. The ticket windows are upstairs. I took a Linha Verde bus on the way there (every hour). The trip could take anywhere from 1 ½ hrs to 3 hrs depending on traffic, but you pass some pretty areas along the way and it’s a pleasant ride. It’s pretty and feels quite safe and wasn’t crowded on a Saturday in October.
The beach is beautiful and no one bothered me at all.
The Tamar Project with the sea turtles is really interesting, very quick and right on the beach. Sit and watch the film about the project while you’re there! I didn’t stay over so I didn’t know about hostels. On the way home just return to the area where the bus drop you off. No need to buy a ticket ahead of time, just get on the bus.

CCS Volunteer
06/10/2003

I thought it might be a lame weekend trip to go to Praia do Forte because I don’t think that turtles are that thrilling, but it was great. Perfect relaxing getaway with beautiful beaches and friendly people.
I stayed at Pousada Porto da Lua – Fabulous! (more expensive than most).
It sits right on the beach and I woke up to see the sunrise on the ocean. The beach there is not too crowded because the Pousada is in an area where mostly locals live. It is to the left of the main street if you’re looking at the ocean.
If being right on the beach is not a necessity, there are cheaper Pousadas/Hostels to the right of the main street.
*Be sure you go when it’s sunny! I didn’t do any eco-tours- just the beaches were satisfying for me.

CCS Volunteer
20/05/2006

Small village that has a turtle zoo. It is a laid back fishing village, we stayed at an incredible pousada called Refúgio da Villa. (small pool) The owners spoke English. There were hammocks on each rooms porch. It is a 2 second walk to the main strip. Lots of little stands selling jewelry, trinkets and dresses.
Option to go on adventures i.e.: zip lining canoying, white water rafting. Relatively cheap weekend getaway

CCS Volunteer
20/06/2006