City of Trancoso

Trancoso

Located high on a hill, the small village of Trancoso is a district of Porto Seguro and one of the most sought after locations on the coast of Bahia. It is an ideal place to escape the hustle and bustle of big cities and rest at beaches with fine sand and warm water.

Founded in 1586 by the Jesuits, the city's main attractions are its beaches, some are deserted, as Itaquena and Patimirim, in addition to the famous Quadrado Histórico (Historical Square). Preserved by the Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional (Iphan), the Historic Square is full of colorful houses, inns, restaurants both rugged and chic, and hand made craft shops.

The best tour in Trancoso are the beaches, with stands where you can drink and eat typical Bahian food, like the acarajé (fried beans dumpling stuffed with dried shrimp and seasonings). Ten minutes from the village is the Praia dos Coqueiros, with reefs that form natural water pools at low tide and are perfect for diving.

On the south bank of the Trancoso River, is a bustling Praia dos Nativos, where you can go horseback riding or rent kayaks and surfboards. From the Praia do Rio Verde (Green River Beach) to the Espelho (Mirror) there are 16 km of deserted sands, passing through Pontas de Itaquena and Itapororoca, and through Barra do Rio dos Frades, where the river runs parallel to the beach.

In the opposite direction, towards Arraial d'Ajuda there are more deserted trails and another good place for a fresh water bath: the Praia do Rio da Barra. In the late afternoon, you can't help but admire the sunset on Church’s observatory.

A few years ago, Trancoso gained new accommodations and lodging. These are charming little houses with more privacy, where you can stay and receive friends, without losing hotel services, such as having coffee ready in the morning and cleaning services.

The city also has golf courses with high technical level, surrounded by dense Mata Atlântica (rainforest) cliffs and dunes, and with a spectacular view to the sea, making the experience even more sensational.