City ofPorto Seguro

Porto Seguro

Gateway to the region known as the Discovery Coast, Porto Seguro is a history lesson about Brasil. It was there that the Portuguese arrived in 1500, and if fell in love with Brasil. The city will certainly blow you away too.

Between houses, streets and churches, the historic center (Cidade Alta), protected by the National Historic and Artistic Heritage Institute (Iphan) in 1973, preserves traces of the beginning of the Brazilian colonial period. There you will find the Discovery Landmark [Marco do Descobrimento], the Nossa Senhora da Misericórdia Church, the Nossa Senhora da Pena Church, Saint Benedict's Church and House of Chamber and Jail.

The city’s shoreline is taken by beach huts playing music all day and offering activities such as collective dance classes and band performances to the sound of axé music and other genres. The ones at Taperapuan Beach, very sought after by large groups of tourists, are the hottest and offer programming day and night. The Mutá beach has more reserved and charming huts.

The gastronomic scene is concentrated in the region called Passarela do Descobrimento (formerly Passarela do Álcool). There you will find handicraft fair, restaurants and typical snacks, like cocada (coconut candy) and tapioca (type of crepe made with manioc flour). Surely you won't resist the famous Capeta, a vodka-based drink, with sweetened condensed milk, cinnamon and Guarana sold by hawkers on the boulevard.

Between Porto Seguro and Arraial D'ajuda, an island surrounded by mangroves reserves an unusual midnight tour on Fridays. It’s Ilha dos Aquários, a thematic leisure complex with huge tanks of stingrays, sharks and exotic fish, plus children's programming, concerts, DJs, bars and restaurants.

The Discovery Coast has luxurious resorts and charming Inns. It is worth taking advantage of the proximity between Porto Seguro and Arraial d'ajuda to spend a few days in the village of Arraial, which can serve as basis for quick trips to neighboring municipalities, such as Trancoso and Caraíva.