Introduction to Peninsula de Marau
Try to imagine what uninhabited beaches used to look like 50 years ago in Brazil. No buildings, no crowds, and no one trying to sell you something. The Marau Peninsula escaped the tourist boom in Bahia due to its difficult access. Nowadays, it’s easier to get here. The peninsula is truly blessed with natural beauty. On the Atlantic side there are 42 kilometers of white sand beaches, with warm transparent waters surrounded by coral reefs. On the other side is the Bay of Camamu, a pristine mangrove forest dotted with uninhabited islands and quaint little fishing villages. At its crown sits Barra Grande, one of the fastest growing international destinations on the Bahia coast. Now is truly the time to visit this unspoiled gem, the Peninsula de Marau.
The Beaches of the Peninsula de Marau
Every beach along the Marau Peninsula is unique and more beautiful than the next. In spite of being neighbors, each beach has its own distinct characteristics in terms of its natural beauty, cultural charm and the personalities of its inhabitants.
The Beaches of Barra Grande
Without a doubt, Barra Grande on the Marau Peninsula (Peninsula de Marau) is one of the fastest growing beach towns on the Bahia coast, quickly catching up to the likes of Itacare and Morro de Sao Paulo. Many Brazilians already prefer the charm of Barra Grande and Marau over other, more “saturated” beach towns of Bahia. Despite its recent growth, Barra Grande still has an authentic look and feel to it, with all sand streets and hand-crafted wooden architecture and furnishings. Here you’ll find the highest concentration of hotels, restaurants, night-life and essential services.
Barra Grande forms the “head” of the Marau Peninsula. Below we list the main beaches of Barra Grande. All are within walking distance from the town center.
Vila de Barra Grande Beach (centro)
This is the beach that surrounds old town Barra Grande, with restaurants, beach bars, and more people in general. It sits on the Bay of Camamu side of the peninsula, with warm, shallow waters, which makes it a safe choice for a hotel if you have children. Everything you’ll need here, including night-life, is within walking distance, and in general it’s the most practical choice for foreign visitors.
Ponta do Muta Beach
Just a few hundred meters north is Ponta do Muta Beach, the go-to spot to see the sunset on the Peninsula de Marau. There are some really cool bars here, with great music and a chill atmosphere to relax and do whatever floats your boat. Tourists and natives mingle here without a care in the world, except for a mutual desire to have fun and catch the perfect sunset!
Tres Coqueiros Beach
Tres Coqueiros (3 coconut trees) beach is the first beach on the Atlantic, eastern side of the Peninsula de Marau. When conditions are right, This is where you’ll find most of the local surfers from Barra Grande when tide is right. At low tide the reefs and the tidepools appear, making it a great stretch of beach to explore or go for a walk.
Bombaça Beach
Continuing south just below Tres Coqueiros, you’ll reach Bombaca Beach, where civilization starts to thin out and you may just find yourself all alone on beautiful, deserted beach. Low tide is great for swimming in the natural coral formations. If visiting for the first time, make it a point to take a long walk along the Atlantic side of the peninsula. This is where the magic of the Marau Peninsula begins.
Rio Carapitangui
A really cool place to spend an afternoon is along the Carapitangui River, about 1 km south of the Villa. There’s a great restaurant there called Bar da Ro, where you can eat and lounge comfortably along the river’s edge. It’s also a great place for paddle boarding, and if you can last till sunset, just walk down to the beach for one of the best views in Barra Grande.
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Taipu de Fora Beach
Taipu de Fora is on the Atlantic side of the Peninsula de Marau, just below Barra Grande. It is by far the single most visited beach on the peninsula ever since it made its way onto the list of the top 10 beaches in Brazil. The reef formations here create spectacular environment for snorkeling and SCUBA diving. Natural pools are formed at low tide, giving the impression that you are inside of a living aquarium of crystalline water, full of tropical fish, corals and other marine life.
Cassange Beach and Lake
For many, the Praia do Cassange is the most beautiful stretch along the Peninsula de Marau, the beach is pristine and nearly uninhabited. Just behind the beach is the Lagoa do Cassange (Cassange Lake), a picturesque, fresh water playground perfect for paddling and enjoying the sunset. This part of the Marau Peninsula is for nature lovers, with few amenities outside of the first-class hotels. Just the stars at night make a stay here completely worthwhile!
Saquaira Beach
Saquaira Beach is roughly the halfway point along the Marau Peninsula. It is the only real town that you’ll see along the dirt highway if you happen to be driving. Saquaira is small and charming town of mostly natives, with all the basic stores and conveniences. The beach here has more waves with some decent surf, with some beautiful and upscale resort properties.
Algodoes Beach
Just below Saquaira sits beautiful Algodoes Beach. The beach here is more protected in its own bay, with wide, white sand beaches and natural pools at low tide. The neighborhood is charming without a lot of commerce, with an eclectic mix of Brazilians and foreigners with vacation homes… and many who came to stay!
Attractions and Sights on Marau Peninsula
Natural Pools of Taipu de Fora
The natural tidepool formations of Taipu de Fora Beach are one of the main attractions of the Marau Peninsula. The coral reefs here form an underwater amusement park for those who love the ocean and its inhabitants. At low tide the water is always warm and crystal clear, and the photos you’ll find doesn’t do it justice… you need to come here to really appreciate it!
The Taipu Lighthouse
It may not be Rio’s Christ the Redeemer statue, but the Taipu de Fora Lighthouse can be from almost anywhere in the region. The view from the top is worth the visit, offering a 360-degree view of the peninsula, the Atlantic and the Bay of Camamu. It looks small from far away, but be prepared when climbing it under the hot Bahian sun… bring plenty of water! Best saved for the day you rent a quad.
Giant Bromeliad Trail (Trilha da Bromelias Gigantes)
If you want to see the Marau Peninsula up close, you need to explore the Bromeliad Trail that runs along the coast from Taipu de Fora to Cassange. There are spectacular views of deserted beaches, Atlantic rainforest and freshwater lakes. A great way to see it is by renting a quad bike for a day so you can explore the trail at your own pace. Other options are to hire one of the open pick-up trucks (jardineiras) or a private car.
Lagoa Azul (Blue Lake)
Lagoa Azul is one of the better-known attractions on the Marau Peninsula, yet one of the least visited these days. It used to be a great place to float and drink beer in its fresh water, but since it became privatized, there are no more vendors and you need to come prepared. Don’t let that stop you... it's a beautiful place to stop for a brief swim! This attraction is easily visited by quad.
Cassange Lake (Lagoa do Cassange)
Cassange Lake (Lagoa do Cassange) is the largest of the many freshwater lakes on the Marau Peninsula. It is long and picturesque, perfect for day activities like kayaking and paddleboard. Another interesting feature is how close it is to the ocean, with some of the finer hotels on the peninsula situated on this narrow, coveted strip of land. There are several points of access, but you need to ask or keep a sharp lookout since the lake is not easily visible from the trail. Highly worth a visit!
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Bay of Camamu (Baía de Camamu)
The Bay of Camamu is a near pristine ecological sanctuary that borders the west side of the Peninsula de Marau. It’s actually the third largest bay in all of Brazil, as well as one of the largest preserved mangroves forests. The flora and fauna here would amaze any biologist or bird watcher. Dotted with uninhabited islands and small fishing villages, the Bay of Camamu makes for a wonderful day tour with a lobster and seafood lunch… even better if you can charter your own speedboat!
Below are some of the places you'll visit on a tour of the Bay of Camamu.
Ilha da Pedra Furada
Pedra Furada (Hole-in-the-Rock Island), is by far the most visited attraction in the Bay of Camamu. Every tour boat stops here. This island has an owner, however, and if you want to walk around the island, you’ll pay an entry fee of R$5 per person. You can always stay on the boat if you don’t want to pay, but in our opinion, it’s worth visiting once… the pictures always come out great!
Goio Island (Ilha do Goió)
Ilha do Goio (Goio Island) is another obligatory stop on any boat tour in the Bay of Camamu. There’s nothing here to speak of, really, except that it’s a small, pristine island with perfectly white sand, making it a perfect stop for a swim. It’s an awesome place to simply take in the surrounding natural beaty of the Bay of Camamu, and hopefully it won’t be too crowded when you visit.
Sapinho Island (Ilha do Sapinho)
Sapinho Island is a picturesque village where most of the boat tours stop for lunch. The restaurants are all rustic, with a sand floor and hand-made wooden tables. There’s a great selection of local seafood, including lobster at reasonable prices. Try the clams (lambreta) served with a spicy Bahia broth along with a cold beer. Ask for a complimentary shot of cachaca to “open the appetite”, as they say in Brazil!
Tremembe Falls (Cachoeira de Tremembé)
The Tremembe Waterfall is located at the extreme south end of the Bay of Camamu, and can only be accessed by a speedboat tour. Here, the fresh water river cascades into the brackish waters of Camamu Bay. The surrounding nature is beautiful and it’s a great spot for a refreshing swim, making Tremembe Falls a very worthwhile attraction. The tour boat will actually put its bow under the falls!
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Towns on the Marau Peninsula
Campinho
Campinho is the neighboring village just to the south of Barra Grande. It is technically an island, and it’s a great place to visit one afternoon, slow down and take in the natural beauty of Marau without the crowds… great for lunch or a few beers on the water. Campinho has become the place for the international sailing set because of its deep, yet calm waters. The shore is dotted with beautiful homes with private docks and trans-oceanic sailboats.
Taipu de Dentro
Taipu de Dentro is one of the oldest fishing villages on the Marau Peninsula, and you can tell by its architecture. You won’t find too many tourists here, but the locals crowd to the waterfront on weekends since you can still get great food and cold beer at non-tourist prices. The calm water here makes it great for families with children. The best time to go is for a late lunch or late afternoon, and if you can stay for the sunset you will not regret it. It take about 25 minutes to get here by car from Barra Grande.
HIstoric Town of Marau
The historic city of Marau, for which the peninsula is named after, is located in the southern part of the peninsula. Its name comes from the indigenous population called the Mayrahu Indians, and the Capuchin monks found and settled along the river here in 1705. The city does not offer much by way of tourism, except for some historic architecture. It is well maintained and the people are very friendly, and it is an interesting stop for anyone on a private boat tour.
Piracanga e a Comunidade Inkiri
Piracanga Beach sits along the southernmost coast of the Marau Peninsula. It is home to the Inkira Community, whose residents are dedicated to spiritual growth and sustainable living practices. They receive visitors from all over the world that are part of the “School for Transformation”, offering many courses and retreats. Access to Piracanga can be difficult, and best done in a 4x4. You can visit their site here for more details.
F.A.Q. - The Peninsula de Marau
What’s the difference between Barra Grande and the Peninsula de Marau?
The Peninsula de Marau, or Marau Peninsula, refers to the geographic region that includes all the beaches and villages of the peninsula, which includes Barra Grande, the beaches of Taipu de Fora, Cassange, Saquaira, Algodoes, Piracanga, and the actual city of Marau. Barra Grande is a district within the municipality of Marau, and sits at the northern tip of the peninsula. All other beaches and towns on the peninsula also belong to the municipality of Marau.
Useful Phone Numbers and Links
Health
Barra Grande Clinic
Address: Rua Maria Amélia, Barra Grande - BA, 45520-000
Phone: (73) 99937-2551
Marau Hospital
Address: R. Manoel de Souza Vivas, 100 – Maraú, BA, 45520-000
Telefone: (73) 3258-2419
Saquaira Clinic
Address: Vila da Saquaira, 100 - BA, 45520-000
Telefone: n/a
Hospital Dr. Alvaro Ernesto, Camamu
Address: R. C. Salgado, 94, Camamu - BA, 45445-000
Telefone: (73) 3255-2175
Police
Polícia Militar - Barra Grande
Address: Travessa Miguel Nogueira - Barra Grande - BA, 45520-000
Telefone: (73) 3258-6564`
Police Station Marau
Address: Av. Beira Mar, 2, Maraú - BA, 45520-000
Telefone: (73) 3258-2160
Marau Town Hall
Address: Praça Siqueira Campos, s/n, Maraú - BA, 45520-000
Telefone: (73) 3258-2131
Prefeitura de Maraú - Facebook
Other Phone Numbers
Pharmacy União - Barra Grande
Address: Rua José Melo Pirajá, 28 Barra Grande - BA, 45520-000
Telefone: (73) 3258-6186
Taxi Stand – Vila de Barra Grande (in front of main pier)
Telefone: (73) 3258-6291
Motorcycle Taxis Barra Grande
Telefone: (73) 3258 6486
Ilheus Bus Station
Address: Av Roberto Santos, 15 – Ilhéus, Ba - 45650-015
Telefone: (73) 2102-5335
Ilheus Airport
Address: Rua Brg. Eduardo Gomes – Ilhéus, BA - 45654-070
Telefone: (73) 3234 4000
Map of Marau Peninsula
(click to enlarge)
