by O Pituaçu Metropolitan Park It is one of the main remaining areas of Atlantic Forest in Salvador. Located on the coast, more precisely on Avenida Octavio Mangabeira, it has a large area for those looking for a free option for fun. Therefore, as the park is open after the pandemic period, read to the end for all the details about the place.
A brief history of the Park
Pituaçu comes from the Tupi language and means "large bark". That is, it comes from the union of pi'tu (bark) and wa'su (big).
The park was created in 1973, and the lagoon was artificially created to serve as a water source and supply for the city. However, due to the lagoon's degradation over time, this supply was suspended.
What to do in Pituaçu Park
O opening hours The Pituaçu Park exhibition is open daily from 7 am to 5 pm. In addition, there is the Mario Cravo Space, where the artist's works are permanently displayed in various locations throughout the park.
Despite having a 14-kilometer trail, bike rentals are no longer available. When I was there, I saw some cyclists starting to ride the route, probably with their own bikes.
Furthermore, the paddle boats were also removed. When I went, on a Sunday morning, I saw that the bars were closed and I only saw a few street vendors selling things in front of the main entrance. Therefore, if you are going for a walk with children, I recommend that you bring some snacks and dispose of your trash properly.
At the second entrance to the park, I saw that there is a parking lot with 60 spaces. When I posted the content on Instagram of the blog, Some people commented that it was restricted to employees. But I didn't see any signs informing about that. However, you can park on one of the internal streets near the park. There's a water fountain with cold water there.
Although the lagoon and river are very large, swimming is not allowed. Therefore, the focus of enjoying the park is on walking around the area and, if you like hiking, bringing your bicycle.
Is Pituaçu Park dangerous?
When I posted about the park on Instagram, the vast majority of comments asked if it was safe, others claimed it was abandoned, and some reported cases of robberies they had heard about.
In my opinion, many people already have a preconceived image of what Pituaçu Park is like. Therefore, even I... showing in the post Some people riding their bicycles wasn't enough.
When I went there, I recorded the video below for the my YouTube channel And I took photos normally. So, I invite you to watch and draw your own conclusions. And there's a moment when I manage to capture the moment the security guard passes by on a motorcycle. In other words, there are security guards on site, but we know it's impossible to cover the entire area.
Therefore, I recommend that you keep an eye on your surroundings. And above all, have fun. If you want more options on what to do in Salvador, Read this post.
