by Praia do Forte It's one of the most sought-after destinations in Bahia, especially on weekends. Therefore, this post will help you plan your trip to the village, highlighting the main places to visit. Read on and enjoy! Don't forget to follow us! Instagram of the blog To get up-to-date tips about Salvador.
Why is it called Praia do Forte?
At the beginning of the colonial period, the village was known as Tatuapara. It later acquired this name thanks to the fort built by Garcia D'Avila, which was also his residence. In 1970, Klaus Peters (who passed away in 2011), a native of São Paulo of German descent, arrived in the area and was responsible for making Praia do Forte the well-known ecotourism destination it is today.
So much so that he created the Garcia D'Avila Foundation, the Sapiranga reserve, and has a reserve that bears his name. When you get there, you'll see that Peters' name is honored in several parts of the village.
Where is Praia do Forte located?
It's about 70 km from Salvador. Located on the North Coast, it's a village belonging to the municipality of Mata de São João. Therefore, it's ideal for a day trip, for example. After all, the trip by car should take just over an hour. I'll talk about how I got there and suggest other options brought up by my followers on Instagram.
How to get to Praia do Forte
When I was planning my trip, it took me a while to find the options. After all, I wasn't sure if the bus station had lines to that destination. But I found a solution for those who don't have or don't want to go in their own car: the Linha Branca van.
Its starting point is the bus stop located in front of the Iguatemi Business Center. It starts at 5 am and runs until 5 pm, passing every 15 minutes. The fare is R$ 13. In addition, it stops at some points such as the Imbuí metro station and the old Extra Paralela supermarket.
Along the way, the bus also stops in Arembepe, Guarajuba, and other places before Praia do Forte, with the final stop being Porto do Sauípe. That's why it's important to tell the conductor that you want to get off there, especially if you're a tourist or have never been to Porto before.
It's worth mentioning that the van carries standing passengers throughout the journey until it's full. Therefore, if you want a seat, I recommend catching it at the Business Center. The journey took approximately 2 hours.
I showed the van. This is a Reel on Instagram. And some followers pointed out the Atlântico buses departing from the Bus Station or the Airport Station, which offers connections and costs R$9.80.
If you're driving your own car, practically all parking spaces at Praia do Forte are metered. Additionally, there are parking lots charging R$$ 6 per hour or R$$ 30 per day.
Where to stay
If you plan to stay for several days, I recommend the Praia do Forte Hostel. In my searches, it was always the most recommended. The location is very good, as it's minutes from the van or bus stop and next to Av. ACM, the main avenue in the village.
Furthermore, the space is very beautiful and welcoming. I stayed in a suite that can accommodate up to 3 people and was quite spacious. Not to mention the service from everyone, which was very friendly.
Breakfast offers variety and provides ample fuel for the day. One advantage it offers is discounts at some restaurants, and 50% on admission to the Tamar Project and Garcia D'Avila Castle. See the... Reels that I made Showing a little bit of the place. Access this platform To check room prices. Remember that they offer shared rooms for men only and for women up to 6 people.
How to get around Praia do Forte
I stayed for three days and did almost everything on foot. In other words, prepare yourself physically if your goal is to see the main tourist attractions of the village. But there are "bicycle taxis" near the well-known church of São Francisco de Assis for those who want to save their breath. However, they are relatively expensive.
They charge R$ 60 for half an hour to circulate throughout the area. Remember that the vehicle carries a maximum of 4 people. And R$ 25 if you need to go from the church to the beginning of the village, which should take about 10 minutes on foot.
One of the main attractions, Garcia D'Avila Castle, is even walkable if you're up for a 3-kilometer hike, but I don't recommend it as it takes a long time and isn't as advantageous, which I'll explain better when I talk about the place.
What to visit in Praia do Forte
This area of the Green Line has places that are worth checking out, even if it's your first time. So, I'm going to talk about the places I went to.
- Tamar Project
- Garcia D'Avila Castle
- Humpback Whale Space
- Sapiranga Reserve
- Lord, Papa Gente and Chapéu beaches
Prepare your notepad, notebook, or anything else to jot down tips about these tourist attractions.
Tamar Project
The Tamar Project is responsible for preserving and protecting various species of sea turtles. Therefore, there is a structure in place to raise awareness among tourists, as well as to showcase the turtles. It's ideal for families and children, as it has a children's area and they will certainly love seeing the animals up close.
Furthermore, if you go in the afternoon, you'll see the sharks being fed at 4:30 PM and, if you're lucky, the spawning season, when the pups safely make their way to the sea. Therefore, I recommend arriving from 3 PM onwards to explore the area following the guide's instructions and catch the sunset.
Opening hours are Wednesday to Sunday and holidays from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and the ticket price is R$ 35 for adults and R$ 17.50 for seniors over 60, students, people with disabilities, Youth ID holders, public school teachers (with proof of payslip) and children from 6 years old. The family pass (2 adults and 2 children) costs R$ 96.
Garcia D'ávila Castle
Casa Torre is a very interesting place to visit. The foundation offers a space where various materials related to the history of the place are on display. And a scale model of the building gives you an idea of what it was like in its heyday, since it is now in ruins, but it can still be visited.
Visits are available from Wednesday to Sunday, from 10 am to 6 pm, although from Friday to Sunday and on holidays, it is advisable to arrive around 5:30 pm to watch at 6 pm., video mapping The project, set up in the castle, tells a bit of the history of the place. It must be very interesting to see.
And how much does it cost to get there? The Tuk Tuks that are in the square charge R$ 100 (round trip included) and they also have a partnership where you can pay 50% for the ticket which costs R$ 30 for a full-price ticket.
If you are with at least one other person, my advice is to look for... Portomar, a tour agency located in front of the square, where you can hire a buggy for R$$ 280 to do the Castelo and Reserva Sapiranga double tour, and you also get half-price tickets.
Humpback Whale Space
For those of you with children, it's a great option for kids to play. It has whale replicas, an auditorium with videos telling a bit about the species, and a space reserved for children to paint and draw, surrounded by greenery.
Opening hours are Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 5pm and admission costs R$ 12.
Where to eat cheaply
Praia do Forte is known for being an expensive place. After all, anyone who's ever been there will tell you that. I confess I was prepared for that, but judging by how people described it, I expected to pay more.
Yes, it can be expensive, especially for those planning to spend a few days there. The average cost per meal in November 2022 was R$ 20. Therefore, I'm going to show you a place that offers home-style food that will at least satisfy your hunger. Of course, if you usually eat a lot, the dish won't be enough.
The restaurant is located in the Armazém da Vila Shopping Mall, near the Humpback Whale Space.
For dinner, the cheapest thing I saw was the salmon temaki for R$ 30.
Tips for a night out in Praia do Forte
I went during the week, so most establishments aren't open. After all, it's not very busy then. On weekends, however, I spoke with some owners and it really gets packed. Therefore, be prepared for this if you plan to go on Saturday or Sunday.
I heard that there are pagode shows on weekends. During the week, you have restaurants for dinner, and some have live music. Therefore, the advantage is the variety of dishes in the area. It ranges from Japanese food to Bahian cuisine.
What to do in a day in Praia do Forte
For those of you doing a day trip and therefore only have one day to enjoy the village. If it's your first time there, I recommend:
- Tamar Project
- Vila Beach
- Garcia D'Avila Castle (taking a Tuk Tuk if you're with more people to split the cost of transportation)
If you're already familiar with the area, it's worth walking along Lord Beach, Papa Gente Beach to enjoy the natural pools, and Chapéu Beach. You can even visit them all! in this video of mine which includes tips from Jamile Canedo, from Canelanza Couple.
In addition, there's a video where I show Praia do Forte in more detail. So, watch it below and then see... More tips about Salvador on the blog..
