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Arraial d’Ajuda is the charming neighbour of that magnet for mass tourism that is Porto Seguro. The river separating Arraial from Porto Seguro keeps away from the former the worst excesses of the later.
WE LIKE THE MOST: the beaches, to walk long the rua do Mucugê at the end of the day; the open-air restaurants; having some delicious caipirinhas with our friends at the bar Girassol
WE LIKE THE LEAST: the bars at the Mucugê beach; the bars that will try to rip you off at lunch time; the Bróduei street
HOW TO GET THERE: from Porto Seguro you need to take the ferry to the other side of the river and there jump in a bus that will take you to Arraial in a few minutes
CAREFUL WITH: the stones and sea urchins at the beach
FAVOURITE PLACES: Pitinga beach, Mucugê street
PIECE OF ADVICE:
shops in Arraial open only after midday; some open only at the end of the day – when everyone comes back to town from the beach
if you don’t hire a car, the vans at the main square will take you anywhere you want
if you stay at a pousada on the way between the ferryboat and Arraial you will need a car or a taxi to get to town
do spend a day in nearby Trancoso, it’s a short bus trip away
I agree with you. I’d add (in the favorite places) the long walk to Tremendao’s bar, just before Taipe beach and after Lagoa Azul(exactly 6.5 km from the praca dos hipis, a good workout.) Broduei and the church square need to go back to more music and less souvenirs, but go tell that to the owners who’d much rather lease to a chain store than keep their native bar open. Oh well.
In Broduei is opening a new bar of a friend of mine, it’s called Bar do Andy, it’s located near the middle of Broduei. He’s trying to get some of that old broduei and Arraial d’Ajuda feeling back.
Were all the tourists always go to “the more popular” beaches like Parracho and Pitinga, we locals enjoy more the other side like with beaches like Praia Apaga Fogo, d’Ajuda,dos nativos. Here you will find relaxed beachbars like the bar called Sting with good and different music, far away from the tourist madness!
Rua do Mudugê is also allready changed a lot, fewer bars and more restaurants… seems like Arraial d Ajuda is changing… more condominiums than pousadas or hotels.
Does Arraial have a naturist (nudist) beach? I ask because some groups like the Brazilian Naturist Federation say Pitinga can be unofficially used nude without hassle, but when I asked a Portuguese speaking friend to write some pousadas in Arrial to ask, they said there is NO nude beach in Arraial. Strange. I understand there is no OFFICIAL nude beach in Arrial or Trancoso, just wondering if there are tolerated ones.
Richard, no, it doesn’t. What happens is that during the low season and at the remotest side of Pitinga beach, some people will take their clothes off (it’s mostly women in topless). But it is not by any means a naturist beach.
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I agree with you. I’d add (in the favorite places) the long walk to Tremendao’s bar, just before Taipe beach and after Lagoa Azul(exactly 6.5 km from the praca dos hipis, a good workout.) Broduei and the church square need to go back to more music and less souvenirs, but go tell that to the owners who’d much rather lease to a chain store than keep their native bar open. Oh well.
Thanks for your tips, Cecile. Broduei is definitely a pale reflection of what it used to be. Better stick to Rua do Mucugê.
In Broduei is opening a new bar of a friend of mine, it’s called Bar do Andy, it’s located near the middle of Broduei. He’s trying to get some of that old broduei and Arraial d’Ajuda feeling back.
Were all the tourists always go to “the more popular” beaches like Parracho and Pitinga, we locals enjoy more the other side like with beaches like Praia Apaga Fogo, d’Ajuda,dos nativos. Here you will find relaxed beachbars like the bar called Sting with good and different music, far away from the tourist madness!
Rua do Mudugê is also allready changed a lot, fewer bars and more restaurants… seems like Arraial d Ajuda is changing… more condominiums than pousadas or hotels.
It’s just not like it just to be.
Tim
Does Arraial have a naturist (nudist) beach? I ask because some groups like the Brazilian Naturist Federation say Pitinga can be unofficially used nude without hassle, but when I asked a Portuguese speaking friend to write some pousadas in Arrial to ask, they said there is NO nude beach in Arraial. Strange. I understand there is no OFFICIAL nude beach in Arrial or Trancoso, just wondering if there are tolerated ones.
Richard, no, it doesn’t. What happens is that during the low season and at the remotest side of Pitinga beach, some people will take their clothes off (it’s mostly women in topless). But it is not by any means a naturist beach.