So, what is there to do at Praia do Forte?

Founded in 1528, Praia do Forte is now the area offering the greatest variety of activities, as well as the ideal starting point for excursions along Bahia’s Northern Coast. Its location provides quick access to beaches and nature reserves, with the option of returning to the village for dinner at one of its excellent restaurants. In addition to its cultural, ecological and aesthetic appeal, Praia do Forte is home to Garcia D’Ávila Castle, Projeto Tamar, Projeto Baleia Jubarte and the Sapiranga Reserve. If you prefer an itinerary at sea, why not go whale-watching, or simply enjoy snorkeling and watching colorful little fish come to feed from your hand? Depending on the season and festivities, there are shows on the beach and in the streets, as well as restaurants offering live music in a variety of styles.

Church of Saint Francis

The colonial-style chapel was built in 1900 at the initiative of local fishermen, to honor and worship their patron saint. Saint Francis, protector of turtles, whales and lighthouses, has watched the sea creatures migrate over the decades—a fantastic procession—right beside him. With its back to the easterly wind and its door and façade facing the village, devout and protected, it watches generations of fishermen go out to sea and return with the fresh fruits of their handcrafted work, weighed and divided right there beneath its gaze.

Tamar Project

The Praia do Forte TAMAR Museum was founded in 1982. Among tanks and aquariums, 600,000 liters of salt water are home to examples of the region’s marine life and four of the five species of sea turtles found in Brazil, at different stages of their life cycle. All this places the Museum among the five most visited in Brazil.

Projeto Baleia Jubarte

Every year, Praia do Forte becomes a major gathering place for singing whales. Humpback whales, between July and October, exchange the icy waters of Antarctica for the warm, pleasant sea off the coast of Bahia, where they sing, perform acrobatics and spray jets of water up to 3 meters high. It is impossible not to feel small before this gentle mammal, which can measure 16 meters and weigh 40 tons.

Therapies

Trained professionals may be requested at the Pousada to provide massage, tui na, acupuncture and reiki therapies. Whether addressing physical, energetic or emotional conditions, integrative therapies aim to relieve musculoskeletal pain, emotional concerns and various forms of imbalance. Welcoming and mindfulness are therefore always part of the care, as touch reaches places words cannot.