North-East Region
The Ultimate Brazil Travel Guide: Porto Seguro
The gateway to the beaches of Southern Bahia, Porto Seguro has cheap sunset markets and some beautiful beaches of it's own.
Porto Seguro, in southern Bahia, is historically significant as the landing site of Portuguese explorer Pedro Álvares Cabral in 1500, marking the beginning of Brazil’s colonization. Today, the city is known for its lively sunset market, beautiful beaches, including Taperapuã and Mutá, and its historical attractions like the Cidade Histórica. Porto Seguro also serves as the gateway to popular beach towns such as Arraial d'Ajuda, Trancoso, and Caraiva.
Top 10 Things to See & Do in Porto Seguro
Go shopping at the sunset night market: This market operates in the evening along the waterfront near the city centre. It has stalls selling local handicrafts, clothing, jewellery, and plenty of street food.
Explore Passarela do Álcool: A pedestrian street officially named Passarela do Descobrimento. It is lined with bars, restaurants, souvenir shops and street stalls selling artisanal cachaça-based drinks. The street becomes busy at night with live music and cultural performances.
Relax at Praia de Taperapuã: One of the most popular beaches in Porto Seguro, located about 7 kilometres north of the city centre. It is known for large beach barracas offering food, drinks and music. Activities include beach volleyball, water sports and dance shows.
Go to the Memorial da Epopéia do Descobrimento: An open-air museum that recreates the arrival of the Portuguese in 1500. It features a full-scale replica of a Portuguese caravel, exhibitions on Indigenous cultures and displays about the early colonial period.
Tour the Coroa Vermelha Indigenous Reserve: Located in the neighbouring municipality of Santa Cruz Cabrália, about 15 kilometres from Porto Seguro. It is home to Pataxó Indigenous communities. Here you can see traditional crafts and learn about Pataxó culture.
Visit Cidade Histórica (Historic Centre): Situated on a hill overlooking the city, the historic centre includes preserved colonial buildings from the 16th and 17th centuries. Key sites include the Church of Nossa Senhora da Pena, the Casa de Câmara e Cadeia and viewpoints with coastal views.
Explore the Recife de Fora Marine Park: Accessible by boat, this park protects coral reefs located about 7 kilometres offshore. At low tide, natural pools form where visitors can snorkel and observe marine life.
Take a day trip to Praia do Espelho: Located about 80 kilometres south of Porto Seguro, this beach is known for calm waters, cliffs and coconut groves. It can be visited on a day trip or as part of a tour along the southern coast of Bahia.
Visit Ilha dos Aquários: A small island located in the Buranhém River, open on selected nights for events. It has aquariums displaying regional marine species, as well as live music, dance shows and food stalls.
See the Porto Seguro Museum: Housed in a historic building in the Cidade Histórica, the museum displays artefacts from the colonial era, Indigenous objects, and documents related to the discovery of Brazil.
How long to spend in Porto Seguro
Spend at least 1 full day in Porto Seguro to explore the town centre and visit the sunset night market.
See my full travel itinerary for visiting Southern Bahia in one week, with stops in Porto Seguro, Arraial d'Ajuda, Trancoso, and Caraiva: How to spend 7 days in Southern Bahia, Brazil: Travel Itinerary for Porto Seguro
Where to stay in Porto Seguro
In Porto Seguro city, the main areas to stay include the city centre, Taperapuã Beach and Praia de Mundaí. Taperapuã has the highest concentration of hotels and beach clubs, while the city centre offers budget options and access to historical sites. Praia de Mundaí is quieter but still close to the main tourist areas.
Many tourists prefer to stay across the river in Arraial d’Ajuda, where there is more established tourist infrastructure and a greater selection of pousadas.
Find cheap accommodation for your stay in Porto Seguro or in Arraial d'Ajuda.
Praça Manoel Ribeiro Coelho, Porto Seguro
Where is Porto Seguro, Brazil
Quick Facts about Porto Seguro
Population of Porto Seguro
109,214 people (IBGE, 2022)
Nickname
People from Porto Seguro are called porto-segurenses, and people from Bahia in general are called baianos.
Closest airport
Porto Seguro Airport (BPS)
Main bus terminal
Terminal Rodoviário de Porto Seguro
Main port
Balsa de Arraial d'Ajuda x Porto Seguro - for the ferry to Arraial d'Ajuda
Pier Municipal de Porto Seguro - for boat tours
Read my free 7 day travel itinerary for Southern Bahia!
How to get to Porto Seguro
How to get to Porto Seguro by bus or plane
Porto Seguro is easily accessible by plane or bus. It has an international airport with direct flights to Buenos Aires, and domestic flights to several cities including Sao Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Rio de Janeiro, and others.
See all bus connections and find cheap tickets to Porto Seguro
How to get to Porto Seguro from Arraial D'Ajuda
There is a ferry connecting Porto Seguro with Arraial D'Ajuda. The ferry departs from Balsa Arraial D'ajuda (map) and transports both cars and pedestrians. The ferry towards Arraial D'Ajuda costs R$5, however the return journey to Porto Seguro is free.
How to get to Porto Seguro from Itacare
There is a direct bus to Porto Seguro from Itacare, taking around 8 hours (tickets & timetable).
How to get to Porto Seguro from Trancoso and Caraiva
To get to Porto Seguro from the southern beaches, first travel by bus to Arraial D'Ajuda, then take the ferry to Porto Seguro. There are several busses and minivans connecting Arraial D'Ajuda with Trancoso and Caraíva.
From Trancoso, the public bus to Arraial D'Ajuda departs from the Terminal Rodoviário de Trancoso (map), while more frequent minivans depart from the small park in front of Padaria Filadelfia.
From Caraiva, both the minivans and public bus depart from carpark by the canoes.
How to get to Trancoso and Caraiva from Porto Seguro
The minivan to Trancoso and Caraiva departs from Arraial D'Ajuda. First take the ferry from Porto Seguro to Arraial D'Ajuda. When you get off the ferry, you will see several minivans in the carpark (map). The drivers will be happy to point you towards the van for Trancoso or Caraiva. Bring cash to pay the driver, and note that there is a different price for tourists and locals.
Top tours in Porto Seguro
How to get around Porto Seguro
In Porto Seguro, Uber and public buses are cheap and readily available. Public transport is operated by Viacao Porto Seguro are available for convenient travel around the city, with a fare of around R$5 to be paid in cash. While there is a payment card available (the Vale Transporte card), it is not available to tourists, as a CPF is required to get one. For tourists, using Uber or the 99 Pop app is a cheap, fast, and straightforward way to get around. It’s advisable to avoid walking at night when possible, outside of the main busy tourist areas.
Things to know before you go
Sunset Markets: Every evening at sunset, the markets come alive for a few hours. This is an excellent time to explore for unique souvenirs, handcrafted jewelry, and experience local street bars. The markets are also known for whipping up an exceptional caipirinhas.
Historical Significance: Porto Seguro is known for its historical importance as the site where Pedro Álvares Cabral first landed in Brazil in 1500. Visit the Porto Seguro Historical Center and the Discovery Museum to learn more about the region's history.
Beaches: Known for being the gateway to some of Southern Bahia's best beaches, the city has some stunning beaches of its own. Praia de Curuipe is one of the popular beaches close to the city.
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