How to hike the Four Beaches Trail in Itacare: Itacarezinho, Camboinha, Havaizinho, and Engenhoca
- Rachel
- Jul 23
- 5 min read
Updated: Sep 4
The Four Beaches Trail (Trilha das Quatro Praias) in Itacare, a tropical surf town in Bahia, connects four of Itacare's most beautiful beaches via a series of short hiking trails through the Atlantic Forest. Starting at Itacarezinho, one of the region's longest and mostly untouched beaches, the trail winds along the coast and through the forest arriving at Camboinha, a deserted trpoical paradise. The trail then continues on to Havaizinho before ending at Engenhoca, a popular surf beach.
It is also possible to do the trail in reverse, starting at Engenhoca and finishing at Itacarezinho. I prefer to start at Itacarezinho, descending a steep hill at the beginning, to avoid ending my trip walking up this hill. There are typically more tourists at Engenhoca and it is therefore easier to hitch-hike back to town from this beach if you prefer not to wait for the bus.
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Trail Map: The Four Beaches Trail Itacare
The trail map below shows the hiking trail for the Four Beaches Trail from Itacarezinho to Camboinha, Havaizinho, and Engenhoca:
Getting to Itacarezinho
Drive or take the local bus to the entrance to Itacarezinho (map). The bus departs from the main bus station (Terminal Rodoviário de Itacaré) - make sure to let the driver know you plan to stop at Itacarezinho. See the bus timetable here.
Then, walk around 20 minutes downhill from entrance gate to reach the beach. If driving, there is a R$ 100 fee to drive down the hill and park in the resort carpark. It's better to park outside the entrance gate on the street for free. Then, when you return from Engenhoca at the end of the day, you can collect your car from the entrance and won't have to walk down the hill.
Beach 1: Itacarezinho Beach
Itacarezinho is the longest beach in the region, stretching over three kilometres with fine sand and a wide beach, even at high tide. It is surrounded by Atlantic Forest and has a small waterfall that flows directly onto the beach during the rainy season.
Food and drink at Itacarezinho: Yes - but there is just one expensive beach club with a restaurant. It's better to pack a picnic.
Facilities at Itacarezinho: Toilets only at the resort. Freshwater shower in the natural waterfall.
Trail to the next stop: From Itacarezinho, walk around 15-20 minute walk to reach Camboinha. Take the trail from the far north side of the beach.
The start of the trail is unmarked, but starts around 50 metres before the natural waterfall on the end of the beach. The entrance to the trail is tucked between some palm trees but once you find it, the trail becomes clear and is easy to follow. The trail starts uphill passing by an amazing viewpoint over Itacarezinho. It then continues through the forest before eventually crossing a small stream and arriving at Camboinha.
Beach 2: Camboinha Beach
Camboinha is a small, undeveloped beach accessible only by foot. It has soft white sand, scattered rocks, a little rocky cave, and is often completely empty.
Food and drink at Camboinha: No
Facilities at Camboinha: None
Trail to the next stop: From Camboinha, walk around 15 minutes walk to reach Havaizinho. The next trail starts from the rocks on the far north side of the beach. Climb up the rocks and the trail will continue along the coast. The trail passes along the coast with a view of the sea, and passes some small waterfalls and rock pools where you can take a dip to cool off.
Beach 3: Havaizinho Beach
Havaizinho is a small bay beach nestled between two forested cliffs, with a few large rocks extending into the water. At low tide, a natural pool sometimes forms that are ideal for swimming.
Food and drink at Havaizinho: A few barracas (beach shacks) serving seafood, snacks, coconuts, and beers
Facilities at Havaizinho: No toilets or showers
Trail to the next stop: From Havaizinho, walk around 15-20 minutes to reach Engenhoca. The trail begins on the north side of the cove, behind the barracas. Keep right at the fork in the trail to reach Engenhoca - otherwise you'll end up on the main road.
Beach 4: Engenhoca Beach
Engenhoca is a crescent-shaped beach with consistent waves. It's a popular place for surfing and offers board hire and surf lessons for beginners. A river runs along the entrance to the beach and is a great place to have a refreshing fresh-water bath.
Engenhoca is a great place to finish this trail. Spend the afternoon surfing, swimming, or grab lunch at one of the barracas.
Food and drink at Engenhoca: Various barracas and beach vendors, plus stalls at trail entrance selling cold drinks and snacks
Facilities at Engenhoca: No toilets or showers. Surfboards are available to hire.
How to Return to Itacare from Engenhoca
From Engenhoca, walk around 20 minutes uphill to reach the main road. Take the trail from the south side of the beach, across the river. It is the same trail that connects Engenhoca and Havaizinho, but this time, stay right at the fork in the trails and follow the trail along the river to reach the main road.
The trail to the main road from Engenhoca passes by a small waterfall, where you can stop for a swim in the small rock pools. When you reach the top of the trail, you will arrive in a carpark with some small stalls selling drinks and snacks until around 4pm.
From the carpark, turn left and follow the main road up the hill. If you drove your own car, walk for around 15 minutes until you reach the entrance to Itacarezinho, where you left your car.
If you plan to return by bus, walk around 5-10 minutes until you reach the wooden bus stop shelter. The bus passes approximately once per hour. Make sure to bring cash for the bus - card payments and PIX are not accepted. The bus fare is R$ 5.5 (2025).
Alternatively, if you're lucky, you can try to hitchhike back to town if others are leaving by car at the same time as you.
Do you need a guide for the Four Beaches Trail?
Despite the trails being unmarked, each section of these trails are fairly short and straight forward to follow. The difficulty is easy to moderate, with short sections uphill and sometimes requiring crossing rocks and streams. Note that the trail does become slippery and muddy after rain.
It is definitely possible to go alone - but for those who feel more comfortable hiking with a guide, there are various local guides available for this trail. Tours also take you to see the Tijupie Waterfall in the same day, and will include your transport to and from the trail and waterfall.
What to pack for the Four Beaches Hike
It's best to pack or wear swimwear, and light clothing. Bring sun protection, including a hat and waterproof sunscreen. Bring an insulated water bottle to stay hydrated and some snacks, as not all of the beaches have a place to buy anything. Pack insect repellent for mosquitos, as you will pass through forested areas.
More resources for planning your trip
Find cheap bus, ferry, and private transfer tickets on Bookaway, where you can make reservations ahead of time from abroad. For more information on traveling by bus, read my full guide to taking long-distance busses in Brazil.
Book your accommodation on Booking.com, with thousands of options ranging from luxury hotels to budget-friendly backpacker hostels, there's something for everyone
Don't forget to read my packing check-list for Brazil
Finally, read this post to find out 10 things you should do before you travel to Brazil!
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