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Voykit pocket guide · Brazil
Itacaré
Spend 2–3 days in Itacaré for surf, waterfalls and beach hikes; longer only if you want multiple surf lessons or a rainforest trek.
Itacaré is a small coastal town in Bahia with easy access to several beaches, surf schools and nearby waterfalls. Most sights are within walking or short bike rides, so a short stay covers the highlights.
- Country
- Brazil
- Best months
- Apr–Oct (dry season, good surf)
- Avoid
- Nov–Mar (rainy, some trails muddy)
- Stay
- 2–3 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- BRL
- Money
- Currency is the Brazilian real (BRL, R$). About R$5–5.8 per US dollar in 2026 — check. Cards and tap-to-pay are accepted almost everywhere, even at beach kiosks.
- Daily spend
- Budget R$120–180 excl. bed · Mid R$180–300 excl. bed · High R$300+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Vivo, Claro and TIM cover the country; buying a prepaid SIM needs a passport and sometimes a CPF — an eSIM before you fly is easier.
- Emergency
- Police 190 · Fire/ambulance 193 · Tourist hotline 0800-285-8000
- Plugs
- Types N, C · 127 V (Rio, São Paulo) or 220 V (Brasília, much of the Northeast) · Check the voltage on the socket; most chargers are dual-voltage.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 10% service (serviço) usually on the bill; optional but normal.; Beach kiosk / bar: Often included; round up.; Taxi / Uber: Not expected; round up.; Guide: US$5–15 per person per day.; Hotel staff: Small tip for porters.
- Water
- Do not drink tap water; filtered water is provided in most homes and hotels.
- Toilets
- Put toilet paper in the bin, not the toilet, in most places.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Waterfall entry fee | R$15 |
| Meal at a mid‑range restaurant | R$70–160 |
| Bike rental (half‑day) | R$30–50 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- IOS · Ilhéus Jorge Amado Airport
- Domestic flights from Salvador, Rio or São Paulo; 30 min bus to Itacaré
Typical fares
- Bus Ilhéus → Itacaré
- about R$30, 1½ h (check schedule)
- Taxi Itacaré airport → town centre
- around R$70–100, 30 min
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk or rent an e‑bike; the town centre is pedestrian‑only after 16:00. Taxis and rideshare (99, Uber) are available for longer trips.Walk or rent an e‑bike; the town centre is pedestrian‑only after 4:00 PM. Taxis and rideshare (99, Uber) are available for longer trips.
See and do
Known for
- Surf beaches
- Cachoeira do Cleandro waterfalls
- Capoeira circles
- Atlantic rainforest edge
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Ilhéus | Bus from Itacaré to Ilhéus, about 1 h 30 min; or taxi 30 min | ≈2 h total |
| Cachoeira do Cleandro | Boat from Itacaré harbour (15 min) + R$15 entry fee | ≈1 h 30 min round trip |
| Morro de São Paulo | Ferry from Salvador to Bom Despacho (50 min, R$4) then bus 5 h, or direct boat from Itacaré (≈2 h, check schedule) | ≈4 h total |
| Porto Seguro | Bus from Itacaré via Ilhéus, about 3 h 30 min | ≈5 h total |
Sleep
- Pousada Solarium
- Beachfront guesthouse, good for budget travelers
- Aldeia do Mar Chalés
- Chalet-style pousada near Praia da Concha
- Pousada Maria Farinha
- Family-run, includes homemade breakfast
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello / Good morning | Oi / Bom diaoy / bom dʒi.a |
| How much does this cost? | Quanto custa?kwɐ̃.tu ˈkus.ta |
| Where is the bathroom? | Onde fica o banheiro?ˈõ.dʒi ˈfi.ka u baˈɲe.ɾu |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake, hug or cheek kiss (one in São Paulo, two in Rio); avoid: Being stiff with new acquaintances
- Gestures: Use thumbs-up freely; avoid: The OK hand sign (it is rude)
- Language: Try Portuguese; say obrigado/obrigada; avoid: Defaulting to Spanish
- Time: Expect relaxed social punctuality; avoid: Being late for tours and flights
- Beach: Bring only a towel, cash and a copy of your ID; avoid: Leaving things unattended
Scams and watch-outs
- Rain can make waterfall trails slippery; check conditions before heading out.
- Pickpocketing can occur in crowded bars during New Year and Carnival; keep valuables secure.
Itacaré is generally safe for tourists; watch for slippery trails after rain and keep belongings secure in bars during festivals.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Itacaré yet. Suggested stay: 2–3 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Surf beaches
- Cachoeira do Cleandro waterfalls
- Capoeira circles
- Atlantic rainforest edge
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Itacaré, revision 5231377 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5231377
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Itacaré
Para este endereço, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police190
- Fire/ambulance193
- Tourist hotline0800-285-8000
US consular services are in Salvador; check the US Embassy website for details.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/itacare). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.