Porto da Barra Beach

Set at the mouth of huge Bahia de Todos os Santos (Bay of All Saints) in Brazil’s oldest city is the lively beach of Porto da Barra. The beach gives a nod to Salvador’s history with the old colonial fort standing guard at one end and Santo Antônio church overlooking the other.

There is always something going on at Porto da Barra from organized events through to the endless beach volleyball and soccer (if you can find space) matches. This is also a place where old meets new with little fishing boats landing there catch at one end whilst beachfront bars attract city workers looking to relax.

Salvador sits on a peninsula of land with the Atlantic Ocean to one side and the natural harbour of the bay to the other. Porto da Barra is located on the very tip and actually faces east with views across the bay. This means not only is the beach sheltered from most of the ocean swells but it is one of the best places around to catch a sunset.

Of course being the best-known beach in Brazil’s 3rd largest city means Porto da Barra is nearly always busy. But this is one of the reasons you come here - the beach here is like a concentrated version of life in the city’s character, but with bikinis and ice pops.