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Morro de São Paulo is one of the most famous destinations in Bahia, renowned for its clear and warm waters. The area is part of Tinharé Island and, although it’s known for lively beaches, it offers attractions for all tastes and ages.
With natural pools, colonial architecture, fantastic restaurants, and sensational beaches, discover the many charms of Morro de São Paulo now!

Note: The currency exchange rates used in this article are based on the rates from October 23rd, with 1 USD = 5.71 BRL and 1 EUR = 6.14 BRL. Please be aware that these rates are for reference only, and updated values should be checked closer to your travel dates.

A trip to Morro de São Paulo is full of choices. There are various transport options to get there, countless types of inns, and activities to suit all tastes…

The first step in planning your trip to Morro de São Paulo is deciding when and how to go. From May to August, Salvador and the surrounding islands can be quite rainy. Of course, you can take your chances and enjoy sunny days during the Bahian winter, but to be sure, we recommend visiting between September and April.

The high season runs from November to January, so I suggest September to November, which are my favorite months for traveling! Now let’s dive into how to get to Morro de São Paulo—there are three main options.

Morro de São Paulo is a picturesque village located on Tinharé Island, in the state of Bahia, Brazil. Nestled in the northeastern region of the country, this charming destination is known for its stunning beaches, vibrant culture, and rich history. Accessible only by boat or plane, Morro de São Paulo offers a unique getaway for travelers seeking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. With its crystal-clear waters, lush greenery, and welcoming atmosphere, it’s a paradise waiting to be explored.

There are three ways to reach Morro de São Paulo: semi-terrestrial, by sea, or by air.

After the semi-terrestrial route to Boipeba, I had no doubts when choosing the maritime route. Although the price may initially seem steep, I found it to be the best value. I traveled with Catamarã Biotur, which has an excellent team that provides all the details of the journey.

As of July 2021, there was only one departure time at 9:00 am, with a return trip at 11:30 am. Each leg cost R$ 110. Now in 2024, the price is R$ 151,81 (US$ 26.68 or € 24.72). You can book and purchase tickets directly on their website. They also provide plenty of information on Instagram and answer many questions.

The boat departs from the Nautical Tourist Terminal of Bahia (behind Mercado Modelo), and if you purchase tickets in advance, you can avoid lines. The trip takes about 2.5 hours, and the return trip can cause some seasickness for some travelers.

Personally, I didn’t get very seasick (just a little, haha). Nel and I dressed in light, comfortable clothes and avoided heavy meals, which I think helped a lot. It’s worth noting that in the case of heavy rain, especially during winter, it might not be possible to complete the entire trip via the sea.

With Biotur, they reorganize the route if the weather doesn’t allow passage by sea. From June to October, you can also spot humpback whales that visit the area to reproduce.

For those prone to seasickness, this could be an option. After taking the semi-terrestrial route to Boipeba, which is near Morro, we found it to be slow and prone to unforeseen circumstances, given that you need to take three different types of transportation to get to Morro.

First, you take a ferry to Itaparica Island from the São Joaquim Terminal. The ferry ticket costs R$ 6,60 (US$ 1,15/ € 1,07) on weekdays and R$ 8,80 (US$ 1,54/ € 1,43) on weekends and holidays. If you’re traveling by car, it costs R$ 59,80 (US$ 10,47/ € 9,74) during the week and R$ 84,70 (US$ 14,83/ € 13,79) on weekends and holidays. You can book and purchase tickets directly on their website.

After a one-hour trip, you need to catch a bus or drive from the Terminal Marítimo Bom Despacho, in Itaparica Island to Valença. The bus fare is around R$ 40 (US$ 7,00 / €6,51), and the trip takes about two hours. You can purchase your ticket on bus ticket sales websites, such as Clickbus, or directly on the Cidade Sol company’s website, which operates this route.

From there, you head to the maritime terminal and take a speedboat to Morro. o get from the Valença Bus Station to the Valença Maritime Terminal, you can either walk about 1.4 km if you’re traveling light, or take a motorcycle taxi or a regular taxi.

The speedboat fare is around R$ 45 (US$ 7.88 / €7.33), and the journey takes about 40 minutes. Speedboats depart hourly from 8 AM to 6 PM, but delays can occur due to tide variations. Alternatively, you can take a conventional boat, which takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes and costs R$ 19 (US$3.33 / €3.09).

You can also catch speedboats to other popular destinations in the region, like Boipeba, from Valença or from Ponta do Curral and Bom Jardim dock.

Remember that cars are not allowed in Morro de São Paulo. So, if you choose to take the ferry by car, you’ll need to leave it in a parking lot in Valença or wherever you catch the boat.

The total cost of the semi-terrestrial route is around R$ 95 (US$ 16,62 / € 15,47). However, there’s a warning! If you don’t have your ferry ticket in advance during holidays or busy days, you might face long lines.

When we went to Boipeba, we had bought our bus tickets in advance, but we had to buy ferry tickets from a scalper, which ended up costing us four times more!

Therefore, I highly recommend taking the catamaran. Not only is it faster, as the semi-terrestrial route takes about four hours (without any unforeseen events), but it’s also much more convenient with just one form of transport.

The priciest option, but also the quickest. You can travel by air via a daily collective air transfer that departs at 1:00 PM from Salvador International Airport. Prices range from R$ 550,00 to R$ 1,500,00 depending on the fare class at the time, which is approximately US$ 96.32 to US$ 262.33 or € 89.57 to € 244.31.

Alternatively, you can opt for a private air transfer by plane or helicopter, which tends to be more expensive but offers more flexible scheduling.

Another cost to factor in is the TUPA, the fee for using the historical heritage of the archipelago. It costs R$ 50 (US$ 8,75/ €8,14) per person and is paid upon entering the island.

Once again, you’ll have plenty of options! Morro offers all kinds of accommodations, from hostels to large hotels. First, we’ll share our experience in Morro, and then some other recommendations for accommodations in the area.

We stayed at Catavento Praia Hotel and had a fantastic experience, enjoying the tranquility of the Fourth Beach with easy access to the center. Unfortunately, the hotel has since closed.

For a similar experience, we recommend Patachocas, also located on the Fourth Beach. It offers great amenities like transportation to the Second Beach, bike and kayak rentals, and snorkeling opportunities, providing a well-rounded stay with plenty of ways to explore the surroundings.

For those looking for accommodations closer to the center and the first beaches, Pousada Bahia Tambor and Pousada Bahia Bacana are well-rated on Booking.com. If you’re on a budget, the famous Che Lagarto hostel offers both private and shared rooms. Pousada Ilha da Saudade is also highly rated and has a wonderful view of the First Beach, close to everything!

We spent four days in Morro in November/21, during Nel’s birthday, and it was enough time to visit the main tourist spots. If possible, it’s worth extending your trip to explore everything at a more leisurely pace or to hop over to the other islands in the area.

With the catamaran’s fixed departure at 9:00 AM, we arrived in Morro around 11:30 AM. The transportation from Catavento Praia Hotel was already waiting for us at the designated location behind second beach. Upon arriving at the inn, we immediately ordered lunch! The food is plentiful and delicious, with fair prices for such a touristy place like Morro.

After lunch, we headed towards the town center. Since the inn is located on the fourth beach, we ended up passing through the third, second, and first beaches along the way.

The fourth beach is one of the most secluded, with only hotels and not much infrastructure for beach huts. It’s great for families or anyone looking for tranquility. The third beach strikes a balance between excitement and calm, and it has some restaurants.

The second beach features a small island with palm trees, which can be reached by walking during low tide. Finally, the first beach is the liveliest, filled with countless restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and inns. For those who enjoy partying all night, it’s the ideal option.

We continued towards the viewpoint, hoping to catch the sunset. Entrance to the viewpoint is free, and they sell the famous drinks made with cacao there. For those wanting a bit more comfort and sophistication, there’s the Toca do Morcego bar, located midway up the stairs leading to the viewpoint.

At the end of the steep climb of stairs, we found the lighthouse. It’s a bit abandoned, but worth a quick look. The viewpoint also has the famous zip line that descends to the first beach. A little tired from the steps, we were rewarded with live music and an extraordinary sunset. The energy of this place is incredible!

For dinner, we chose Andina, considered the best restaurant in Morro by Tripadvisor at the time we went. The recommendation was spot on! However, they have moved from Morro to Salvador, so it’s not possible to enjoy their cuisine on this trip, but I still recommend it!

The dishes are generously portioned, and we were so satisfied that we couldn’t even eat dessert!

The service was also very attentive and kind, following all the distancing and hygiene rules that were necessary at the time after the pandemic.

On the second day, we took a trip to the natural pools of Garapuá. The inn arranged the tour for us with a company that also offers the famous “Island Tour.” This tour goes around Tinharé Island, passing through Garapuá, Moreré, Boipeba, and Rio do Inferno (where it’s possible to sample oysters and crabs harvested fresh from the farm at the floating bar).

Since we were already familiar with Boipeba, we chose to do only the trip to Garapuá and spend the entire day there. It cost R$ 90.00 per passenger in 2021, and in 2024, it’s possible to do the tour for R$ 140.00 (US$ 24,49/ €22,80) through Civitatis, a well-known tour company worldwide.

We went by 4×4, starting the trip in a very fun way. Upon arrival, we were directed to the boat that takes us to the pools.

The view was fantastic! Crystal-clear and warm waters, with little fish swimming around you. Remember to check the tide chart to ensure you’ll find the pools!

We decided not to take the camera on the trip, so we don’t have photos of this incredible place!

On the way back, we made a stop at Quinta Praia, also known as Praia do Encanto. It’s quite empty, and since the tide was already high, we didn’t stay long. That evening, we had another delightful culinary surprise: Canoa.

The restaurant run by the Italian chef impressed us from start to finish and exceeded all our expectations. The chef reserved a table for us on the sand, by candlelight. He recommended the burrata appetizer, which was simply wonderful!

Artisanal bread and incredibly fresh cheese, extremely refined. The main course was fresh pasta with seafood, generously portioned and equally delicious! The service was attentive, and the place is cozy, away from the hustle and bustle of the first and second beaches of Morro.

The third day was definitely the most action-packed for us. We walked a lot and visited so many incredible places that it’s hard to list them all. After checking the tide chart, we set off towards the famous clay wall and Gamboa do Morro.

My mother, who spent her youth going to Morro, strongly recommended that I visit Gamboa, a peaceful village next to Morro de São Paulo. Access can be made by boat or on foot, but it’s very important to check the tide chart.

Since there are rocks along the way, it can be quite dangerous to make the journey during high tide. Therefore, we decided to go on foot at low tide and return by boat, without worrying about the time. The boat fare is quite cheap, around R$ 5.00 (US$ 0,87 / € 0,81) per person, and the trip is very quick.

To go on foot, you can leave from the pier and walk directly along the sand or take a route through the town. We chose the second option to explore a bit more of the area. Right at the town’s main square, follow Rua da Fonte until you reach Fonte Grande.

Near the fountain, you will find other signs pointing to Gamboa. The trail is quite simple and passes through beautiful landscapes. Once you reach the beach and walk a little further, you will find the clay wall.

According to the locals, the clay is rejuvenating, so we quickly took a bath in it! The clay is a lovely pink color and leaves your skin feeling very soft. We loved it! After following a bit further, we reached the first shacks on Gamboa beach. There, you will find a great setup: several shacks with various activities and a well-structured little center.

After all that walking, we returned to the inn, but only to shower and set off on a new adventure. We took the inn’s transport to the second beach and from there, we went to explore the Fortaleza de Tapirandú and appreciate the entrance to Morro de São Paulo more calmly, which has a beautiful portal.

Finally, we decided to have dinner at Café do Morro, on the way down to the first beach. Another culinary surprise awaited us! The place is adorable! Live music and a unique menu with Romanian snacks.

Nel ordered the Drácula burger: large, flavorful, juicy meat, and the portion of fries was super crispy and dry. I ordered the Cinderela sandwich, and I don’t even have words to describe it—delicious! We took the opportunity to have a drink, which was also very well prepared.

The day of departure is always so difficult! We woke up already missing it. The catamaran was scheduled to leave at 11:30 AM, so we got up early to enjoy the fourth beach in front of the hotel before heading out. We caught the tide very low, with crystal-clear, warm water. We hope to return to Morro soon! It’s a place that has so much to be discovered, especially off the more conventional paths.

If you have more days available, here’s a seven-day itinerary for Morro de São Paulo:

Morro de São Paulo Itinerary for 7 Days:

Day 1: Arrival, get to know the hotel and the beach you are on;
Day 2: Island tour;
Day 3: Explore the town, go down the zip line, and watch the sunset at the Mirante;
Day 4: Clay Wall and Gamboa do Morro;
Day 5: Enjoy the first and second beaches. If the tide is low, go to the island of coconut trees.
Day 6: Fifth Beach (or Praia do Encanto);
Day 7: Pack your bags and return.

In addition to planning transportation, accommodation, and activities, be sure to pay attention to the tide chart when traveling to Morro de São Paulo. Most beach destinations are heavily influenced by the tide, and some tours may even be unfeasible during high tide.

The natural pools, like those in Garapuá, for example, only exist at low tide. Additionally, certain sections, such as the crossing from Morro to Gamboa, can become quite dangerous during high tide.

Another tip is to look at the night sky! One of the things Nel liked most about Morro, and I did too, were our nighttime walks on the empty beaches, lit only by the moonlight. Since the tide was very low after dinner, we chose to walk back to the hotel along the beach every night. It was a captivating experience.

The gastronomy in Morro de São Paulo also surprises and delights! The restaurants we visited completely broke the beach standard and even surpassed some of the great restaurants here in Salvador. It’s definitely worth setting aside at least one evening to leisurely enjoy one of these options. We always choose the restaurants we go to during our trips using Tripadvisor.

Our four days in Morro de São Paulo provided us with incredible experiences and unforgettable moments. With breathtaking landscapes, delicious cuisine, and a relaxing atmosphere, it’s a destination that is definitely worth exploring. If you have any questions or would like to share your own experiences in Morro, feel free to leave a comment below! We’re here to help, and we’d love to hear your thoughts.