Praia do Forte is about 80 km north of Salvador, on the stretch of shore known as the Coconut Coast. This guide is for you if you want a day out of the city with a swim, the sea turtles and some history. It covers which day to go, what the turtle season means for a day trip, what to pack and who the day suits.
Do not go on a Monday
This is the one rule. The ruins of the Garcia d'Ávila castle are closed on Mondays. From Tuesday to Thursday they open from 10:00 to 17:00, and from Friday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00. The tour reaches the castle at about 13:30, so any other day of the week works.
The castle is the oldest thing you will see on the day. The fortified house was begun in 1551, two years after Salvador was founded, and it has been listed by IPHAN, Brazil's national heritage body, since 1938. It stands about 3 km from the village, so the car takes you there after lunch.
When to go
The rain
The rainfall records we can point to are Salvador's, 80 km to the south. There, the wettest months are April, May and June, and May averages around 22 days of rain. A beach day is the outing most affected by a wet forecast, so if you are in Bahia in those months, keep the day flexible and look at the forecast before you fix it.
The turtle season
From late January to the end of April, hatchlings emerge on the beaches along this coast, usually in the evening. Be clear about what that means for this tour. You leave Praia do Forte at about 14:30 and are back in Salvador at about 16:00, so you will not be on the beach at the hour the hatchlings come out.
What you will see, in any month, is Projeto Tamar. The conservation centre by the beach at Praia do Forte keeps turtles at every stage, from hatchlings to adults. You arrive at around 09:45 and the entrance is paid on the day.
How the day runs
The pick-up is at 07:00, anywhere in Salvador or at the cruise terminal. The times below are from Barra; if you are staying further north, you will arrive sooner.
- Guarajuba, at about 08:15, for a first swim on a long beach before the heat builds.
- Projeto Tamar, at about 09:45.
- The village and beach of Praia do Forte, from about 11:00. A street of shops and cafés leads down to the sand and the reef in front of it. You have lunch in the village.
- The castle, at about 13:30.
The drive is about 80 km each way on the coast road, an hour and a half to two hours depending on traffic. The car is private and the itinerary can change on the day. If you would rather swim longer at Guarajuba and skip the castle, or spend the whole morning on the village beach, say so. You can also go further north to Imbassaí, which adds driving time; message us and we will price the extra hours.
Why a driver helps here
However you travel north, the hard part without a car is the combination: Guarajuba is a separate beach on the way, and the castle is 3 km outside the village. With a driver, all four stops fit in one day and you are back by mid-afternoon.
The price depends on the size of your group; see it on the tour page. It covers the vehicle, the driver, fuel, tolls and parking. Entrances to Projeto Tamar and the castle, beach chairs and lunch are paid on the day.
What to pack
- Swimwear, a towel and a change of clothes. There are two beaches in the day.
- Sun cream, a hat and sunglasses. You are outdoors for most of the morning.
- Sandals for the beach and shoes you can walk in around the castle ruins.
- Local cash in small notes for the entrances, beach chairs, drinks and lunch.
- A bag for wet things on the drive back.
Who it suits
Families. Projeto Tamar and the calm beaches are popular with children, and the day mixes the sea with something to look at. Couples and friends who want a slower day after the walking in Salvador's old town will find it a change of pace.
Think twice on a cruise call. This is a nine-hour day, with up to four hours of it on the road, so check your all-aboard time before you book. If time is short, a half day on Salvador's own coast gives you beaches and swimming much closer to the port.
If you have only one day in Salvador and have not seen the city, start with the Salvador in a day tour, and keep Praia do Forte for a second day. Our guide to day trips from Salvador suggests the same order.
Questions people ask
Is the castle worth it if we only want the beach?
It is the one piece of sixteenth-century history on the day. If you would rather stay by the sea, you can drop it; the itinerary can change on the day.
Can we cancel?
Yes. Cancel up to 24 hours before pick-up and you get a full refund. See our cancellation page.
Booking the day
Choose any day but Monday, outside the wettest months if you can, and pack for the water. The times, stops and what is included are on the Praia do Forte and Guarajuba day trip page, where you choose the size of your group and book.
