Things you can do in or near to Arraial d’Ajuda:
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Lie in the sun and forget the world.
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Pass your time like most Brazilians drinking ice cold beer or caiprinhas* in a bar on the beach or in the village. (Caiprinhas are a cocktail of Cachaça, the local rum, with crushed lime, ice and sugar — a safer alternative is a CaipriVodka made with Smirnoff or similar).
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Wander down the coast a few km to one of the unspoilt beaches to the south of Arraial. You’ll pass a few beach bars, but will find endless stretches of quiet or near-deserted golden sands backed by magnificent cliffs and occasional coconut palms.
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Go for a trek in the Mata Atlântica with a knowledgeable guide and see the wildlife.
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Go horse riding either along the beach at low tide, above the cliffs or in the countryside.
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Go diving or snorkelling.
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Spend a day fishing.
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Learn or practice Capoeira, the Brazilian-African dance cum martial art.
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Go kite or wind surfing.
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Hire a kayak either in the sea (within the reef) or take a trip up one of the rivers in the region.
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Play golf at the finest golf course in Brazil with amazing views.
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Take a launch or schooner trip.
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Try 4-WD/minibus tours with guide to selected beaches and local farms.
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Visit the Indian reservation and see craftwork and learn about traditional Indian medicines.
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Hire a beach-buggy, motor bike or push bike (motorised vehicles not allowed on beaches) and drive the dirt tracks to nearby villages, see a buffalo farm.
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Take a day schooner trip from Porto Seguro to the coral reefs at Recife de Fora (low tide). There’s another big reef in the marine park at Coroa Alta accessible by boat from Santa Cruz Cabrália. As well as finding out something about coral reefs, you’ll discover a lot about Brazilians having a fun day out!
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Pass a day at Arraial d’Ajuda’s Eco Water Park — especially recommended as a real Brazilian experience when there’s one of Bahia’s best-known bands like Olodum playing.
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Attend Yoga or meditation sessions.
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Have a relaxing massage — either on the beach or in the house.
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Attend a Buddhist day.
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Dance Forro or Lambada or Zouki or take lessons if you don’t know how to.
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Go craft shopping (evenings) either in the tiny craft market in Arraial or in the everlasting one along the aptly-named Passarela do Álcool in Porto Seguro.
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Pass some time in the historic part of Porto Seguro. The Museum is a good place to begin to understand the story of the Portuguese colonisation of Brazil; the Indian exhibition at Coroa Vermelha tells the story from the point of view of the Indians, the original natives. A few hundred metres outside Porto Seguro there’s a reproduction of one of the ships of Cabral’s fleet which you can visit.
Further afield
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Go people-watching in Trancoso (25km along the beach); it’s the ‘in’ place for top models, singers and the famous from Brazil and around the world.
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Belmonte (88km north): There’s a fascinating boat trip through a protected mangrove area. You can make either a short trip or a 3-hour mini-voyage across the River Jequitinhonha to Canavieiras a centre for marlin fishing
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From the Arraial d’Ajuda-Porto Seguro ferry terminal, a boat trip up the River Buranhém to Ilha de Macacos.
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Visit the Monte Pascoal National Park — Monte Pascoal was the first sighting of land the Portuguese had when they arrived in Brazil in 1500.
At the right time
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February-March — varies according to the Christian calendar: Dance in the streets, enjoy Carnaval — a traditional one evening (often longer) party in Arraial or a marathon ten-day event in Porto Seguro — often with the best bands from Salvador playing every night from 10 pm until breakfast time the next day. Try to catch up with some sleep in the day time!
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August 7 to 15: Join the 15,000 pilgrims who come to Arraial d’Ajuda from all over Brazil to celebrate the annual Festa da Santa — the village’s patron saint, Nossa Senhora d’Ajuda (Our Lady of Help).
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July to November: Watch the Humpback whales in the national marine park at Abrolhos. Boats leave from Caravelas (200km south by road) or there are longer sea trips and mini-buses from Arraial d’Ajuda.