Intro to Barra Grande, Marau
When it comes to the Marau Peninsula, Barra Grande and its sister beach, Taipu de Fora, receive the vast majority of visitors. Together, they make up the top portion or “crown” of the peninsula. Both can be accessed by boat from the town of Camamu, or by land along the infamous BR-030, a 42 km dirt road that is, according to maps, a federal highway. Taipu de Fora beach is perfect for those who prefer to stay put along one beautiful beach, while Barra Grande has far more infrastructure, with lots of restaurants, shopping and nightlife.
Overview
Barra Grande is usually the first destination people look at when considering a trip to Bahia and the Marau Peninsula. In reality, the name comes from the Villa de Barra Grande, which refers to the village center, but to locals it has grown to include the surrounding beaches of Ponta da Muta, Tres Coqueiros, and Bombaca, forming the entire northern tip of the Marau Peninsula. If you are a beach lover, Barra is ideally located, with beautiful stretches of reef lined beaches on the east side (open ocean) and calm, bath-like waters of the Bay of Camamu on the west side. If you like to see people on the beach, stay close to the Villa. But if you like long stretches of deserted beaches, start at Tres Coqueiros Beach and head south. Whatever your preference, there is only one rule for the beaches here… you need to be on the west side at sunset!
Tourism on the peninsula essentially started here because of its close proximity to the port city of Camamu, and although it continues to get the lion’s share of tourists, the concentration of visitor is spreading to other hot spots along the peninsula due to improved road conditions.
The soul of Barra Grande remains the same despite the ever-increasing flow of tourism. Barra Grande has a very distinct character and feel. At its core, it is quaint, charming, rustic, and most importantly has retained its authenticity when compared to other beach towns who have sold their soul to the commercial tourist industry. For most of the year, the natives far outnumber the tourists, and the friendliness factor among all is high all year round. You’ll find quaint shops, pousadas and restaurants everywhere you walk, with rustic architecture and hand-crafted wood furniture everywhere you look. During high season, hundreds of mango trees are dropping their fruit all over the Villa, adding to its charm.
Nightlife here has been maturing steadily over the years, with several world-class clubs right on the beach that only open during the high season, such as Café de la Musique and O Deck. Brazilians flock here for New Year’s, paying big money to party five days straight. All year round, the Praca de Tainha and the carless, sand streets of the Villa light up and come alive at night with an even mix of locals and tourists. Restaurants, bars, shops… with hippies and rastas selling their handicrafts, pop up in places that seemingly did not exist during the day! Small bands and solo musicians are everywhere… so just pick your brand of music, drop your sandals and have a seat.
Things to Do in Barra Grande
During the day, take a boat ride on one of the many “schooners”. Make sure you’re up for a party though… after a few caipirinhas the music gets louder and the Brazilians start dancing. If you want something a little more private and don’t mind spending more, charter your own speedboat so you can include lunch on an island and the Tremembe Falls at the southern end of the Bay of Camamu.
The most popular thing to do here, however, is to rent a quad and head off on your own. Your options for what to do are limited only by your imagination (and your map)!
Visit our partners at MarauTour for a complete list of tours and things to do in Barra Grande.
If you enjoy paddle boarding or would like to try for the first time, take a walk along the beach heading south from the main pier until you reach the Rio Carapitangui. Along the river you’ll find Barra Grande’s most famous restaurant, Bar do Ro, where you can rent or ask to borrow one of their paddle boards, and from there meander through the calm waters of the mangrove forest along the river. When you’re done, get lunch or at least an appetizer at the Bar do Ro. Not the cheapest meal in town, but it’s some of the best food you’ll taste anywhere in the region!
Late afternoon, head north up the beach to Ponta do Muta and join the crowds for one of the most picturesque sunsets you will ever see, weather permitting. Great music and a great atmosphere at Sol do Muta and Macunaima, the two more popular sunset bars.
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Tours and Excursions from Barra Grande
Below we listed some of the popular tours that leave from Barra Grande. For a more complete list, please see our page on Tours and Activities on the Marau Peninsula.
Schooner Tour – This is a party style tour that cruises slowly around the bay on a large wooden “schooner”, visiting the more popular sights around Barra Grande, such as Pedra Furada, Sapinho, Ilha de Goio, and Campinho. This tour is a good choice if you’re looking unwind, maybe have a drink or two, and get a feel for the Bahian culture, with its music, dance, and friendly people. Also a good choice for singles!
Speedboat Tour of Camamu Bay – This is a more complete tour of the Bay of Camamu since you are on a speedboat. One of the benefits of a fast boat is a visit to the picturesque Tremembe Falls which lay at the southern end of the bay. There are 5 other stops (see schooner tour), including a stop for lunch. You can choose either a shared tour with others, or charter a private speedboat, giving you privacy and more flexibility.
Electric Bike Rental
Electric “fat tire” bikes are new to Barra Grande, and an excellent way to see the sights of the peninsula in a more eco-friendly way. They are easy to operate, totally silent, and have a long battery life. Most important of all… you can actually ride these on the beach! You can rent by the day or by the half day.
Quad Bike Rental – Renting a quad is one of the best ways to explore the peninsula, especially along the beautiful trail that runs from Taipu de Fora to Cassange Lake, offering stunning views of the coast. We can arrange for the quad to be dropped off in the morning and picked up late afternoon, giving you plenty of time to explore the peninsula at your own pace. This is a self-guided activity (though you can hire a guide), and 2 people can ride comfortably on one quad.
Hotels and Where to Stay in Barra Grande
Below is our list of great hotels on the beaches of Barra Grande. For a complete list of hotels and pousadas with an interactive map, including all the neighboring beaches, please visit our Hotels and Pousadas in Marau page.
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Where to Eat and Drink in Barra Grande
The quality and number of restaurants in Barra Grande has increased significantly over the past few years. Below, we put together a list of some good places to eat and drink in Barra Grande. To see a complete list of restaurants with an interactive map, including neighboring beaches, please see our restaurants and bars of Marau page.
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How to Get to Barra Grande
By Car
The best way to get to Barra Grande by car depends entirely on the road conditions along BR-030, the dirt road that runs the length of the peninsula. As a rule, the fastest and most comfortable way to get to Barra Grande is to go by the main roads (asphalt) to the town of Camamu. From Camamu, there are hourly speedboats to Barra Grande center. Most of the hotel are withing walking distance from the pier, and for other destinations there’s a taxi stand right in front of the pier.
Although it is possible to take the dirt road up the peninsula, it’s generally not recommended unless you have a 4×4. The easiest way to get there is get an airport transfer.
By Bus
From the Ilheus bus station, look for Aguia Branca, which is the only company with a direct bus to Camamu, twice a day, as 08:00 and 14:20. If this doesn’t work, the company Rota has hourly buses to Itacare, from where there are frequent buses to Camamu.
In Camamu, the bus will stop on the canal directly in front of Camamu Adventure, the company that offers speedboat crossings to Barra Grande. As of this writing a ticket costs R$40 per person, and boats leave hourly from 06:00 to 17:00. Alternatively, you can catch one of the boats from the Association that leaves from the public pier, just a bit further down from the bus station. Important… the last speedboat crossing is at 17:00. For more information see our page on boat transport between Camamu and Barra Grande.
For more detailed information, see our page on How to Get to Barra Grand and Marau.
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