Porto Seguro Reefs, State of Bahia, Brazil

Porto Seguro Reefs, State of Bahia, Brazil 

Porto Seguro is where the History of Brazil started. The first spot of Brazilian mainlaind to be seen by the Portuguese was Santa Cruz de Cabrália, named after Pedro Álvares Cabral, the captain of the fleet which discovered Brazil.

Cabral didn´t set foot on Cabrália, though. He sailed about 30 km southwards, until he found a bay where the waters were particularly tranquil. He called the bay Porto Seguro, which means Safe Haven.

The landscape hasn’t changed much since Cabral’s fleet saw it and Caminha described it in his letter to the King of Portugal. One hundred beaches are framed by the Atlantic Rainforest and cliffs ranging in color from white to red.

Porto Seguro is today one of the main touristic destinations in Brazil, particularly among young people, who come for the beaches and the almost non-stop parties. In town, the busiest place is Passarela do Álcool (Alcohol Catwalk), lined with bars which stay open all through the night. It´s possible to find tranquility in one of the many hotels scattered along the coast.

The stretch from Porto Seguro to Caravelas is called the Costa do Descobrimento (Coast of the Discovery). The restaurants, resorts and quality inns of Arraial D’Ajuda, Trancoso and Caraíva offer charm and sophistication. Further south, Cumuruxatiba is the current tourist magnet, combining simplicity with the modern equipment required for boat or jeep excursions. Spectacular coral reefs and humpback whales await divers at the National Marine Park of Abrolhos, close to the pleasant historical city of Caravelas.

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