Boipeba Island, Bahia: map, beaches and how to get there

Published on December 29, 2012 · Updated on November 4, 2026

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Boipeba Island lies in the Baixo Sul region of Bahia, in the municipality of Cairu, south of Morro de São Paulo. It has about 20 km of almost deserted beaches, coconut groves, mangroves and car-free fishing villages. So, in this guide, you will find out where Boipeba Island is, see the map and learn how to get there, the beaches and what to do.

Quick summary – Boipeba Island

Where it is: in the Baixo Sul region of Bahia, in the municipality of Cairu, south of Tinharé Island (Morro de São Paulo).
Size: about 88 km²; Cairu has 17,761 inhabitants (IBGE, 2022 Census).
How to get there: by speedboat from Valença (about 1 hour) or via Morro de São Paulo, by 4×4 and boat.
Beaches: Boca da Barra, Tassimirim, Cueira, Moreré, Bainema, Castelhanos and Cova da Onça.
Villages: Velha Boipeba, Moreré, São Sebastião (Cova da Onça) and Monte Alegre.

Aerial view of Boipeba Island, with coconut groves and blue sea, in Bahia — Boipeba Island, in the Baixo Sul region of Bahia

Where is Boipeba Island (map)

Boipeba is part of the Cairu archipelago, on the Costa do Dendê. To the north, for example, the mouth of the Inferno River separates the island from Tinharé Island, home to Morro de São Paulo.

Map of Boipeba Island with the Inferno River and Tinharé Island — Map of Boipeba Island

Map of Boipeba Island with its beaches and villages — Map of the beaches and villages of Boipeba Island

The island covers about 88 km² and, in general, has no cars: people get around on foot, and goods are moved by tractor, cart or wheelbarrow. In addition, the region is part of the APA das Ilhas de Tinharé e Boipeba (an environmental protection area).

View of the Cairu archipelago, with the islands of Tinharé and Boipeba — Cairu Archipelago

Map of the Costa do Dendê with Valença, Morro de São Paulo and Boipeba — Map of the Costa do Dendê

How to get to Boipeba Island

Via Valença: first, take the ferry from Salvador to Bom Despacho (about 1 hour) and then continue by bus or taxi to Valença. From there, speedboats take about 1 hour to reach Boipeba.
Via Ponte da Graciosa: a little past Valença, speedboats also depart, with a crossing of about 40 minutes.
Via Morro de São Paulo: from there, you usually travel by 4×4 for about 1 hour across Tinharé Island and then take a short boat crossing.
By car: you can drive to Valença and leave the car in a parking lot near the pier.
Air taxi: finally, there are private flights from Salvador, with a journey time of about 30 minutes.

However, the speedboats do not run at night, so arrive in Valença with time to spare. Schedules and fares change, so check before you go.

Best time to go

In general, it rains more from April to July, and some guesthouses and restaurants close during this period. On the other hand, from August to March the weather is usually drier.

Videos about Boipeba Island

Vila de Boipeba - Pontos Turísticos

Ilha de Boipeba - Reportagem05:52

Ilha de Boipeba - Guia de Turismo06:17

Ilha de Boipeba - Guia de Turismo Completo

Ilha de Boipeba - Guia de Viagem Completo09:50

Moreré - Guia Completo26:03

Beaches of Boipeba Island

Map of the beaches of Boipeba, from Boca da Barra to Cova da Onça — Map of the beaches of Boipeba

The beaches run from north to south, from Boca da Barra to Cova da Onça. As a result, you can visit several of them on foot, by boat or by quad bike.

Boca da Barra Beach

Near the village of Velha Boipeba, this is where most boats arrive. For this reason, it is home to most of the guesthouses and restaurants.

The Inferno River meeting the sea at Boca da Barra — Boca da Barra, at the mouth of the Inferno River

Depending on the tide, however, the water gets darker because of the Inferno River, which flows into the sea there.

Outeiro Beach and Pedras Beach

Light sand and coconut palms at Outeiro Beach, in Boipeba — Outeiro Beach

Outeiro continues on from Boca da Barra towards the open sea, with clearer, calmer waters. Immediately afterwards, the small Pedras Beach has rock formations that are great for photos.

Tassimirim Beach

You reach it by a trail of about 20 minutes from Outeiro. The beach is protected by reefs, so it is better for admiring the view than for swimming.

Cueira Beach

Separated from Tassimirim by reefs, Cueira has gentle waves, good for swimming and, at times, for surfing. In addition, the stretch of sand is long, with shady coconut groves and beach huts famous for their lobster.

Moreré Beach

Moreré is one of the most beautiful beaches on the island, with clear, shallow water, white sand and a coconut grove. At low tide, in general, natural pools form in the sea.

In the village, in turn, there are rustic restaurants serving moqueca, grilled fish and seafood, as well as a few guesthouses.

Bainema Beach

After Moreré, you reach Bainema by a trail through the coconut grove. It is a deserted, peaceful beach, especially in the late afternoon.

Ponta dos Castelhanos

Coconut palms and white sand at Castelhanos Beach, in Boipeba — Castelhanos Beach

Castelhanos is the hardest beach to reach. Therefore, you get there by boat, by quad bike or on a walk through the mangrove. Even so, many people consider it the most beautiful beach in Boipeba.

Aerial view of Ponta dos Castelhanos, on Boipeba Island — Ponta dos Castelhanos

The natural pools of Castelhanos lie far from the sand, so you can only reach them by boat. Moreover, they only appear at low tide, so check the tide table; in general, the guesthouses can tell you the times.

Green-water natural pools at Castelhanos at low tide — Natural pools of Castelhanos

Cova da Onça Beach

At the southern tip of the island, Cova da Onça sits next to the village of São Sebastião. Thus, it is the quietest and least touristy part of Boipeba.

Villages of Boipeba Island

Velha Boipeba

It is the main village and the gateway to the island, with sandy streets, colorful houses, guesthouses and restaurants. In addition, it is one of the oldest settlements in Bahia: according to the IBGE, it became a district of Cairu in 1616. On the square, for example, stands the Church of the Divino Espírito Santo, dating from the early 17th century.

The name Boipeba, incidentally, comes from Tupi and is linked to “cobra chata” (“flat snake”), which is what the Indigenous people called the sea turtle.

Monte Alegre

In the interior of the island, Monte Alegre is a rural community surrounded by forest, with plots of cassava, corn, banana and pineapple. In 2023, moreover, the Boipeba community was certified by the Fundação Palmares as a quilombo remnant community.

Map of Boipeba Island and surroundings, with Valença, Cairu and Tinharé — Map of Boipeba Island and its surroundings

What to do on Boipeba Island

Boat trip around the island: in general, the tour stops at Moreré, the natural pools and Castelhanos.
Beach walk: from Tassimirim to Moreré, passing through Cueira, especially at low tide.
Mangrove trail: for example, the walk to Castelhanos.
Seafood: lobster, moqueca and fish at the beach huts of Cueira and Moreré.
Velha Boipeba: finally, the sunset at Boca da Barra and a stroll through the village.

Frequently asked questions about Boipeba Island

Where is Boipeba Island?

In the Baixo Sul region of Bahia, in the municipality of Cairu, south of Morro de São Paulo.

Thus, it is part of the Cairu archipelago.

How do you get to Boipeba Island?

In general, by speedboat from Valença or via Morro de São Paulo, by 4×4 and boat.

There is also an air taxi service from Salvador.

What are the best beaches in Boipeba?

For example, Moreré, Cueira, Castelhanos and Tassimirim.

In addition, the natural pools appear at low tide.

Does Boipeba have cars?

No; in general, only tractors, carts and quad bikes.

For this reason, most tours are on foot or by boat.

When is the best time to go to Boipeba?

From August to March, when it usually rains less.

However, from April to July some guesthouses close.

Written by Willy Sievert

Editor of Bahia.ws since its founding in 2009. Based in Salvador, he travels frequently across the Northeast and all of Brazil to keep the guides up to date. Learn more about Willy Sievert →