Bahia Pantanal Ecological Reserve: A natural paradise of rivers, beaches and biodiversity

The Pantanal Baiano Ecological Sanctuary is a fascinating place formed by the mouth of several rivers, including the Jaguaripe River, as well as beaches and the Atlantic Forest.

Access to the Pantanal

Access to the reserve is via Cacha-Pregos, a village on the south of Itaparica Island, where you can hire a speedboat for tours.

Fishing in the Pantanal

Fishing enthusiasts are guaranteed a good time, with whiting, mullet and dentex available. Many travel agencies specialising in fishing include the Bahian Pantanal in their itineraries.

Meeting of the waters

An interesting phenomenon occurs in the region: the meeting of salt water from the sea and fresh water from the rivers creates an unusual sight, where you can find oysters on the banks of the tributaries of the Jaguaripe River!

City of Jaguaripe

The town of Jaguaripe is located on a strip of land between the Jaguaripe River and its main tributary, the Dona River, one of the largest habitats for sea bass.

Natural attractions

Surrounded by extensive mangroves that extend to the mouth of the Jaguaripe River, the region’s main attraction is an ecological sanctuary with white sand beaches, streams, remnants of the Atlantic Forest, mangrove canals and apicum. This environment is home to a rich biodiversity, including birds, wolves, antelopes, foxes, pacas, armadillos and a wide variety of seafood and fish due to the mixture of fresh and salt water.

Dominant ecosystem

The dominant ecosystem in the region is the mangrove swamp.

Mangrove species

The main species of trees and shrubs found in Bahia’s mangroves include

• Red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle)
• Black mangrove (Avicennia germinans; A. schaueriana)
• White mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa)
• Button tree (Conocarpus erecta)

These species have different distributions and are intercropped, mainly due to the influence of tides and watercourses, as well as the types of soil present.

Video about the Pantanal in Bahia and the city of Jaquaripe, Bahia

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Pantanal Marimbus em Andaraí BA00:12

Cidade de Jaguaripe BA02:51

Discover the Bahian Pantanal: Ecosystems, wildlife and access to Jaguaripe

The region is so named because it has a huge area of mangroves that is still virtually untouched, with numerous corridors, streams and alternative routes for navigation within the mangrove forest.

Diverse ecosystem

It is a true sanctuary with a multitude of rivers, canals, mangroves and even beaches with crystal clear sand and lots of Atlantic Forest.

The region is home to birds, anteaters, wolves, armadillos, pacas and even jaguars and alligators. Fishing enthusiasts will have a great time catching whiting, mullet, sea bass and dentus.

Interaction between waters

The meeting of salt water from the sea and fresh water from the region’s rivers allows oysters to grow on the banks of the Jaguaripe River’s tributaries.

Wildlife in the mangroves

The animal life found in mangroves is diverse, so much so that they are known as marine nurseries, due to the importance of these ecosystems in supporting various species that spend at least part of their life cycle in this environment.

There are animals that are directly dependent on the existence of mangroves as a source of food and habitat, such as molluscs (such as mussels and oysters) and crustaceans (such as lobsters, crabs, aratus, crabs and shrimps).

Among the fish, the most notable are sea bass, mullet, sardines, sole and carapeba, which belong to the sardine family. Sardines, Sole and Carapeba, among the species associated with mangrove ecosystems.

It should be remembered that the fact that fish are physically distant from these ecosystems does not exempt them from needing them as a source of survival, since in these cases visits become vital for their development.

Birds of the Pantanal

Among the animals most closely associated with the coastal environment, some birds that feed in the mangroves stand out. The Blue Heron, the Sleepy Owl, the Mangrove Hawk and the Mangrove Sandpiper are most commonly found in these areas.

Functions of mangroves

Mangroves perform many functions in maintaining environmental quality and, more recently, their use as a source of economic wealth has expanded.

Concerns about the conservation of mangroves arose in the 1980s, at a time when their role in the environment was being reconsidered.

The primary importance of mangroves is related to the reproduction of the wealth of fauna and flora. These ecosystems act as a “marine nursery”, providing favourable conditions for different species of plants and animals to go through different reproductive cycles.

In addition to producing a variety of food for the people of Jaguaripe and the surrounding region, mangroves also have the ability to regulate agents that degrade the coastline.

Their roots act as a filter for sediments and pollutants flowing into the sea, preventing siltation and contamination of the marine environment. The presence of mangroves prevents erosion along the coastline and protects the continent from the advance of the sea.

How to get to Jaguaripe

It is 239 km from Salvador.

Leave Salvador on the BR-324 towards Feira de Santana, take the flyover that leads to the BR-101 and continue to Santo Antônio de Jesus, where you take the BA-046 to Nazaré. From Nazaré, continue south for another 10 km until the junction with Jaguaripe. From the junction to the town it is 14 km of winding road.

Another option is to leave Salvador and take a ferry to the Terminal de Bom Despacho on the island of Itaparica (45 minutes), from where you take the BA-001 for 61 km to the town of Nazaré. From Nazaré, continue south for another 10 km to the junction with Jaguaripe. From the turn-off to the town it is 14 km of winding road.

By bus, you can take the Cidade Sol bus company.

See the map of Todos os Santos Bay

Bahia.ws is the largest tourist guide for Bahia and Salvador.

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