Costa do Dendê: A Tropical Paradise in Bahia

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The Costa do Dendê covers 5,815.62 km² and 115 km of coastline, spread over eight of the region’s nine municipalities: Valença, Cairu, Taperoá, Nilo Peçanha, Ituberá, Igrapiúna, Camamu and Maraú.

The municipality of Presidente Tancredo Neves, the only one without a coastline, borders Valença. The region lies between the Baía de Todos os Santos (to the north) and the Costa do Cacau (to the south).

mapa da Costa do Dende na Bahia — Map of the Costa do Dendês in Bahia

Video about Costa do Dendê

Costa do Dendê - Guia de Turismo01:47

Expedição na Costa do Dendê07:32

Ilha de Tinharé -Morro de São Paulo, Boipeba, Gamboa e outras ilhas

Península de Maraú: 5 passeios imperdíveis

Dendée Coast

1. Nature and ecotourism

The Costa do Dendê is famous for its paradisiacal beaches, coral reefs, coconut groves and preserved mangroves. Natural highlights include

Cairu Archipelago: Includes Morro de São Paulo, Boipeba and Cairu, belonging to the municipality of Cairu.
Camamu Bay: The second largest bay in Bahia and third largest in Brazil, with unspoilt islands and stunning landscapes.
Maráu Peninsula: Beaches such as Taipu de Fora, famous for its natural swimming pools, and Barra Grande, one of the most popular destinations.
Ituberá: although it is not bathed by the sea like the other towns of the Costa do Dendê, it enchants with its natural landscapes and waterfalls, especially Pancada Grande and Castro Alves. Situated on a hill, the city also preserves its historical heritage, with the Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora da Conceição, the Igreja de Santo André and the Vila Histórica de Itajaí.

The term “Tinharé Archipelago” is incorrectly used because Tinharé Island is one of the best known islands in the Cairu Archipelago, which includes several islands. The association with Tinharé is due to the popularity of the Morro de São Paulo, a tourist attraction on the island. The correct name is Arquipélago de Cairu.

Ilha do Sapinho na Península de Maráu — Sapinho Island on the Maráu Peninsula

Cachoeira da Pancada Grande em Ituberá na Bahia — Pancada Grande Waterfall, Ituberá, Bahia

2. History and Culture

The Costa do Dendê combines natural wealth with historical and cultural heritage, including traditional communities that keep the colonial heritage alive.

3. Dendê production

The name of the region comes from the cultivation of the oil palm, the basis for the production of palm oil, essential in Bahian gastronomy.

Bahia is Brazil’s second largest producer, after Pará.
The region accounts for 84.5 per cent of Bahia’s production.

4. Tourism and main destinations

Tourism on the Costa do Dendê is driven by sun and beach, but interest in ecotourism, cultural, nautical and adventure tourism is growing. The main destinations include

Morro de São Paulo: the most famous destination, with stunning beaches, vibrant nightlife and complete infrastructure.
Boipeba Island: A paradise retreat, ideal for snorkelling, boat trips and hiking in the Atlantic Forest.
Maráu Peninsula: Unspoilt beaches such as Taipu de Fora, with natural swimming pools, and Barra Grande, lively and charming.
Camamu Bay: departure point for unspoilt islands and historic villages such as Campinho and Sapinho.
Valença: The region’s main city, with good tourist infrastructure and a gateway to Morro de São Paulo and Boipeba.
Ituberá: Waterfalls such as Pancada Grande, hiking trails and rural tourism.
Igrapiúna: Lush nature, quilombola communities and unspoilt beaches.
Camamu: founded in 1560, it is known for its boat trips around the islands and its rich traditional culture.

4.1 Guides and information on the main tourist sites

5. Infrastructure and accessibility

Valença Airport: For large aircraft.
Morro de São Paulo airstrip: For single-engine aircraft.
Road and sea transport: Easy connections to Salvador and other destinations.

The Costa do Dendê is a destination that combines nature, history and culture, ideal for those seeking authentic experiences on the Bahia coast.

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

Costa do Dendê Tourist Guide in Bahia

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 →

Published on 30/11/2012 · Updated on 27/07/2025