The municipality of Prado, in Bahia, offers paradisiacal beaches and a unique experience of relaxation and adventure, ranging from whale watching in Abrolhos to hiking trails in Monte Pascoal.

Located on the Whale Coast, Prado is the municipality with the largest tourist infrastructure in the region.

Municipality of Prado in Bahia

The municipality of Prado, in Bahia, has several towns and districts by the sea, some of the best known being:

1. Prado – The host city, with beaches and tourist infrastructure.
2. Cumuruxatiba – One of the most popular destinations, with peaceful, unspoilt beaches.
3. Corumbau – Famous for its tranquillity and natural beauty, with deserted beaches and crystal clear waters.
4. Barra do Cahy – Historic location with access to Monte Pascoal National Park.
5. Ponta do Corumbau – Region known for its coral reefs and natural pools.

These districts are among the main coastal attractions in the municipality of Prado, offering natural beauty and a variety of leisure options.

1. History and Culture

The town of Prado was founded in 1755. Prado preserves its 18th-century houses, cobbled streets and historic churches.

2. Natural Beauty

With 84 km of beaches, the Prado coastline is a spectacle of diversity:

• Imposing cliffs of varying colours and rare beauty.
• Areas of mangroves, freshwater lagoons, streams, and waterfalls.
• Beaches lined with coconut palms and natural pools.

3. Featured Attractions

• Near the village of Cumuruxatiba, the Cahy River marks the spot where the Portuguese from Cabral’s fleet first came into contact with the Brazilian natives.
• The Tororão waterfall, the Cumuruxatiba beach resort, and the fishing village of Corumbau are among the most popular attractions.
• Schooner trips provide unforgettable moments of connection with nature.

4. Historical Heritage

Prado is located on the border between the Discovery Coast and the Whale Coast, its history recording the first contact between the Indians and the fleet of Pedro Álvares Cabral, at the mouth of the Cahy River, before reaching Porto Seguro.

Even after more than 500 years, the landscape of the Cahy River still preserves the essence of early Brazil:

• The same winds, seas, and clouds.
• White beaches, rivers flowing into the ocean, green forests and lush mangroves.
• Cliffs that vary between shades of ochre, beige and red, with undergrowth in some places.

5. Urban Charm

The narrow colonial streets of Prado, paved with cobblestones, are home to:

• Charming residences.
• Shops and cosy bars.
• Fine dining restaurants, offering a unique experience for visitors.

With its combination of history, culture and natural beauty, Prado is a perfect destination for those seeking to enjoy the best of the South Coast of Bahia.

Videos about the municipalities of Prado and Abrolhos in Bahia

Tourist Attractions in the Municipality of Prado

1. Beaches (from north to south)

1. Corumbau Beach
2. Tauá Beach
3. Barra do Cahy Beach
4. Calambrião Beach
5. Imbassuaba Beach
6. Moreira Beach
7. Small and Large Fish River Beach
8. Cumuruxatiba Beach
9. Dois Irmãos Beach
10. Black Sand Beach
11. Japara Pequena Beach
12. Oyster Beach
13. Tororão Beach
14. Passion Beach
15. Viçosa Beach (or Amendoeira)
16. Farol Beach
17. Lagoa Pequena and Lagoa Grande beaches
18. Prado Beach
19. Barra Beach
20. Quati Beach
21. Guaratiba Beach

Prado is located about two hours from Porto Seguro. The small town of Prado has 84 kilometres of quiet beaches, practically deserted, as well as cliffs 30 metres high located on the stretch of sand known as Praia da Paixão, from where the more adventurous can go paragliding.

Another very famous beach is Cumuruxatiba, from where boat trips depart to see the humpback whales, which appear on the Bahian coast between the months of June and November.

The setting is similar on most beaches in Prado: cliffs, coconut palms and streams.

The tranquillity is constant at Praia do Quati, which has no infrastructure whatsoever.

On the beaches of Paixão, Prado and Novo Prado, the buzz is guaranteed thanks to the beach huts and kiosks. In between is Tororão, a quiet beach with a single kiosk.

1. Corumbau Beach

Its main feature is a long reef headland (1.5 km), which juts out into the sea and disappears when the tide rises.

The location has a lighthouse, a fishing village, mangroves, and many coconut trees. It is an excellent region for diving (at Recife dos Itacolomis, accessible by boat) and also for fishing.

2. Tauá Beach

3. Barra do Cahy Beach

Bay with cliffs and reasonably strong waves. Dark (monazite) sand, fine and soft. Ideal for sea bass fishing, especially when travelling up the gentle River Caí by boat.

4. Calambrião Beach

Similar to the previous one. Access via farm

5. Imbassuaba Beach

A cove with gentle waves, deserted, with cliffs, coconut trees and almond trees on the dark, fine sand. Suitable for fishing, kayaking and windsurfing.

6. Moreira Beach

Similar to the previous one. Access via farm.

7. Rio do Peixe Pequeno and Grande Beach

It is next to the bank of a stream with clear waters. It has gentle waves and white, fine sand.

8. Cumuruxatiba Beach

Cove with firm sand, gentle waves and shallow water (good for kayaking) and the coast is cut by reefs.

In the village of Cumuruxatiba, with few resources, there is an abandoned pier 650 metres long. From there, schooner trips depart for the Pataxós Reefs and Ponta do Corumbau. There are several inns, two campsites and many bars.

A village with just over 4,000 inhabitants, located on the southern coast of Bahia, between Prado and Porto Seguro. A tropical paradise that still preserves and makes a point of maintaining its natural beauty, local culture, roots and customs.

A place of beautiful beaches, but also of excellent cuisine. From the capoeira circle in the square to the indigenous influence that gives character and shape to the fishing village.

9. Dois Irmãos Beach

A 700-metre cove, lapped by gentle waves, popular for windsurfing and kayaking. It has very fine monazite sand and cliffs.

10. Areia Preta Beach

It is located in a cove with gentle waves, where the stream of the same name flows into the sea. It has a high concentration of monazite sand (dark) which contrasts with the pale yellow of the rocks and cliffs (up to 30 m high).

11. Japara Pequena Beach

Cliffs and mangroves make access difficult to this cove with calm waters and monazite sand. Good for diving and fishing.

12. Ostras Beach

From the open sea, beaten by gentle waves and with a wide strip of fine, white sand, cut by several streams. Good for windsurfing.

13. Tororão Beach

Cove with green waters, fine sand and clear skies. A small waterfall flows directly onto the beach from one of its impressive cliffs.

14. Passion Beach

A fitting name for this small cove with shallow, calm and warm waters. It has reefs near the light, soft sand, cliffs, rocks and a stream. It is close to the snack stalls, with access via a footbridge over the stream. There are also inns nearby.

15. Viçosa Beach (or Amendoeira)

A solitary almond tree marks this straight beach, with light, soft sand and cliffs all around. It is an excellent spot for sea bass fishing.

16. Farol Beach

Extensive, with grey sand and a small stream to the north. There is a lighthouse and stretches with cliffs and reefs.

Trekking enthusiasts can hike from the local campsite to the town of Santa Cruz Cabrália. The site has a hotel, guesthouses and a campsite.

17. Lagoa Pequena and Lagoa Grande beaches

Straight beaches, with rough waves crashing onto fine white sand. The region is undergoing increasing urbanisation and has snack bars on the seafront. There is a hotel at Lagoa Pequena.

18. Prado Beach

There are 2 km of soft, golden sand, with a sea of large waves, which becomes dangerous in the middle of the year due to strong winds.

The region has inns, restaurants, bars and straw parasols with small tables and benches. To the north, it is called Novo Prado, the nearest neighbourhood, which also has good infrastructure of inns, places to eat and camping.

19. Barra Beach

20. Quati Beach

This cove of calm and shallow waters is home to sandbank vegetation and coconut trees on fine sand and loose sand. The sea is rich in octopus and lobsters.

21. Guaratiba Beach

An extensive cove stretching for 3 kilometres, with no shade, soft golden sand and waves lapping at the shore. It is a deserted beach, except for simple houses belonging to fishermen.

2. Other tourist attractions in the municipality of Prado

Options to include in your itinerary:

1. Cahy Bar
2. Corumbau
3. Humpback whales
4. Mount Pascoal
5. Abrolhos Archipelago
6. Boat trip in Corumbau
7. Reefs in Guaratiba

1. Barra do Cahy

Barra do Cahy is a historic place; it was at the mouth of this river that the Portuguese from Cabral’s fleet resupplied themselves with drinking water and had their first contact with the indigenous people, before arriving at Porto Seguro.

The lush nature inspires walks or horse rides along trails and boat trips up the river, observing the mangroves, the birds and the vegetation.

Nearby, at Fazenda Cahy, there is a small bar and restaurant. It is 52 km from the centre of Prado and 20 km from Cumuruxatiba.

2. Corumbau

The village of Corumbau is bustling during the summer, when groups of all ages arrive by boat from the Costa do Descobrimento and the Costa das Baleias.

The name Corumbau means, in Tupi-Guarani, “far from everything“, “end of the world and the beginning of the earth” or even “distant place“. In other words, it is the perfect place to hide away during the low season.

During the high season, there is a lot of movement; you come across people from all over the place, your favourite artist and, sometimes, even people you don’t expect, like that clingy colleague…

The village is on the border with the municipality of Porto Seguro. You can go kayaking on the river, visit Monte Pascoal National Park, the village of Caraíva, or take a trip to dive among the coral reefs of Pataxó and Itacolomis.

In Corumbau, due to the large differences between high tide and low tide, the reef is exposed at low tide and submerged at high tide. It is 88 km from the centre of Prado. To get there, take the BR-489 to Guarani and then travel 56 km on a dirt road.

3. Humpback whales

Prado is located in the region known as the Whale Coast, a marine ecological sanctuary. The humpback whales begin to appear in mid-June and stay until October.

You can observe the humpback whale from the shore or on a boat trip, which departs from Prado or the districts of Cumuruxatiba and Corumbau.

4. Mount Pascoal

“Land ho!” They say that Monte Pascoal is the piece of land that Pedro Álvares Cabral sighted when he was approaching the Brazilian coast.

You can begin your tour of this historic attraction with magnificent scenery.

The destination is 80 km from Prado. You can visit the Monte Pascoal National and Historical Park and climb the mountain, with a trail that takes about two hours. Another option is to walk the Arruda Trail or the Jendiba Interpretive Trail.

5. Abrolhos Archipelago

The Abrolhos Archipelago is the most popular attraction in Prado.

The Abrolhos Marine National Park is located in Caravelas, from where the boats depart. On the ICMBio website, you can check the authorised companies and other information. You will have the opportunity to dive in one of the most beautiful archipelagos in Brazil. On the way, it is sometimes possible to see whales.

6. Boat trip in Corumbau

At Ponta do Corumbau, take a boat trip to visit the Itacolomi coral reefs and divenatural pools with clear waters and many fish. It is also worth visiting the Pataxó Reefs and Carapeba.

7. Reefs in Guaratiba

Guaratiba Beach offers one of the best activities in the region.

Take a boat trip to explore the destination’s reefs and go snorkelling. The attraction lasts around 5 hours, including 40 minutes of travel time.

What to do in Prado at night?

Bottle Alley is the most famous street in Prado. Some blocks are closed to traffic and are for pedestrians only.

You will find excellent restaurants, bars and, on selected days, live music. Families and young people frequent this gastronomic hotspot in Prado.

When is the best time to visit Prado?

Tourist Guide to Prado on the Whale Coast

Tourist Guide to Prado in Bahia

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