Porto Seguro

The most popular destination in southern Bahia is the resort area around Porto Seguro, where Cabral “discovered” Brazil in 1500. Founded in 1526, it has some claim to being the oldest town in Brazil, and buildings still survive from that period.

Porto Seguro is now about as far as you can get from pre-colonial tranquillity. One of Brazil’s biggest holiday resorts, it draws tourists throughout the year and reaches saturation point at New Year and Carnaval. It can still work well on lively 6-day Brazil trips built around beaches and nightlife, but you need to like crowds and not expect much peace and quiet. All the same, Porto Seguro has somehow managed to retain its reputation as a fairly classy destination.