Hotel Pousada Tatuapara

Praia do Forte is the dream destiny of those who look for tranquility, nature, leisure and emotion, besides contact with the spontaneous cordiality of the native people, their dances, habits, and handicraft.

Dearly nicknamed “Brazilian Polynesia”, it is a privileged place, where the preserved environment presents itself irresistibly, combining the nature that reserves to us a constant sun show, sand, coconut trees, dunes, and beaches. It is paradise! Praia do Forte is considered the first eco-touristic community in Brazil.

There are 12 kilometers of splendid semi-desert beaches, with natural pools formed by the ebb tide, reserves in Atlantic Forest areas, river rapids, rivers, lagoons, dunes, and coconut trees. The clear water, with warm temperatures, and the rich marine fauna make Praia do Forte perfect for diving.

Add to it the charming Fishermen Village that shelters pousadas, bars, restaurants, boutiques with the most modern clothing, and semi-precious Brazilian gems, besides the traditional handicraft shops. There are leisure and entertainment options for all ages, forming a complete infrastructure with a lot of safety, satisfaction, tranquility, and happiness for the visitors.

Since 1988, the whales that get to the warm waters of the coast of Bahia have been monitored by Humpback Whale Project that works on the protection of the species, and fosters researches about these sea mammals. The Project originated the Humpback Whale Institute.

Every year, around three thousand whales migrate to this region to reproduce and feed their babies, filling up a region where, in the past, they were almost totally extinct due to their commerce.

The increase in the number of whales seen in the North coast of Bahia, allowed the Humpback Whale Institute in partnership with tourism companies of the region, to introduce whale watching, which is one of the eco-touristic activities that grows the most in the world. It allows the tourists to have contact with the animals in their natural habitat. The best time to observe them is between July and November.

At Praia do Forte, CENTROTOUR ((71) 3676-1091 and 8802-8156) is the Institute’s partner, and part of its collected resources goes to the humpback whale conservation work. The trip is bought directly from the operator, and the Institute is responsible for the technical support, carrying on the talks, and guiding the visitors before the departure.

The headquarters of the National Project Tamar-Ibama is located at Praia do Forte. It has been in action for more than 25 years in the research, protection, and handling of five species of marine turtles that occur in Brazil – all endangered species. The North coast is one of the main areas where these animals lay their eggs, what happens from September to March.

Tamar Project was created in 1980, and it is internationally acknowledged as one of the most successful experiences in marine conservation. The social-environmental action work, developed with the communities situated in its action areas, are a model for other countries.

Tanks with turtles found in the Brazilian coast enchant the tourist. The Visitors Center works as a research and disclosure nucleus of the marine life, environmental education, and leisure and services areas. It is equipped with tanks, fishbowls, information panels, replicas of marine turtles in their real size, spaces for exhibitions, talks, and video shows; restaurant, bar, and a shop for the sale of products with the trade name “Tamar”, and local handicraft.

The Fishermen Village is one of the most seductive places in Brazil, where the native people’s traditions live in harmony with the sophistication of the shops and restaurants. It is an old fishermen village that still preserves its charm and simplicity. It is part of the History of Brazil, because the Portuguese arrived here in 1500, establishing the first contacts with the aborigines, the root of the Brazilian people.

Until 2001, Praia do Forte had dirt streets. Today its main streets and the transversal ones are covered with cobblestones. The streets at the Villa offer many kinds of services, such as restaurants, bars, cafes, pousadas, markets, post office, drugstores, automatic teller, tourism agencies, car rental, local handicraft, shops, besides a unique taxi service.

One must visit the São Francisco de Assis Chapel, the chapel of the Village’s patron, and the protector of turtles and whales. There are beautiful panels there, made by the plastic artist Carlos Bastos, a famous artist from Bahia.

This is Praia do Forte, a tropical paradise, which combines history, ecology and native culture. This is Brazil!

Located on the top of Tatuapara hill, Garcia D’Ávila Cultural Park shelters the ruins of the fort once built and exhibition rooms, chapel and restaurant. The castle is a great construction of its time.

"Tatuapara" was the name given by the Tupi-Guarani indians for the region where Praia do Forte is located today. It was on Tatuapara hill that in 1551, Garcia D’Ávila, a royal storekeeper of the Portuguese Crown, built his majestic house with characteristics of a feudal fortification, being the only construction that looks like a castle in America and the oldest farm of Brazil.

The building is from the XVI century, and it is known as ‘Casa da Torre’ ou ‘Castelo Garcia D’Ávila’, whose existence added the adjective “Fort” to the beach where it is situated.

After being restored, Garcia D’Ávila Castle started to shine again, and to fascinate the visitors. It was used to protect the coast against the presence of pirates and invaders.

The ecological trails of Sapiranga reserve take the tourists who like hiking, to go through real tunnels made of trees, discovering, on their way, an incredible variety of orchids, wild bromeliads, birds, little monkeys, butterflies, and, very often, a coati, a sloth, or an armadillo.

With the low tide, amidst the corals, huge natural pools with see through water are formed with warm temperatures, where snorkeling is unavoidable. Diving in this area is like being inside a fishbowl, due to the diversity and amount of fishes, mollusks, crustaceous, plants, and corals that exist there.

Formed by the basin of the waters of Timeantube River, the lagoon is an enormous birds’ reserve. In its area, around 300 different species of birds have been catalogued. There are two options of activities here: to exercise kayaking, to bird-watch from a motor boat.