Travel to Ilha De Boipeba is possible only by sea or river. Motor vehicles do not operate on the island; people get around the island on foot or by tractor. When choosing accommodation, therefore, factor both travel by water and getting around locally into your plans. Beaches, forest trails, protected landscapes and cultural sites are the main attractions for excursions.
Protected Area and Landscape
Ilha De Boipeba is part of the Área de Proteção Ambiental (APA) das Ilhas de Tinharé e Boipeba. This protected area includes estuaries, mangroves, coral reefs, restinga, wetlands and remnants of the Mata Atlântica, along with their associated fauna. Boipeba is also home to the largest fragment of forested restinga in Baixo Sul. You can also explore the landscape on foot: along the roughly 20-kilometer coastline, there are short and long walks on the beaches and along forest and coconut-palm trails.
Trails and Coastal Places
Two trail descriptions showcase different surroundings. From Praia do Outeiro, a forest trail leads through the Mata Atlântica toward Praia de Tassimirim. Another trail crosses a fazenda from Moreré to Praia de Bainema. Along the way are guaiamum crab burrows, while birdsong and flowering vegetation accompany the walk. Comparing the two options, you’ll find one trail through the Atlantic Forest and another route across a fazenda, with the natural features described above.
Praia de Tassimirim is accessible through a natural tunnel that opens onto a small beach with warm pools. Almond trees and tall coconut palms surround the pools. At Praia da Cueira, a well-preserved coconut grove within a fazenda is part of the landscape. A 2016 tourism report listed “lagosta do Guido” there as a dish to try—a specialty that tourists ranked among the best in the region.
Reefs and Experiences on the Water
Off Praia de Moreré, coral reefs form natural pools at low tide, teeming with fish. The offshore pools are accessible from the beach by small boats and are suitable for diving. Dives at Praia de Moreré can also start from the beach or from a boat. This distinguishes the special low-tide conditions from the question of how a dive begins: small boats are described for reaching the offshore pools, while dives in general can start from the beach or a boat.
Churches, Festivals and Culture
The Igreja do Divino Espírito Santo de Velha Boipeba is an important architectural and cultural monument. Jesuits built it around 1610; it was expanded in the 19th century. The church dedicated to Boipeba’s patron saint was also listed as a protected monument by decree. This is intended to preserve its cultural and architectural heritage, as well as its symbolic value to the people of Cairu.
The Festa de Iemanjá takes place on February 2 and has been organized by the Magalhães Meneses family since 1987. It originated in the devotion of Dona Neide Magalhães. During the maritime procession, decorated boats carry flowers and other offerings for Iemanjá. In the tradition of the Festa do Divino Espírito Santo de Boipeba, the date is set for seven weeks, or 50 days, after Easter. Traditional elements include the Divino flag, the cleaning of the church, a novena, processions and a festive Mass.
Cultural sites for visitors include the Museu do Osso and the Casa da Cultura Boipeba. The founder and manager of the Museu do Osso, “Mister Cabeludo,” began collecting bones from various marine animals at the age of ten. The Casa da Cultura Boipeba is also a cultural site for visitors.
Discover more destinations: Acaraí, Olivença, Prado, Maraú, Entre Rios, Mangue Seco, Serrinha, Barra Do Riacho.
For the overview of the wider region: Bahia.
