Brazil Eco Adventure Tours
Rainforest - Hiking & Biking - Wildlife

Itacaré

 Itacaré   Itacaré   Itacaré 
Itacaré is located on the so-called cocoa coast of the state of Bahia, 440 km south of Salvador and 70 km north of Ilhéus. The historic city is an important entry point to the Environmental Protection Areas (APA) Itacaré - Serra Grande in the south, Peninsula Maraú in the north and to the Conduru State Park in the southwest.

The first inhabitants of Itacaré were the Pataxós Indians. In the beginning of the 18th century, the Jesuits settled and built their church, São Miguel, still standing today. The village was named "São Miguel da Barra do Rio de Contas" and was raised to the status of county in 1732. The name was changed to Itacaré in 1931.
 
During colonial times, there was a tunnel which linked the church to the Jesuit house. They used the tunnel to escape from indigenous attacks that were frequent at that time. The river, Rio de Contas, was used to hide pirate ships and Portuguese galleons. Itacaré was an important port during the times when maritime transport dominated in Bahia. With the development and construction of roads its traffic diminished and the basic source of income for the whole municipal comes nowadays basically from the cultivation of cacao.
 
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