travelguing...: Discovery Coast, Bahia, Brazil

Beach in Trancoso

I have traveled the entire world, seen most of the major sights out there to be seen, but there is one place I knew very little. That place is the country I was born and lived most of my life in, Brazil. I always felt ashamed of not knowing more about my country, so last time my wife and I went to Brazil, I decided to explore a bit.

We took a flight from São Paulo to Porto Seguro. We flew with TAM airlines, which offered drinks, food, headphones and in-flight entertainment in coach on an hour long flight. This would be unheard of in any US airline. We arrived at the Porto Seguro pocket sized airport.

Porto Seguro was the first city to be established in Brazil in the year 1500. That was the year when the Portuguese discovered Brazil and arrived to this gorgeous coast to find a rich and beautiful land.

Happy sloth hanging out in Bahia

Porto Seguro is a located in Bahia, which is a very unique state, known for its culture, food and laid back attitude of its people. Bahia is one of those places that if you order a fish, there is a chance your waiter will jump on a canoe to go catch it for you. No rush here. Porto Seguro makes part of the Discovery coast, which is absolutely gorgeous. The beaches have golden sand, the ocean is turquoise green, and the sky is as blue as it gets.

Our bungalow at the "pousada" in Trancoso

We stayed in a bed and breakfast, know in Portuguese as “pousada”. It was located in Trancoso which is about an hour south of Porto Seguro. Trancoso is where Gisele Bundchen and other famous Brazilians vacation, not because of 5 star hotels, but because of its natural beauty and uniqueness. Trancoso is a little piece of paradise. The central square is covered in grass where one can sit under majestic trees and drink coconut water out of the actual coconut. From afar you see a 500 Year old church that tells you that little has changed in this town in the past 5 centuries. You can almost see the Portuguese sailors arriving in their wooden vessels.

"downtown" Trancoso

Church

Path that leads to the Rio Verde beach

Rio Verde river where you can wash from the salt water

Trancoso has great beaches that can be easily accessed on foot. On the beach you will find “barracas” which are foot-on-the-sand restaurants that offer the local fare. The “carne de sol” is a must try. It is a Brazilian salty beef jerky that is cooked with onions and is a perfect appetizer with beer. The “bobó de camarão” a kind of shrimp stew, is also very delicious and local.

Garbage collector in Trancoso

Forty minutes south of Trancoso is one of Brazil’s most beautiful beaches, Praia do Espelho. It is absolutely breathtaking and worth visiting.

Praia do Espelho beach

Another forty minutes south (on dirt roads) is an unbelievable place called Caraivas. There are no cars, no cell phone reception and only recently has electricity arrived to this utopia. The streets are made of fluffy sand, and the locals seem to just see life go by while they chat and enjoy the sea breeze. You will have to park your car on one side of the river bank and take a canoe to Caraivas.

Canoe that takes you to Caraivas

Caraivas River

It’s hard to believe there are places like that still around. Where life is so simple.

Caraivas central sqaure

No cars here!

Streets of Caraivas

On out last day we drove back to Porto Seguro to visit the first city of Brazil, which is now an area inside Porto Seguro. It is surreal to see the original houses and buildings from 500 years ago still standing. People actually live in them today, but these houses are protected by the federal government and cannot be changed.

500 year old village of Porto Seguro

This trip taught me a little more about my country. I was able to see that there is so much more than what I thought to be in Brazil. It made me want to visit more places around this gigantic country, which of course I will write about on my blog when I do.