Where to stay in Porto Seguro, Bahia: best beaches and accommodation tips
No wonder Porto Seguro is one of the most popular destinations in Bahia, Brazil. It’s the kind of place that appeals to most types of travelers: in addition to paradisiacal beaches and a thriving nightlife, it also has a lot of history and culture. I love it there! But if you are planning a trip to this paradise, it is important to give a good thought about where to stay in Porto Seguro. Depending on the location of your accommodation it will be easier to enjoy different attractions in the region.
The choice might seem daunting, since Porto Seguro has more than 40 beaches and the coastline is more than 90 kilometers long. But don’t worry: in this article I will show you which are the best beaches in Porto Seguro and its surroundings and where to book your stay for an amazing vacation in Bahia.
Where to stay in Porto Seguro, Bahia
In summary, the best places to stay in and around Porto Seguro are:
- Taperapuan beach
- Mundai Beach
- Coroa Vermelha beach
- Mutá beach
- Downtown Porto Seguro
- Downtown Arraial D’ajuda
- Mucuge Beach in Arraial D’ajuda
- Pitinga beach in Arraial D’ajuda
- Trancoso
- Caraíva
Each of these locations has its peculiarities, so keep reading to understand all about them and choose the best place to stay in Porto Seguro according to your tastes.
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Taperapuan Beach and Mundaí Beach
The beaches of Taperapuan and Mundaí are close to downtown Porto Seguro and are the busiest in the region. That’s where you can find the greatest offer of hotels and inns in Porto Seguro.
It is also in this area that the most famous beach stalls, parties and restaurants are located. In other words, it’s the most tourist area. Fortunately, you can find inns and hotels for all budgets, from simple inns to all-inclusive resorts.
1. Best places to stay on Taperapuan beach
Capoeira Village and Vitoria Regia Praia Hotel are good options for those wondering where to stay in Porto Seguro on a budget. They are both great for families and less than a 10-minute walk from Taperapuan beach.
If you are looking for an all-inclusive resort in Porto Seguro, a good choice on Taperapuan beach is Nauticomar Resort All Inclusive & Beach Club, which is located 300 meters from the beach and has an exclusive beach club on Mutá beach.
Sued’s Plaza and Portobello Praia are hotels on the seaside avenue. Just cross the street and you’re on the beach, as the hotels in this part of Porto Seguro aren’t exactly on the sand (like in other areas that I’ll mention later).
The Taperapuan Praia Hotel is also an option on the seaside avenue, but with a simpler structure and cheaper rooms.
2. Best places to stay on Mundaí beach
On Mundaí beach you can stay in an apart hotel with an equipped kitchen and a nice leisure area such as Residencial Mont Carmelo, which is 250 meters from the beach.
Pontal Praia Hotel and Portal Ville are highly rated hotels with swimming pool, games room and gym, just 250 meters from Mundaí beach.
Praia de Coroa Vermelha and Praia do Mutá
The beaches of Coroa Vermelha and Mutá are a little further from downtown, but not that far. They are not located in Porto Seguro itself, but in the neighboring city of Santa Cruz Cabrália.
Consider this area if you’re looking for a place to stay in Porto Seguro with your family, as the sea on these beaches is calm and with crystal clear waters.
At low tide, a sandy path is formed, and it is possible to walk many meters into the sea. It’s beautiful! There is also a wide variety of hotels and inns in this area, and beach stalls and restaurants on the seafront.
3. Best places to stay at Coroa Vermelha beach
On the beach of Coroa Vermelha you will find the famous all-inclusive hotel Coroa Vermelha Beach, with a beach club, recreation for children and adults and lots of unlimited food and drinks.
Another option on Coroa Vermelha beach is the Areia do Atlantico Hotel, which is also located on the seaside avenue and very close to the handicraft market.
Pousada Aldeia Portuguesa also has a great location at a lower cost. It’s a good choice for those who want to save money on accommodation in Porto Seguro.
4. Best places to stay at Mutá beach
At Mutá beach there are cheaper accommodation options compared to the beaches of Taperapuan and Mundaí, such as Pousada Porto Paraiso, which is 500 meters from Mutá beach and has a very cozy and peaceful atmosphere.
Pousada Migo is 350 meters from the beach and has a simple structure, but great value for money.
Village Muta is an option on the seafront avenue of Praia do Mutá. A special highlight is the breakfast, which is served at the beach bar overlooking the sea. In this hotel there is the option to book suites or complete apartments with living room and kitchen.
Downtown Porto Seguro
The first thing you need to know regarding this location is that there are no good beaches for swimming. But this is a great option for those who want to find a place to stay in Porto Seguro close to the famous Passarela do Descobrimento, the historic part of town, the airport, the bus station, or the ferry to Arraial D’ajuda.
5. Best places to stay in downtown Porto Seguro
In Porto Seguro city center, there are some very economical accommodation options, so if you are looking for a cheap place to stay in Porto Seguro, this is the right place.
Pousada Cores da Passarela is 200 meters from Passarela do Descobrimento, which is a great location.
Hotel Solar do Imperador is a cozier alternative for accommodation in downtown Porto Seguro. Close to the historic center and the airport, the hotel has an orchid garden, a swimming pool with a bar and a beautiful view of the city. In addition, it has a games room with pool and ping-pong tables, library, sauna, and gym.
Downtown Arraial D’Ajuda
Arraial D’Ajuda is a district of Porto Seguro. In my opinion, it is one of the best places to stay in this area. If you have enough time, split your stay in two different locations and spend a few days in Porto Seguro itself and a few more in Arraial D’Ajuda.
It’s like another city, because you need to take a ferry in downtown Porto Seguro to cross the Buranhém river and a Van or Taxi to go to Arraial, which is just 6km from the center of Porto Seguro.
In downtown Arraial there are several bars with live music, restaurants, shops, and street food stalls, in addition to the famous Matriz Nossa Senhora D’ajuda church, where you will find the beautiful Mirante das Fitinhas (“ribbons lookout point”) and the stairs that lead to the Nossa Senhora D’ajuda fountain.
As if that were not enough, the center of Arraial D’ajuda is also close to paradisiacal beaches such as Pescadores beach, Mucugê, Pitinga, Lagoa Azul and Taípe beach.
This is also a good place to stay in Porto Seguro if you want to go to Arraial D’Ajuda Eco Park.
6. Best places to stay in downtown Arraial D’Ajuda
Pousada Pé na Estrada and Pousada Arraial Suites are very nice and economical accommodation choices in downtown Arraial and both are close to Mucugê beach.
Another good place to stay in Arraial d’Ajuda is Pousada Vila do Beco, a wooded and peaceful inn overlooking the sea, in a very convenient location.
If you’re looking for something a bit more upscale, Hotel Paraiso do Morro is a paradise on earth: it has a swimming pool with a panoramic view of the beach and beautiful facilities, in addition to being close to downtown and the beach.
Mucuge Beach
Praia do Mucugê is the busiest beach in Arraial D’Ajuda, as it is the closest to downtown. The sea is always calm with crystalline waters, and at when the tide is low natural pools are formed.
There are some beach huts, one next to the other. It’s a good place to stay in Porto Seguro, but if you want to spend the day on a quieter beach, I suggest walking a little north to Praia dos Pescadores.
7. Best places to stay at Mucugê beach
Pousada Encantos do Mar is a cozy and cost-effective alternative. The inn is small and simple, but very well maintained.
Pousada Beijo do Vento, located 5 minutes from Mucugê beach, is a more sophisticated option. The accommodations have panoramic or partial views of the sea, as well as private balconies with a hammock. Some rooms also have a hot tub.
If you’re looking for something truly special, Casarão Alto Mucugê is a dream accommodation in Porto Seguro, offering a breathtaking view, swimming pool, coconut trees, garden and a lot of tranquility.
Pitinga Beach
Pitinga beach is one of the best beaches in Porto Seguro in terms of natural beauty. It mixes reddish cliffs, freshwater river, coconut trees, white sand and blue sea; a perfect landscape!
It is about 3 km from downtown Arraial and there aren’t shops around. If you are looking for a quiet place to stay in Porto Seguro and enjoy waking up on a paradisiacal beach, I recommend staying at Pitinga beach. But if you like excitement and want to enjoy the bars in downtown Arraial every day, you might find this too isolated.
8. Best places to stay at Pitinga beach
A rustic accommodation worth checking out on Pitinga beach is Casa de Sapê, which is located in a forest, all built in harmony with nature. You can choose to stay in a chalet or a loft. It is less than 1 km from the beach.
If you prefer an inn, Privillage Praia Pousada de Charme is really charming, right on the sand and with a pool facing the sea. In the same style there is also the beautiful Hotel Pousada Pitinga, which is also on the seafront and has a super charming garden.
Another good choice is 4 Elementos Guest House, which isn’t right on the sand, but is highly rated by guests, with a score of 9.7 on Booking.com. There you will find a hot tub, a garden, and nice bungalows with verandas.
Trancoso
Trancoso is another district of Porto Seguro which I find quite charming. Travelers usually take a day trip there, and if you’re short on time, it’s worth considering it. But if you have more time during your trip to Porto Seguro, I suggest you spend a few days in this little piece of paradise.
It is worth paying a visit to the famous square “Quadrado de Trancoso”, where you will find charming little colorful houses and the Church of São João Batista.
A single day is not enough to visit the beaches around Trancoso. The most famous are: Nativos beach, Coqueiros beach, Rio da Barra beach, Taípe beach and Espelho beach.
9. Best places to stay in Trancoso
It’s good to know that accommodation in Trancoso is not very cheap; it is an overvalued region of Bahia.
The cheapest place I found that has good reviews is Villa Hortencia Trancoso, close to both the square and the beach.
The charming Hostel Villa Cacau Trancoso is also well located and has private suites and shared rooms.
If you are looking for boutique inns and sophisticated hotels in Trancoso, though, don’t worry: there are countless nice places. Casa da Glória Trancoso has a great location in the square of Trancoso, and Pousada Le Refuge is just 250 meters from Coqueiros beach.
Caraíva
Among all the places mentioned in this article, Caraíva is the farthest from the center of Porto Seguro, at almost 100 km. It’s one of those places where a lot of people just go on day tours, but it’s totally worth spending one or more nights there.
This district is located on the edge of the beach and the Caraíva river. There, there are no cars, the streets are sandy, and the houses are small and colorful. All this makes you feel like you traveled back in time. It is an excellent place to rest and enjoy nature, but there are also good restaurants and parties.
10. Best places to stay in Caraíva
Despite Caraíva being a simple place, it is a very popular destination, so accommodation in the village is not usually very cheap.
Some natives rent their own houses to travelers, such as Casa do Mar Caraíva and Quintal dos Sonhos Xandó. It’s a different experience and you get to know the locals and their life stories, in addition to contributing directly to the local economy.
Pousada Aquarela, Canto do Sabiá and Pousada Aroeira are also great places to stay in Caraíva, well located and with plenty of nature around.
Free accommodation in Porto Seguro
If you want to have a more immersive experience in Porto Seguro and its surroundings while also saving a lot of money, consider volunteering with Worldpackers. Through this platform you can exchange a few hours of work per week for accommodation and other benefits, such as meals and tours.
In addition to not spending money on accommodation, you have the chance to learn new things, enjoy the destination with more time and meet interesting people from various parts of Brazil and the world.
There are volunteer positions in Porto Seguro, Santa Cruz Cabrália, Arraial d’Ajuda, Trancoso and several other parts of Bahia, with tasks ranging from hostel reception to agroecology.
You can look for positions for free, but in order to apply you must pay a small yearly fee. When registering, use the discount coupon JANELASABERTAS and get 20% off.
Do you still have any questions about where to stay in Porto Seguro? Leave us a comment!
Article written by Bárbara Nicoli, experienced traveler and contributor to the Janelas Abertas blog.
Photos: Unsplash (Creative Commons), Bárbara Nicoli and Luísa Ferreira/Janelas Abertas
Disclaimer: if you book your stay through the links in this article, I earn a small commission that allows me to bring more and more content (and you don’t pay anything extra). Transparency is a core value here.
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