Porto Seguro, Coastal municipality in Bahia, Brazil
Porto Seguro is a coastal town in the state of Bahia with several beaches stretching along the Atlantic shore and a historic core on a low hill. The built environment ranges from low residential homes to multi-storey hotels, between which palms grow and narrow paved roads run.
The Portuguese crown established an outpost here in the early 16th century following the arrival of ships from Lisbon. Later, Jesuit missions and administrative buildings emerged, making the place a starting point for further expeditions inland.
The upper old town retains its character as an early settlement with its unpaved lanes and churches from the colonial era. In front of beach stalls, fishing boats rest on the shore while women cook manioc in large pots and vendors offer baskets of fresh fruit.
Main beaches offer freshwater showers, umbrellas for rent, and small restaurants set directly on the sand. Those heading to the elevated old town reach it via steep footpaths or by minibus stopping at the central square.
In the waters offshore, humpback whales appear between January and March, arriving on their migration from Antarctica. From boats, you sometimes see them leap from the water or slap their fins.
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