Ilha de Maré, Island in the bay of Salvador, Brazil
Ilha de Maré is a small island in the bay of Salvador, Brazil, made up of narrow paths, modest houses, and sandy streets spread across flat land with gentle hills. Several small communities share the island, and the only way to reach it is by boat from the mainland.
The island was originally inhabited by the Tupinambá, an indigenous people who resisted the Portuguese settlers who arrived in the 1500s. The Portuguese built one of the region's first churches there, Nossa Senhora das Neves, which still stands today.
Ilha de Maré is home to five quilombola communities, descendants of escaped enslaved people who keep their traditions alive through music and dance. During local festivals, all generations gather and visitors can hear drums and watch people in colorful clothing celebrate together.
The island is only accessible by boat from Salvador, so arriving early in the day gives more time to explore. Once there, you can get around on foot or join a donkey ride, locally called a jegue tour, to cover more of the island's communities.
A small fort on the island, built to guard the coast, still has old cannons in place and offers a wide view over the water. Standing there, you can watch boats crossing the bay in much the same way ships have done for centuries.
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