Praia do Forte, Beach resort district in Mata de São João, Brazil

Praia do Forte is a beach destination in Mata de São João featuring wide light-colored sands and shallow reefs near the shore. The water is warm and welcoming, with calm bays for swimmers and deeper areas to explore.

The name Praia do Forte refers to the Castelo Garcia d'Ávila, a ruined stone building dated to 1551 and standing about 3 km from the village, in Açu da Torre. Garcia d'Ávila, treasurer of governor-general Tomé de Sousa, who reached Bahia in 1549 to found Salvador, built it on land he had accumulated; sources describe him as the world's largest landowner, with estates reaching from Bahia to Maranhão. In 1970 Klaus Peters and a friend bought 30,000 hectares that included the fishing village and the ruin, and from 1980 he was sole owner.

The name refers to the Castelo Garcia d'Ávila, a ruined fortified compound begun in 1551 and standing 3 km from the village in Açu da Torre. Its builder, Garcia d'Ávila, was treasurer to Tomé de Sousa, the first governor-general, who reached Bahia in 1549 to found Salvador. The village itself grew from a fishing community; today its economy rests on tourism, with craft and jewellery shops alongside residents who still fish.

The area is easily reached by public buses from the nearby city, with multiple departures throughout the day. Most paths are walkable, so sturdy shoes and sun protection matter here.

The TAMAR Project's national headquarters sits in the village, between the church and the lighthouse, and studies and protects sea turtles that reach up to 3 metres in length and lay eggs on this beach. The Instituto Baleia Jubarte also keeps a research and environmental education base here for cetacean conservation.