In the last two decades, Morro de Sao Paulo (St. Paul's Hill) has changed from an isolated third world village to an international getaway with lots of sun and great beaches. It's not the kind of place to observe the local culture, but somewhere you can soak in the natural splendour and either relax or party all night with people who have come from all over the world. The beach parties are the high point of Morro and liven up the Brazilian summers daily from January to the time of Carnival. The rest of the year, they are held on Saturday nights and do not have the same intensity of the summer parties.

Morro's favourite drinks are roskas, which are cocktails made from tropical fruits and mixed with crushed sugar, ice and vodka. The variety of roskas in Morro is as many as the number of fruits in Brazil.

This Morro de Sao Paulo destination guide gives a basic rundown of the many tourist attractions in Morro de Sao Paulo. A great way to explore the village is by taking a Morro de Sao Paulo tour. For some general information about travelling to Brazil visit our Brazil country guide.

Things to see & do in Morro de Sao Paulo

Morro's main street is a sandy path, which is lined on either sides with restaurants and bars. The beaches are merely named ‘first', ‘second', ‘third' and ‘fourth' and do not have unique names given to them. The ‘first' beach is a small beach and has a number of pousadas; the ‘second' beach is wide and is a popular beach to hold parties; the ‘third' beach is also small and is lined with more pousadas; the ‘fourth' beach is more expansive and isolated and looks like the archetypal beautiful tropical Caribbean beach.

Follow the links below or scroll further down the page for details on some of the many interesting tourist attractions in Morro de Sao Paulo:

Boipeba Island
Encanto Beach
First Beach
Fonte Grande
Fort
Fort Beach
Fourth Beach
Gamboa
Gamboa Beach
Garapuá
Garapuá Beach
General information
Harbor and Portaló
Inside Morro de Sao Paulo: Local Walks
Lighthouse Hill
Main Square
Parties
Ponta do Curral
Porto de Cima Beach
Prices
Ponta da Pedra (‘Tip of the Rock’)
Second Beach
Third Beach
Tables on the Beach
The Fortress
The Lighthouse
Tides
Town

Boipeba Island

Tinhare is a small group of islands that is separated by Rio do Inferno which means ‘Hell River'. To reach the islands there are tractors and small watercrafts that ply daily to bring travellers and visitors to this island.

The boat trip that circles the island of Tinharé and also visits Boipeba and Cairú is the most famous in Morro de São Paulo. It stops for snorkelling in pools at open sea and you can get to know some of the most beautiful beaches on Boipeba Island, such as Cueira, Tassimirim and Boca da Barra. On the way back, this boat stops at Cairú, where there is one of the oldest monastaries in Brazil. During January and February there are also other boat routes to other beaches at Boipeba, such as Moreré and Bainema - considered among the most exquisite in Brazil.

The Boipeba Island is one island in the archipelago situated in the county of Cairu. The daily trip from Morro to Boipeba Island is an interesting boat ride. At Boipeba Island, you will find a beautiful natural swimming pool called Morerê. Here you can snorkel and swim to your heart's content. It has a beautiful beach called Tassimirim, which is listed as one of the ten best beaches in Brazil according to Guia 4 Rodas, Brazil's premier guide book. Boca da Barra Beach is another popular and beautiful beach which has good reasonably priced restaurants. The return journey to Morro can be done by traversing the mangrove swamps of Rio do Inferno. Some tours also take you to Cairu, a small village which has one of the oldest churches of Brazil.

Encanto Beach

This is the most well preserved beach on the island. You can reach it on foot from Fourth Beach, where there is a passage through a small mangrove. At high tide you need to cross a small creek to get there. This beach is under strong influence of the tides: during low tide the sand strip is as wide as 300 metres, but disappears at high tide. There are some mangroves on this beach, which makes for an interesting walk during low tide. Here are some of the best spots for snorkelling, especially for the most experienced.

First Beach

The beaches in Morro de São Paulo are numbered, beginning at the village. The First one is just a five minute walk away from the main square. It is about 300 metres long, and is the only "surfable" one. There are no corals here, so it's the best one for swimming too, and its possible to get there by boat. There are a few bars along the beach, which the locals use a lot. There is a banana-boat ride and a zip-line from the Lighthouse Hill. At night it is usually a very quiet place.

Fonte Grande

The "big fountain" was the first water treatment plant of colonial Brazil - basically a decantation system for rain water and also the water from a small stream. Until the 70's there was no piped water on the island, and each family had to fetch water at this location. The waterspouts were also used for bathing and there were different times for women and men. The street which gives access to the Fonte Grande can give you an idea of how the locals live - since this place is not very touristy. Don't worry, you can enter any alley, it is totally safe here.

Fort

The "Fortaleza de Morro de São Paulo" contruction began in 1630, as protection against Dutch invasions. It contained 51 cannons, which never had any use, and were transferred to Salvador in1822, during the war for Brazilian independence. Nowadays, the 600-meter long walls are the best lookout for watching the sunset and to see the dolphins. Sometimes it also serves as a stage for capoeira rings and other cultural displays.

Fort Beach

The beach by the Fortress in Morro is called the Fort Beach. It appears only during low tide as a narrow strip of land. There are natural swimming pools in this area that are ideal both for swimming and snorkelling. You can reach this beach from the end of the fortress ruins.

Fourth Beach

It's the largest of Morro de São Paulo, about four kilometres long. Only the begining of the beach is a little busy, due to the couple of restaurants there, but the remaining extension holds nothing but a few hotels, and even during high season there are few people. It is always quiet. This beach is famous for its scenery and its many natural pools, where you can snorkel - perfect for children and beginers. You can also rent horses or bicycle or go for a cart ride.

Some say this is the best beach in Morro de Sao Paulo. It is just the right place to get away from the humdrum of daily life. There is no choice but to enjoy the sand, sea and palm trees, as you get to see these on all four sides. The calmness of the beach is ideal for soothing frayed nerves. There is also a natural pool, and the clear water with little fishes is indeed a delight. However, this beach is far from the village and it is difficult to get here by foot. But there are pousadas who make arrangements for transportation back and forth to the beach. This beach is also the largest of the four beaches and is frequented by the more upmarket visitor.

Gamboa

A twenty minute walk along the Tip of the Rock Beach takes you to the town of Gamboa. For many years, Gamboa seemed to be very far from Morro de Sao Paulo. This was primarily because Gamboa lacked the tourist activity and development Morro de Sao Paulo enjoyed. The international influence of the neighbouring town continues to elude Gamboa and even today it is a peaceful fishing village. This is perhaps the reason that inhabitants of this village decided to move to Gamboa and decided to build their houses.

The majority of the islanders live in Gamboa and this is just the place to experience the local life of native islanders. There are a few inns and pousadas also. Lately, the infrastructure is improving and there are also some good restaurants which serve regional cuisine. But all this has not altered Gamboa‘s serene atmosphere. There are tourists who prefer the serenity and calmness of Gamboa and come and stay here. When they decide they want some action on their holiday, they simply go across to Morro.

Gamboa Beach

It is right in front of the largest village on the island, where most of the work force lives. It used to be a fishermen's village, and there are still many with this occupation. The beach has many bars, restaurants and a sailing club, where you may rent sailboats or take sailing lessons. Aside from walking your way there - always on low tide - you can also get there by boat, either on a day day-trip, or by public transport, which leaves the harbor in Morro de São Paulo every hour.

Garapuá

This beach can be found on the way to the neighbouring island of Boipeba. This is located by a little fishing village and is characterised by calm and crystal clear waters. There are some unpretentious pousadas here, but they do not compare with the tourism facilities at Morro.

Garapuá Beach

Located south of Encanto Beach, and a difficult place to reach. You should never try to reach it from the end of Encanto Beach through the mangrove and reefs - it is too dangerous! A good idea is to hire a guide and take the trail through rain forest and some coconut farms - do not try to go alone as it is easy to lose your way. The place is worth it though: it is one of the most beautiful on the island, almost deserted and has great snorkelling points. The people living at the fishermen's village arrive there by boat through a river that ends near Valença. The seafood served by the rustic restaurants there is the best in the island. The travel agencies in Morro sell this package to Guarapuá, and part of the way can be in a jeep.

General information

Power suply is 220V - 60Hz and sometimes hotels have 110V adapters. Somes hotels have WI-FI or a computer with Internet access available to the guest. There is cell phone coverage by most companies and several call-centers for international calls, many cyber-cafés, a few public phones and two Bradesco Bank ATM´s where you can use Visa or Mastercard - although they usually run out of cash on the weekends. It's easy to exchange euros or dollars, but almost impossible to exchange Travellers Checks.

Harbor and Portaló

Most of people arrive on the island through here. Probably the word "harbor" brings to mind large ships, heavy machinery and such, but it is really nothing like that. The harbor, or "ponte" (bridge) as the locals call it, is nothing but a small pier where boats coming from Salvador, Valença and Gamboa arrive. It is used for passengers and goods alike. Depending on the time, it may look like a public market - although nothing is sold here - with an endless array of boxes containing everything you can possibly imagine. In front of the harbor the Fort begins, and to enter Morro de São Paulo you will cross a large gate, the Portaló, built in the 17th century.

Inside Morro de Sao Paulo: Local Walks

While on a holiday to Morro, a climb to the hill where the lighthouse is located is a must. From here one gets a panoramic view of this quaint village and its beaches. You should also walk to the Fortress and enjoy the natural swimming pool next to it. The paths to both the Lighthouse and the Fortress start near a place called the Portalo, which is an old stone arch and is located near Morro's pier.

Lighthouse Hill

Lighthouse Hill has the best view of the beaches and the north bay. It's easy to get there: go up the trail that begins in front of the church. Be on the lookout as you go, as you can often spot marmosets. Upon reaching the Lighthouse, the trail splits. To the left it leads to a point where you can see the continent, the north bay, Gamboa, Ponta do Currall, and on clear days, as far as Salvador. To the right there is a small fort, which still has a cannon. This place is the most famous postcard of the island, and the view of the First, Second and Third beaches. A zip-line also starts here, the fastest and most radical way of reaching First Beach.

Main Square

The centre of the village is just five minutes away from the harbor, after a little hill - the locals call "ladeira". The first peculiarity is that within the "centre" you never will see a car! Not even horses or bicycles, for that matter. Mules and wheelbarrels are used to transport merchandise to and fro. By night, there is a little artwork fair here and also live Brasilian music - "Foom" as most Brazilians and Argentinians know. Also on this square are the Church and the Casarão - the oldest house of the island. This is also the starting point of the roads/ tracks that lead to the beaches, to "Fonte Grande" and the lighthouse hill.

Parties

Most of the parties happen on Second Beach, which may be on the actual beach, as a luau, or at the bars. Other regular places for parties are the Pulsar - at the fort - and the Toca - on the way to the Lighthouse. Occasionally there are also parties at Gamboa. They are usually theme parties, and there's a little bit of everything: brazilian music, electronic, 70's and 80's, costume parties, and so on. They never begin before 11pm and rarely end before dawn. From May to June there is only one, maybe two a week, but January and February often hold up to three parties in a single night.

Ponta do Curral

This is a deserted beach island with a long line of coconut trees that is visible from Morro de São Paulo. There are countless cashew trees. The best way to visit this beach is with the "pirate boat" trip - a typical timber boat - that also takes you to the mud bath, the sand bank at Coroa Grande and Gamboa. This boat ride is free if you book your hotel reservations with WHL.

Porto de Cima Beach

This beach begins at the harbor, running west to the village at Gamboa. There are many large rocks and cliffs along it, and it is very beautiful. You can only cross it during the low tide, so be sure to check the tide for the day if you are planning a visit. At the end of this beach is the mud bath, which is also known as Pink Beach. Most of the beach is deserted, with only a few houses.

Prices

A Coke or a beer: R$ 3,00
Caipirinha: R$ 6,00
A simple lunch R$ 20 per person
A dinner in a good restaurant R$ 70 for two people
A room in a basic guesthouse in low season: R$ 120,-
The same room in January and February: R$ 180,-
The same room during the New Year holiday: R$ 300,-
Half-day trip: R$ 30 to 60 per person
Full-day trip: R$ 60 to 180 per person
Regular boat to Valença: R$ 6,00
The same trip by speed-boat: R$ 14,00
Boat trip to Salvador: R$ 75,00
Plane trip to Salvador: R$ 231,00
Island Fee (paid at the entrance): R$ 10,00

Ponta da Pedra (‘Tip of the Rock’)

This beach is close to the town of Gamboa. If you chose to walk to Gamboa, then it will take you about 30 minutes to reach the village dock. The local people also call this area ‘Beach of Gamboa' or ‘Tip of the Rock'. The beach is surrounded by rocks and the waters are very calm on this beach. Tip of the Rock is quite unspoiled as it is not used by tourists or visitors for beach parties. Instead you will only see sailboats of the local yacht club anchored here. A little ahead of the beach is an interesting area where the clay gets eroded. It is believed that taking a ‘mud bath' in this clay is beneficial for the skin.

Second Beach

This beach is the most crowded in the island, during the day or night. It is only 300 metres long. It's the place for playing volleyball, racketball and soccer, snorkeling or just perfect for laying in the sun and watching people going by during the day. There are several bars and restaurants and countless shade umbrellas and lounge chairs, which you may rent or use for free if you order from the place to which they belong. At night there are stands selling caipirinhas made with all kinds of exotic fruit - and live music. There may be parties at the beach or at the bars, either way they usually last until morning. Often the stragglers from the evening meet the first early birds in the morning.

Third Beach

The first half of this beach is well urbanized, and has several bars and restaurants. The second half is very calm, with hardly any buildings and a few bungalow hotels. On this beach there is also one of the airstrips of the island, operated by Addey company, who flies to Salvador. It's from this beach most of the day-trips by boat leave from. There are good spots to do snorkelling. The 800-metre sandstrip runs from Saudade Island, at the end of Second Beach, to Fourth Beach.

Tables on the Beach

The beaches are equipped with several tables and these are so convenient that you can have a drink, a take a bite, read a book or merely relax by the sea. Near the small bay is a reef which has mild waves coming in.

The Fortress

In 1630, the then governor of Morro Diogo Luiz e Oliveira ordered the construction of a fortress to guard the island against any possible attacks. The canal around it was strategically quite effective. Later in 1728, the Count of Sabugosa renovated the fort to brave the attacks led by the French naval officer, called Nicolas Durand de Villegaignon.

The Lighthouse

The Lighthouse was built in 1855 and is just the right place to get a bird's eye view of Morro. This was also the reason why it was already used as a defence structure for the island, as it presented a good view of the area around the island.

Tides

The tides vary greatly in Morro de São Paulo. It takes a little over six hours to rise and the same amount to fall. Each day the cycle occurs 50 minutes later and at the end of a week the tides are inverted. During weeks of full and new moons the low tide happens in the morning and high tide in the afternoon. It is the other way around during half moon weeks. The intertidal zone may exceed a couple of metres, so it is a good idea to ask about the tides of the day before you go out exploring the island!

Town

The night life is active in the town on top of the hill. The town consists of only two main streets and it is impossible for even a newcomer to get lost in this town. The town also has the necessary infrastructure for tourists such as restaurants, hotels, and bars. Over the years Morro's main street has changed in character. At one time it had just a few candlelit restaurants which served fried fish. Now there are a dozen restaurants all close to each other. These include pizzerias and shops selling crepes, with their typical décor consisting of high ceilings and bright orange walls.

The street also has internet cafes which also sell art. You also see the reverse with art galleries offering Internet service. There are also boutiques stocked with gossamer skirts, T-shirts and crocheted bikinis.

Morro de Sao Paulo Destination Guide