Cacao Coast Bike Route

This 07-day guided bike circuit will take you to Costa do Cacau in the south of Bahia, starting in Ilheus. Here, the climate is tropical, with an average temperature of 27 º C year round. The itinerary brings together beautiful nature, history, culture, good gastronomy and biking. Surrounded by the lush Atlantic Rainforest, the region features deserted beaches, rivers, lagoons, clear water waterfalls and a historic heritage of cacao farming, with century-old rural farms. Rocky mountains hide, in their secluded coves, small and delicate fine-sand beaches, sheltered by dreamy coconut groves. Visit historic farms and taste high quality chocolate, learning about organic practices. Try yourself at capoeira – south of Bahia is without doubt one of the best places to be introduced to the famous Brazilian martial art. Stay in beautiful boutique hotels, taste fresh seafood and organic recipes. The tour was exceptionally designed for adventure seekers – it is a great option for travellers who enjoy physically active holidays.

7 Days – From £2,170 per person

*equivalent in USD, EUR accepted

Itinerary: Ilheus, Uruçuca, Serra Grande, Condurú, Itacare, Taboquinhas, Ilheus

Included

Price is per person, based on two people sharing in a double/twin room
Accommodation with breakfast (more hotels HERE)
All the excursions mentioned in the itinerary
All transfers by car on a private basis
English speaking specialist biker guide
Equipment: Cannondale Mountan bikes rental and helmet (Model Trail SIX. The mountain bikes have 29 whell, with hydraulic disc brakes, front suspension, modern frames with comfortable riding position and a light gear ratio that guarantee safety and comfort)
Support vehicle with water, fruit and nuts
Mechanical assistance
Capoeira and percussion class at Serra Grande
Welcome kit (chocolates and a Bike Jersey)
Entrance & guiding fees
All mandatory local taxes

Excluded

Visa, where applicable
International Flights (See Flights to Brazil)
Domestic Flights
Personal Expenses
Insurance
Tips & Gratuities
Meals not mentioned in the description

Flights

International flights are not included in the package price. We give you the freedom to book the flights yourself, use miles and choose your preferred airline, and if you are stuck we can help you find the right connections. Return flights to Brazil start from £800 per person, depending on the connections and time of the year. The starting point is Ilheus Airport (IOS) which is connected by flight to Sao Paulo, Salvador and Belo Horizonte.

For families and groups (starting with 5 pax), we can book domestic flights in Brazil, during the high season, and if the trip is part of a more complex itinerary. This is to ensure a seamless travel and no complications.

How to Book

Send us a message on WhatsApp (+44 7 308 449 233) or email us at brazil@boutiquetravelexperts.com to check availability, discuss your preferences and get a quote.

This is a sample itinerary and prices are correct at the time of writing. We can tailor it to suit your plans by changing the length of the trip or the order of activities. More days can be added. Other hotels can be chosen, according to your liking. You can also combine this trip with other sights in Brazil, like the cosmopolitan Rio de Janeiro, the exciting Amazon rainforest, the fascinating Pantanal or the deep canyons of the south. For more travel inspiration check these itineraries.

Day 1 - Welcome to Ilheus

Today you will arrive in Ilheus (IOS). You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel. Explore the historic center and architectural landmarks built during the cacao boom. Stop for lunch at the iconic Bar Vesúvio in the heart of Ilhéus. After the city tour, you will meet your guide for a safety briefing in preparation for the following days and then will fit and adjust the bikes. In the evening, transfer to Fazenda Provisão. Bring along a book of Jorge Amado, one of the greatest Brazilian writers, who traced the glories and tragedies of the cocoa trade in his works. Overnight at Fazenda Provisão.

Day 2 - Uruçuca to Serra Grande

After breakfast, take a 30 minutes (16 km) scenic drive to Fazenda Capela Velha, a farm which produces high quality cacao and chocolates. The seeds of cocoa were first brought to Bahia in 1746 from the Amazon and planted on the Cubículo farm. Cocoa brought wealth to Bahia. Learn about the organic production cycle and taste different types of chocolate. Continue to the beautiful Fazenda Provisão for a rustic lunch. Visit the farm, the colonial style chapel and Casa Sede, decorated with vintage elements. In the afternoon, if the tide is low, cycle to Serra Grande along a beautiful white-sand beach (20 km), sheltered by coconut trees. Spend the evening at leisure. Overnight at Canto Leela.

Day 3 - Serra Grande

After breakfast bike around Serra Grande (35 km). Visit the three lookouts and Represa Square, then cross Condurú Park to the beautiful Juerana Milagrosa cacao farm. Surrounded by rainforest, the farm preserves incredible nature. Walk through the organic plantation to a waterfall with a wide natural pool. Swim and relax. After luch, ride to the mouth of the pristine Tijuípe river. On your return, you will have a capoeira and percussion class in Serra Grande. Capoeira arrived in Brazil in the 16th century, with the bantu slaves. Camouflaged in dance, the fight became art, incorporating music and instruments, such as berimbau, tambourine and caxixi. Overnight at Canto Leela.

Day 4 - Condurú & Cacao Farms

Today you will bike along a tarmac trail through Serra do Condurú State Park, admiring beautiful landscapes and lookouts (40 km). The fresh Atlantic Ocean breeze will accompany you throughout the day. Before arriving at Boa Esperança cacao farm (or Vista do Mar Farm), stop at a spectacular lookout and a lake surrounded by rainforest. At the farm you will be welcomed by an organic brunch and chocolate. After brunch, descend to the beach, biking along coconut trees, feeling the ocean breeze and contemplating the blue sea. In the late afternoon, watch the fishermen arriving in their wooden jangadas and relax. Overnight at Vila Barracuda.

Day 5 - Beaches of Itacare

Take a walk through the cobblestone streets with colonial houses from the Black Gold era, when the cocoa barons contributed to the building up Itacaré. It is impossible not to fall in love with the beauty, flavors, history, swinging rhythm and colors of this part of Bahia. South of Bahia has some of the finest beaches in Brazil. Today explore by foot 4 interconnecting beaches: Itacarezinho, Engenhoca, Havaizinho, and Gamboa (6 km). Follow the coast to the deserted beaches. Swim, snorkel, get a tan and try some beach snacks such as tapioca or acaraje! In late afternoon, paddle in a Hawaiian outrigger canoe through the calm waters at the mouth of Rio das Contas and appreciate the sunset. Overnight at Vila Barracuda.

Day 6 - Bike to Taboquinhas

Today discover the rustic village of Taboquinhas with a historic cacao farm. From Itacaré bike along a paved quiet road along Rio de Contas to the charming Vila Rosa cacao farm (31 km). Take a guided tour through the farm and learn about the process of harvesting, fermenting and drying the cacao seeds. Visit the on-site museum, where you will taste fine handmade chocolate and also try making a bar yourself. Later, stop for lunch at a restaurant overlooking Rio de Contas, then return to Itacaré by car. Spend the rest of the day at leisure, enjoying the beach. The waves are perfect for surfing and lessons can be arranged. From May to September, when swells and winds turn south, surfing conditions are excellent in Itacare. Overnight at Vila Barracuda.

Day 7 - Back to Ilheus

After breakfast balance the morning at leisure. The departure is flexible and will be coordinated according to your onward travel plans. If you wish to take more surfing and capoeira lessons, an extended stay of a few weeks is recommended. Transfers to Ilheus airport will be provided. Continue your journey through Bahia, to Trancoso & Caraiva, or to the vibrant city of Salvador and the table mountains of Chapada Diamantina.