Boipeba

Boipeba is one of the islands of the Tinharé archipelago, in the county of Cairu, in the south of the state of Bahia. Surrounded by the ocean on one side, and the Inferno River estuary on the other, this island is of rare natural beauty, home to a great variety of ecosystems.

Understand
"Mboi pewa" are Tupi Indian words which mean "flat snake", a reference to the turtle, giving the name to the island of Boipeba. Boipeba is home to a dense Atlantic rainforest, and with its saltmarshes, sand dunes, extensive mangroves and paradisiacal coconut-palm fringed beaches and reefs, it is a world of ecological diversity. The reefs are found up and down the coast, sheltering the beaches from waves and ocean currents. The wide reefs are full of canals and shallow pools.

Flora and fauna are rich in varieties of coral, algae, fish, mollusc, sea urchin, starfish and other sea life. Turtles are indeed found in the region and spawning eggs can be seen on beaches around the island. The forested areas of the island are home to numerous species of bird, to armadillos, foxes and reptiles, as well as other animal life. Boipeba being a natural wildlife habitat, and given the necessity of protecting the Tinharé and Boipeba ecosystems, the state of Bahia in June 1992 made the islands of Tinharé and Boipeba an Area of Environmental Protection (APA in Portuguese). Joining forces as Amabo, the Association of Residents and Friends of Boipeba, residents of Boipeba put together a sustainable development proposal for the island. With this proposal, Amabo would like to help to better the lives of the local population, developing economic activities, especially tourism, without destroying the environment.

By boat
From Salvador take the ferry to Bom Despacho (45 minutes). From there get the bus to Valença (2 hours). From Valença get the slow boat (4 hours) or the speedboat 1½ hour (R$ 37)

From Morro de São Paulo you can get a 4x4 Jeep and a short boat ride across the river (R$ 100).

All boats arrive and leave at the port:

Get around
There are no cars on the island (excepting the ambulance and the police motorbike). There are 3 tractors used to transport people to further reaches of the island. Many of the internal roads to the far side of the island are very sandy and can not be easily cycled. The east and south of the island can be easily navigated by walking along the shore and a short jungle path.

Do
Snorkelling is good There is no scuba diving operating on the island. Enjoy the beaches - busy by the port and increasingly empty until you reach Miereles.

Buy

 * Suntan lotion before you go
 * Cocktails

Eat
Many of the restaurants serve portions to share (so do not be too alarmed at the prices).

On the beach from the main port is a good place to get sandwiches if you are not ready for a full on meal.

There is a pizza delivery service run by Family Guest House (during off-season just on weekends). Whats App for delivery: +55 75 9991-0013 or +55 71 9690-0013. The pizza is made in a wood oven and costs about R$ 45.

Sleep
There are a range of options centred by a) the port b) miereles

Abaquar Hostel is a good lively and affordable option 5 minutes from the beach and port (the road to it is opposite the hostel. It does fantastic breakfasts which are likely to get you through to late afternoon (fruit and eggs from the garden over the river). Good for a party every other night. Run by Peter and Fernanda (Belgian & Portuguese couple)



Go next

 * Morro de São Paulo - for a busier tourist experience
 * Salvador - if you have approached from the south
 * Itacaré - Take a boat to Valença via Graciosa. When you get off the speed boat you hop on a bus with the same ticket and get off at the Rodoviaria (R$ 35). There you can catch a bus to Itacaré (~ R$ 30).