Porto da Barra Beach — Attraction in Região Geográfica Imediata de Salvador

STAY AWAY!!!!!!!! DO NOT BOOK!!!!!! Only trying to help! If you are a foreigner I would not go!!!!!!! I have travelled beaches all over the world and have never experienced anything like this before. I was inticed in AND MUTUALLY AGREED TO one price by the only fluent English speaking person on the beach(there was no confusion!)only to be presented with another price an hour later. I saw other reviews on here and good thing I decided to ask for a bill only 45 minutes in, who knows what it would have ballooned up to! No drinks or food. It should just include my chair and umbrella(15 reales was the agreed upon price) they now said 70 reales, after 45 minutes! Again, because of some previous reviews I went into the situation with my guard up so I took note of everything happening before and during. From what I could hear everyone in the near vicinity had a mastery of the Portuguese language and was visibly having a great time. Again I've traveled to many beaches around the world both popular and secluded with NO mastery of the language and have not come across anything like this before. Just blatant crooks. If I had been presented with an inflated price upfront I would have paid it! Seriously, I can respect a hustle. But I only carried so much cash with me(as theft is rampant, regardless of where in the world you are)so to be presented with an inflated price beyond 100% of the original is ridiculous, greedy, just nasty. I unfortunately as a result will never visit Salvador again as I came mostly because it was advertised for the beach and if that can't be enjoyed, what's the point? The above is just my opinion and experience* if I can help someone, I am...

Praia da Barra, where the sea is strong & excellent for surfers, is one of the most sought after in the city. It is here that one of the postcards of Salvador, Farol da Barra, is located in the Santo Antônio da Barra Fort, at the end of the beach. The construction belongs to the Navy of Brazil and was initiated by the first grantee of the Captaincy of Bahia (Francisco Pereira Coutinho, in 1536), originally having the form of a tower with ten sides. Expanded and renovated between 1583 and 1587 by Manoel Teles Barreto, it underwent changes between 1602 and 1702, including gaining its embankment. The fortress, also known as Vigia da Barra and Forte Grande, was built in the beginning of the 16th century, in a strategic position to guard the Bay of Todos os Santos. At that time, the tradition was that all places of war were dedicated to a saint, who would protect the place from the reach of enemy artillery. The first official record that Santo Antônio was elected to sanctify the fort in Barra dates from 1705, when Governor Dom Rodrigues da Costa issued an order to establish a captain's square to Santo Antônio da Barra. As a soldier, the saint was also entitled to a salary, which would be paid to the liquidator of the Convento de São Francisco. In September 1810, the saint was promoted to the rank of major and lieutenant colonel in November 1814. The Santo Antônio da Barra Fort is considered the first fortress built in Brazil and houses the Nautical Museum, with a collection consisting of maps, navigation equipment, models of old Portuguese and Spanish ships and caravels, and findings from the Galeão Sacramento, sunk in the entrance to the Bay...

Great beach, lots of vendors, calm waters. This is a busy beach, with lots of vendors for chairs, umbrellas, drinks, local food items, and various novelties and beach gear. Really, just think of relaxing in a beach chair with someone bringing you caipirinhas all day long. Just across the street there are numerous restaurants, bars, beer stores, and rental places (e.g. paddle boarding). It's kid safe (at least during the day), good for people watching, and for swimming (and no rocks either in the middle). It makes just for fun people watching too with all of the activity. It's in the Bay, not on the ocean, so it's not for surfing. The beach is cleaned every night and while debris piles up during the day, it is generally clean. People wait until sunset, which they applaud, and then mostly leave for the night.

Price shop for rental chairs and umbrellas. The prices can vary significantly between the person who catches you on the stairs and someone on the sand. There is some street parking and a couple of incidental for-pay lots, but dependable parking in the area is...