Praia do Forte, Bahia

Praia do Forte is an old fishing village located 60km (37 mi.) north of Salvador in the state of Bahia. It is now being developed as an ecologically minded upscale beach resort. It offers diverse ecosystems, beautiful beaches traversed by rivers and estuaries, dunes, coconut groves, lagoons and mangroves, home to rare tropical wildlife. The village was named from the castle (forte in Portuguese) built in 1556 by a Portuguese settler called Gárcia D´Ávila to be the headquaters of his massive farm. There are ruins from the 16th century, of Garcia D'ávila tower house, that has a great observatory, with the view of Praia do Forte, besides the Sapiranga Forest Reservation with some nice trails.

The perfect 13km (8mi.) stretch of beach is thickly lined with palm trees, and the clear blue waters reveal coral reefs that stretches some 150ft (46mt) into the ocean and natural pools are formed at low tide. In the bigger pools created by the reef you’ll find fish of a different kind: bathers, often in couples, lounging in 6 - 12 inches of clear water luxuriously heated by the sun. At low tide, the receding water exposes the top of the reef, stranding colorful fish and sea creatures in tiny tidepools, turning a walk along the coral into a miniature safari. Inland from the coast there is a forest that grows on sandy soil with a very delicate ecosystem and near the village there is a small pantanal, a marshy area that is host to some of the most abundant bird life in Bahia.

Praia do Forte Ecoresort is a reference to Ecotourism practices in Brazil. It combines, in an area of 250,000 sq. mt. (2691 sq. ft.), excelent infra-strucure for sports and leisure, with 12 km (7,4mi.) of semi-deserted beaches bordered by lush groves of coconuts palms in a protected environmental area. A beautiful beach in front of the Eco Resort is a good spot for snorkelling. In the village there are several options of bar, restaurants, sales of handicrafts, and good night life.

Strict environmental guidelines have kept the beach largely pristine and developed at very low-key. Praia do Forte is now the headquarters of the extensive national turtle conservation project, TAMAR Project, with national and international prestige, credibility and recognition. In the state of Bahia, the largest number of spawnings of the Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), considered to be one of the most threatened with extinction all over the world. Bahia is also the place where the largest concentration of Loggerhead Turtles (Caretta caretta) occurs on the Brazilian coast. The TAMAR Project was set up in 1980 to preserve the sea turtles, which traditionally lay their eggs on the beaches and were in threat of extinction. Female sea turtle emerge on deserted beaches during the months of September and March along the mainland coast of Brazil. After nightfall, thousands of turtles come ashore to lay their eggs, and with the right timing visitors can witness the miraculous hatching of the tiny turtles.

Roundtrip transfers per person from Salvador - US$256 for 1 person, $130 for 2, $90 for 3, $80 for 4

WHALE WATCHING EXPERIENCE

The Humpback Whale is one of the biggest animals on Earth and can be as long as 48 feet and a weight of over 40 tons. In Brazil the Humpback Whales are found along the Coast of Bahia and Abrolhos banks. The Humpbacks make an extensive migration from the cold waters around the South Pole until the warm tropical waters in Brazil, where they stay from July to November in order to breed. The Brazilian Humpback Whale Project was created in 1988, aimed to research and to preserve this particular species in Brazil. More than 6000 whales are estimated to occur in Brazilian waters and more than 2000 of these have been photo-identified. Important information has been gathered on the behavior, habitats and conservation needs of the species. Awareness campaigns with local populations and environmental education are also a priority.

Meet at the humpback Whale Institute at 07am, where you'll have 30 minutes lecture in English and Portuguese at the "Humpback Whale Institute" of Praia do Forte where researchers provide information on the life and habits of the creatures as well as initiatives by national and international organizations to prevent indiscriminate hunting of humpbacks. (if you're coming from Salvador, departure time should be at 06am).

After the lecture, whale watchers are conducted to the port of Praia do Forte, next to San Francisco's chapel built in 1900 by local fishermen, to meet the schooner's crew. Inflatable boats take small groups to the schooner a few hundred yards off the beach. With everyone aboard the captain offers information on safety, location and use of emergency equipment.

Alcoholic beverages and swimming are forbidden even when the ship is anchored. Life jackets are provided and must be worn at all times. A tropical fruit buffet, biscuits and mineral water are free. The schooner boat is taken out for a tour of approximately 25 nautical miles to see these enormous mammals that migrate from the cold waters of the South Pole to mate and give birth in the warm waters of Bahia.

An environmentalist guide will accompany the group providing relevant information throughout the journey. We'll return to land around 11:30h and the return transfer to the hotel in Salvador.

*Although the probability of sighting a whale is above 90%, in the rare case that no whales are seen, we regret that tour fees will not be refunded. If the whales don't show up it's possible to get a refund of part of the tour.

IMPORTANT TIPS:
o It is a little colder offshore; a sweatshirt or light jacket will be useful.
o to prevent seasickness:
Avoid tobacco, alcohol and caffeine (coffee, black tea, soft drinks and chocolate)
Prefer light food
Consult your physician on anti nausea options. Dramim B6 anti nausea pills are available at the lecture.
In the boat, keeping one's eyes on the horizon reduces seasickness risk. The center of the boat rocks less.

Tour Specifications:
Season: July to October.
Daily outings, depending on climate conditions.

2010 Price per person- Departuring from meeting point at Praia do Forte: US$110
For tours departuring from Salvador, please add round trip transfers from Salvador to Praia do Forte.

Including:
Speech presented by the biologists of the Humpback Whale Institute; visit to the Institute; Whale watching in Schooner tour with bilingual guide; drinking water and snacks.
Tour: Aprox. 4 hours.

Not included:
Transfers pousada/Institute/Pousada either from Praia do Forte or Salvador. People all meet at the institute (walking distance from the village of Praia do Forte);

Phone:
800-232-5658 or
1-512-443-5393
email

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