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| Canavieiras || Comandatuba Island || Ilhéus || Itacaré || Una | |||||||||||
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| Ilhéus ||TOP|| 470 km from Salvador | |||||||||||
The Atlantic forest surronds Ilhéus which
sits on a small hill overlooking its beautiful beach. It is just east of Itabuna near the mouth of the Cachoeira River on Ilhéus Bay, an inlet of
the Atlantic. An excellent combination of ,good climate, beautiful
landscape, rich history and good restaurants make Ilheus fascinating and
hospitable. An old Portuguese colonial settlement that was originally named São Jorge dos Ilhéus (1532), it was given city status in 1881. Visitors today find that much of the architecture is modern. The still prosperous farming community evokes the days long ago when when cocoa was king and was exported from this port. Still today most of Brazil's cacao is grown in the region and and Ilhéus holds a busy port where cocoa butter, rubber, chemicals, piassava, and timber are exported. While Ilhéus still remains the traditional center for
Brazil’s cocoa cultivation and bean processing the planting of cocoa is no
longer the main source of income.. In the eighties,
a plague known as "Vassoura de Bruxa" (Witch's Broom) devastated the cocoa
cultivation. Since then, the city has continued to prosper as the gateway
to the cocoa coast for visitors who love its hot climate,
still-standing virgin tropical Atlantic forests, mangroves, lagoons,
islands, rivers, and beaches.
Ilhéus is 462km (287 miles) south of Salvador, where the
coastline is broken up by five rivers and a series of lagoons and bays.
Besides several colonial buildings—churches and chapels—it has a rare
domed and spiraled chapel, and a gothic cathedral constructed in the first
half of the 20th century, both of which are architecturally note-worthy.
"Igreja Matriz de São Jorge dos Ilhéus" (São Jorge of the Islanders Mother Church) - located on the Street Conselheiro Dantas, it is the oldest church of the city. Inaugurated in 1556, it was built with stones. "Museu do Cacau" (Cocoa Museum) - Eustáquio Bastos st., downtown. Founded in 1982, the museum allows a detailed vision from the rising to the development of the cocoa cycle. "Casa de Jorge Amado" (Jorge Amado House) - 21, Jorge Amado st., it was built in the beginning of the 20's by Jorge Amado's father. With great rooms and staircases, there the writer Jorge Amado lived part of his life. "Mirante da Piedade" (Observatory of Mercy) - From there, it is possible to see the islets, (which are the reason of the name of the city), the actual port, a part of the coast of the municipal district and the mouth of the rivers "Cachoeira", "Engenho" and "Fundão". "Fazenda Primavera" (Farm Spring) - located on the Ilhéus-Itabuna highway, on Km 20, this cocoa farm is open to the visitation and it has a documentation collection and centennial pieces, some from the time of the Empire. "Centro de Persquisas do Cacau" (Cocoa Research Center) - Located on Ilhéus-Itabuna highway. It offers to the visitors the opportunity to accompany the techniques and processes of the cocoa Visit a cocoa Farm: see how the coca is harvested, processed, and transported by the half ton in dugout canoes. The rainforest, which provides the required shade for the fragile cacao tree, offers a rich variety of floroa and fauna. Most farms are as they were a century ago, with barracks, stable and drying house Ilheus has 100 kilometres of white sandy beaches, excellent urban facilities, and an annual average temperature of 24ºC
The city’s main leisure activities are little changed
from that of Amado’s time: hanging out in the bars and squares, and
heading off to the beaches. It has 15 beautiful beaches (among 60 in the
region), the longest of which, and most popular, is Praia Norte (North
Beach) that is 50-km (31-mile) long, lined with lots of tropical woods and
coconut trees, a fine sandy beach where the sea is green. It’s ideal for
surfing and to fish for carapeba (mojarra ), tainha (mullet), robalo (snook),
and pescada (floun-der). Ilhéus traveler tips & tales by virtualtourist.com
Ilheus events |
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Sudden, lawless and violent, the scramble for the white cacao fruit displayed all the characteristics of a gold rush. When the dust settled, the land and power belonged to a few ruthless coronéis (rural landowners). The landless were left to work, and usually live, on the fazendas where they were subjected to a harsh and paternalistic labor system. Author Jorge Amado, who grew up on a cacao plantation, told this story in his book Terras do Sem Fim (published in English as The Violent Land.) adopted from Lonely Planet 1996 at brazzil.com PLACES TO STAY
GETTING THERE: By Air |
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Aeroporto de Ilhéus/Bahia-Jorge Amado (IOS) Cocoa Coast
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Annual Events -Itacare
