Bay of All Saints Boat Tour: Frades & Itaparica Day Trip from Salvador
Difficulty
easy
Duration
8–9 hours
Fitness Level
Suitable for most fitness levels; participants should be comfortable boarding from a dock and stepping onto small ramps or ladders.
Overview
Escape Salvador for a full-day boat tour across the Bay of All Saints to Ilha dos Frades and Itaparica. Swim in sheltered coves, sample local seafood ashore, and learn the bay’s layered history on an easy, well-supported outing.
Bay of All Saints Boat Tour: Frades & Itaparica Day Trip from Salvador
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The boat slips away from Salvador’s shore and the city’s pastel façades slowly fall behind you, the skyline shrinking into a string of tiled roofs. Salt air pulls at your hair and the Bay of All Saints opens like a wide, breathing room—water daring you to set your pace to its slow swell. Onboard, a bilingual guide outlines the route while the crew prepares for the first stop: Ilha dos Frades, where mangrove-fringed coves and a small chapel cut a quiet silhouette against the horizon.
Adventure Photos
Adventure Tips
Bring reef-safe sunscreen
The tour includes swimming stops over coral and shallow reef—use reef-safe sunscreen to protect marine life and your skin.
Wear water shoes
Landings can be rocky or slippery; lightweight water shoes make beach entries and scrambling easier.
Pack a light wind layer
Open crossings can be breezy even on warm days—an extra layer prevents chills on the return.
Carry local cash for lunch and fees
Lunch on Itaparica is optional and an environmental access fee is paid for Frades—small bills and coins speed things up.
Local Insights
Wildlife
- Brown booby and terns
- Mangrove crabs and small reef fish in the shallows
History
Baía de Todos os Santos has been a strategic maritime corridor since Portuguese colonization—Itaparica later became a defensive and agricultural island important to Salvador’s economy.
Conservation
Mangroves and coral heads in the bay are sensitive; operators charge access fees that contribute to protection and visitors are encouraged to use reef-safe products and avoid touching coral.
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Adventure Hotspots in Salvador
Frequently Asked Questions
Recommended Gear
Reef-safe sunscreen
Protects your skin and the bay’s coral during swims and sun exposure.
summer specific
Water shoes
Protects feet on rocky beaches and boarding ramps.
Light windbreaker
Blocks spray and wind during open crossings, especially in cooler months.
winter specific
Dry bag (small)
Keeps phone, money and a light layer dry on deck.