Trancoso
A Jesuit village of 1583 on the coast of Bahia, a square of painted houses around a white church, beach clubs a short walk away, and an airfield of its own for private jets.
- Arrival
- Porto Seguro · BPS
- To the village
- About 47 km via the ferry, 77 km by road
- Private jets
- Terravista airfield, executive aviation only
- Best time
- August to March
The city
The Quadrado and the coast below.
Jesuits founded Trancoso in 1583, on the stretch of coast where the Portuguese came ashore in 1500. Its heart is still the Quadrado: a long square of coloured houses, once homes, now shops, guesthouses and small restaurants, with the white church of São João Batista on the square. Coqueiros and Nativos are a few minutes' walk away; half an hour off, Praia do Espelho fills with clear reef pools at low tide.
On the Bahian coast the afternoons hold between 26 and 30 °C through the year, and the Atlantic stays at 24 °C or warmer. Rain comes mostly from April to July. The New Year brings the village its busiest weeks.
- The Quadrado The village square, lined with painted houses around the church of São João Batista.
- Praia do Espelho Reef pools at low tide, half an hour down a dirt road that needs a dry day.
- Coqueiros and Nativos The two beaches nearest the Quadrado, each with its own beach clubs.
Arriving
Porto Seguro, or straight to Terravista.
Porto Seguro's airport is three kilometres from its town centre. From there Trancoso is about 47 kilometres with the river ferry, or 77 by road.
- Rio de Janeiro 1 h 25
- São Paulo 1 h 45
- Punta del Este 3 h 40
- Antigua 6 h 10
- Athens 11 h 50 long-range jet
When to go
August to March.
Humid and warm through the year, and no month on this coast is without rain. The heaviest falls come from April to July; August to March lies outside the rainy season, with afternoons of 26 to 30 °C and the sea at 24 to 27 °C.
- 30° J 105 26°
- 30° F 108 27°
- 30° M 126 27°
- 29° A 187 27°
- 28° M 163 26°
- 27° J 134 25°
- 26° J 167 25°
- 26° A 103 24°
- 27° S 138 25°
- 27° O 163 25°
- 28° N 140 25°
- 29° D 139 26°
Where to stay
One Key in the village.
Shown for information. We have no arrangement with any of these hotels.
Where to dine
The best tables in the village.
No MICHELIN Guide covers Bahia. These are the restaurant of Fasano Trancoso and the best rated tables in the top price band on Tripadvisor.
- Fasano Trancoso Signature restaurant, Fasano Trancoso Italian, Bahian Fasano Trancoso
- Gino Gastronomia Rated 4.7 on Tripadvisor Italian, seafood $$$$ Trancoso
- Allegria Rated 4.8 on Tripadvisor Italian, Japanese $$$$ Trancoso
- Capim Santo Rated 4.5 on Tripadvisor Brazilian, seafood $$$$ Trancoso
Elsewhere in Brazil
More reasons to come.
- Rio de Janeiro Ipanema, the Sugarloaf, and Christ the Redeemer above the bay.
- São Paulo The largest city of the southern hemisphere, and its restaurants.
- Búzios A peninsula of small beaches along the coast east of Rio.
- Fernando de Noronha A protected archipelago far out in the Atlantic, with a cap on visitors.
- Manaus An opera house in the forest, and the meeting of the waters on the Amazon.
- Foz do Iguaçu The Brazilian side, for the panorama of the whole falls.
Flying to Trancoso?
Choose how you arrive.
A Business or First Class seat on a scheduled airline, or an aircraft of your own. Tell us the date and how many are travelling, and we reply with one final price, our margin included.