Morro de Sao Paulo- An enchanting island,close to Salvador,set amongst lush coastal jungle with sandy lanes, calm waters and a candlelit nightlife scene . Part of Morro de Sao Paulo’s charm is its mix of upscale new hotels and restaurants and an authentic village feel. This car-free and carefree island has just one road and a handful of beaches, it’s a wonderful place to get away from it all. It is very easy to get around and even the beaches are numbered 1 to 5 with very clear paths between them. The 1st beach main thoroughfare is one block back from the beach itself. This helps to make it a fairly relaxing spot to get a tan or take a dip. If you feel like renting a surfboard or some diving equipment, this is the place to do it. You can take a ride on a banana boat or if you’re feeling lazy, just gaze up towards the lighthouse on the hill and watch the zip-line riders splash in the water.

It’s just around the corner, but the 2nd feels a world away, particularly in the evening. When the sun is shining, it’s a popular spot for volleyball and soccer, but at night it comes alive with chic bars and candlelit restaurants, offering live music and tables on the sand. The atmosphere is great. It’s an ideal place to slip off your shoes, sip a caipirinha and listen to some samba while the waves crash nearby. If you’re looking for nightlife, this is the place to come.

Around the corner is 3rd, which is a well known spot for diving, thanks to nearby Caitá Island, which is made up of a barrier of coral reefs. You can take a boat ride to the island or make your own way out there in a kayak. From the 3rd beach, boats will take you further south to Boipeba, stopping off along the way at floating shacks serving crabs and oysters.

With so much on offer in the bustling heart of Morro de São Paulo, few visitors make it as far as Quarta Praia (4th Beach) and beyond. However there are plenty of reasons to explore this stretch of coastline. You’ll find 8kms of white sands and coconut trees, plus calm waters with natural swimming pools filled with colourful fish. Quinta Praia (Fifth Beach) lies on the other side of a small river and a mangrove swamp. This tranquil 2km stretch of coast is also known as Praia do Encanto and is well worth a look if you feel like getting away from the crowds.