Step by step, how to get to Boipeba from Salvador, Morro de São Paulo, Barra Grande, or even Ilhéus.
If you have reached this article, you probably have already found out that Boipeba Island is one of the most incredible beaches and nature destinations in Brazil (that’s why I chose to live here!😍). Getting to Boipeba is a challenge, but it’s one of those worth it, you know?! Gradually I understood that the difficulty of access is what makes the island such a preserved and unique place, making the logistics easier would be a big trap. After entering and leaving this island several times, we mapped all the possibilities of how to go to Boipeba, whether by land, air or sea, leaving from Salvador, Morro de São Paulo or even Ilhéus, and we prepared a detailed guide to facilitate your journey to paradise. Let’s get it?!
Where is Boipeba?
Boipeba Island is located in Tinharé Archipelago and is part of the municipality of Cairu, in the south of Bahia. Is the same archipelago where Morro de São Paulo is located.
In a straight line, Boipeba is about 87 km away from Salvador and 290 km by road. From Ilhéus, Boipeba is about 131km far in a straight line and 182 km by road.
Where Boipeba is on the map
See where is Boipeba located on the map:
Distance between Boipeba and neighboring destinations
Check out the distances between Boipeba and other destinations in Bahia considering a straight line on the map:
| Cities / Destinations | Km |
|---|---|
| Salvador | 87 |
| Morro de São Paulo | 27 |
| Ilhéus | 131 |
| Itacaré | 74 |
| Península de Maraú | 55 |
| Porto Seguro | 312 |
Source: Google Maps
Note: These data do not reflect road distances, after all, we are talking about an island.
How to get to Boipeba by plane
The closest airport with commercial flights to Boipeba is Salvador International Airport (SSA). After arriving in the capital of Bahia, it is necessary to take a semi-land journey of approximately 5-6 hours. Check out our step-by-step guide on how to get from Salvador to Boipeba.
Air charter and taxi
Although it is not the cheapest or most sustainable alternative, you can use an air taxi or charter service from Salvador to the south of Tinharé Island. The journey takes approximately 30 minutes and then it will be necessary to make a crossing of only 5 minutes to Boipeba.
Duration: Approximately 30 minutes.
Price per passenger on collective flight: R$850* flight + R$30* boat (operates only during high summer).
Price of the charter: R$16.500*.
More info: click here.
Fox’s alert 🦊! It is not because there is the option of chartering a flight that the tourism on the island will be of extreme luxury and comfort at all times. It is a nature destination, ideal for those who like adventure, enjoy walking and want to preserve. If you don’t have that spirit and don’t know how to appreciate simplicity, choose another destination!
How to get to Boipeba by car or bus
Are you going to Boipeba by car or bus? It will be necessary to make the journey to the city of Valença or the village of Graciosa and then take a speedboat to the island.
Own or rented vehicle
If you come from Salvador, take the ferry to Bom Despacho, then the BA-001 highway and park near the Valença Waterway Terminal (Terminal Aquaviário de Valença, in Portuguese). A friend recommended the Fonseca Parking (Estacionamento Fonseca), which is a 2-minute walk from the terminal and costs from R$25* to R$30* per day.
Are you coming from the south of Bahia? The route is also made by the highway BA-001. In this case, the Graciosa pier (Cais de Graciosa) is closer and you can leave your car in one of the parking lots in the area.
Private Transfer
Another alternative is to hire a transfer from Salvador or another Bahia destination. I used Bahia Traslado’s services during my move with Cori (my dog) and they were impeccable.
The service worked as follows:
- A driver picked us up at the airport and dropped us off at Marina Porto Salvador, next to Mercado Modelo;
- At the Marina, I had the help of the Bahia Traslado team to put my luggage on the speedboat, which took approximately 40 minutes to arrive in Vera Cruz, one of the municipalities on the island of Itaparica;
- Arriving in Vera Cruz, another car picked us up and drove us to the Valença pier;
- In Valença we took the speedboat to Boipeba Island.
Photos and editing: Elaine Villatoro
Cost: R$850* for 2 people, speedboat tickets included.
Bus
Companies that have itineraries that include stops in Valença and Graciosa are Viação Cidade Sol and Águia Branca.
If you get off in Valença, you will need to take a taxi or mototaxi (R$10-25*) to the pier. If you get off at Graciosa (recommended), cross the highway and you will reach the pier.
Read as well:
Speedboat to Boipeba
Regardless of your destination of origin, if you are traveling by land, there will come a time when you will need to take a speedboat to navigate the rivers that will take you to Boipeba. The speedboats leave from two points: the pier of Valença and the pier of Graciosa.
Photos and editing: Elaine Villatoro
Relevant information about available speedboats:
| Valença | Graciosa | |
|---|---|---|
| Average trip duration | 1h10min | 40min |
| Price per passenger | R$63* or R$120* round trip | R$58* |
| Last departure time | 4pm | 4.30pm |
| Company | Dattoli/Island Tour | Expresso Boipeba |
| Contact |
Departure times: Schedules frequently change, for up-to-date information, check the website of the desired company or contact us via WhatsApp.
Tickets purchase: In high season it is essential that you buy your tickets in advance (at least one week, if possible).
Fox’s tip 🦊:
– Pay attention to the latest departure times. In high season they sometimes close at 6pm.
– Coming from Salvador? To arrive in time to catch the 4:30 pm speedboat in Graciosa you need to take the 12 pm (noon) ferry in Salvador at the latest.
– In front of the Graciosa pier, Telma’s Bar and Restaurant (Bar e Restaurante da Telma) has a bathroom and Wi-Fi and serves delicious homemade food for about R$15*.
– You can buy your return ticket to the mainland at one of the stands in front of the Boca da Barra pier in Boipeba.
How to get from Salvador to Boipeba
The most common route from Salvador to Boipeba involves taking a ferry, bus, speedboat and sometimes even a taxi, taking about 5-6 hours. So, set aside a full day in your itinerary to go and another full day to return.
Don’t worry as we already mentioned, every effort is worth it to reach this paradise 😉.
⚠️ Attention! If you want to arrive at Salvador airport and go to Boipeba on the same day, your flight must arrive by 10 am so that you can take the ferry in a maximum of 12 hours and be able to catch the last speedboat to the island.
Ferry from Salvador to Bom Despacho:
Head to the São Joaquim Maritime Terminal (Terminal Marítimo/Hidroviário de São Joaquim) in Salvador to take the ferry to the Bom Despacho Terminal on Itaparica Island.
Photo and editing: Elaine Villatoro
Duration: Approximately 1 hour.
Price per passenger: R$6,10* on weekdays and R$8,10* on weekends and holidays. If you go to Boipeba by car ferry can cost from R$55* to R$99,20*.
Company: Internacional Travessias.
Fox’s tip 🦊:
– At Terminal São Joaquim itself, in the boarding waiting room, go to the Viação Cidade Sol kiosk (picture below) and guarantee your bus tickets from Bom Despacho to Valença terminal or Graciosa‘s pier. In both towns you can take a speedboat to Ilha de Boipeba.
Photo: Elaine Villatoro
– Arrive at least 40 minutes in advance to buy your ticket, or even more on weekends and holidays, as there is usually a line. Take the opportunity to withdraw money (there is no ATM on the island), buy snacks and go to the bathroom in this terminal.
– If possible, take only the essentials and go backpacking. You will need to climb the stairs of the ferry and it becomes more difficult with a wheeled suitcase and a lot of weight.
From Bom Despacho to Valença or Graciosa:
To our delight, the Maritime Terminal and the Bom Despacho Bus Station are integrated. If you followed our previous tip and already purchased your bus ticket with Viação Cidade Sol, a bus will be waiting for you as soon as you disembark from the ferry.
Take advantage of the bathroom stop and, if you want, eat at Bob’s 🍔 located at the Bom Despacho bus station, as you will ride for more than 2 hours in a row without pauses.
Once on the bus, you can get off at the Valença Bus terminal (Terminal Rodoviário de Valença) or at Graciosa’s pier. If you get off at Valença station you will need to take a taxi or a mototaxi to the maritime terminal and then take the speedboat to Boipeba. I recommend going straight to Graciosa because the bus drops you off in front of the pier (just across the road) making the journey faster and cheaper.
Duration: About 2h10min to Valença + 15 min by cab or 2h30min to Graciosa.
Price per passenger: R$38* bus + R$10-R$25* taxi/mototaxi if drop off in Valença.
Company: Viação Cidade Sol.
Fox’s tip 🦊:
– On the way back, I recommend that you choose the route Boipeba x Valença because Viação Cidade Sol does not offer a return trip from Graciosa, and the bus that picks you up in Graciosa and takes you to Valença provided by another company is very uncomfortable.
How to go from Morro de São Paulo to Boipeba
From Morro de São Paulo, it is possible to travel to the south of the island in approximately 1 hour by 4×4 car, followed by a short boat ride to Boipeba. I was told that this stretch by car is very uncomfortable.
If you have little time and want more comfort, a day trip by boat is an option. A tour called “Volta à Ilha” will take you to the main beaches of the island.
Otherwise, you will need to take a boat back to Valença and then the speedboat to Boipeba.
Price per passenger: 4×4 R$200*, boat tour R$250*.
Company: Amo Morro de São Paulo (Raquel)
How to go from Ilhéus to Boipeba
Leaving from Ilhéus, you can hire a private transfer to Graciosa or take a bus at the Ilhéus Bus Terminal (Terminal Rodoviário de Ilhéus) to the city of Valença and then a speedboat to Boipeba.
Duration: Approximately 4 hours and 50 minutes.
Price per passenger: R$54,31* on the conventional bus and R$60,08* on the conventional bus with Air Conditioning.
Company: Águia Branca
How to go from Barra Grande (Maraú) to Boipeba
If you are in Barra Grande on the Maraú Peninsula you can get to Boipeba in the following ways:
1) Drive or hire a private transfer to Graciosa and then take a speedboat to Boipeba;
2) Take the boat to Camamu and from there take a bus to Graciosa and then a speedboat to Boipeba.
Duration: Approximately 4 hours and 50 minutes.
Price per passenger: R$19-33* by bus.
Company: Viação Cidade Sol or Águia Branca
3) Take the roundtrip to Boipeba.
Company: Princesinha Turismo
Price: R$200* per person.
How to get around in Ilha de Boipeba
Now that you know how to get to Boipeba, learn about the alternatives for getting around on the island:
- Walk by foot (helps you get in the Boipeba rhythm)
- Tractor
- Quad
- Boat / Speedboat
Tractor
Photo: Elaine Villatoro
The tractor is the most sustainable mean of transport available at the moment However, in low season it hardly runs because it needs a minimum of 6-8 people.
The cost from Velha Boipeba to Moreré is R$10* per person.
Quad
The quad bike ends up being the “Uber” of Boipeba. The quad biker rides and takes up to two people being able to tie the luggage to the front of the vehicle.
For example, if you want to schedule a transfer from Velha Boipeba to Moreré or a tour to Castelhanos you can contact Romilson.
| Way | Price R$* (1 person) | Price R$* (2 people) |
|---|---|---|
| Boipeba (Ribeirinho) x Moreré | R$ 35 | R$ 60 |
| Boipeba or Moreré x Castelhanos | R$ 80 | R$ 150 |
| Boipeba or Moreré x Cova da Onça | R$ 70 | R$ 130 |
| Moreré x Cueira | R$ 35 | R$ 60 |
Note: There are two quad stops: Ribeirinho and Ponto do Trator (it is called like that because it is next to the point where the tractor leaves 😂). Ribeirinho is a little closer to the pier where you will arrive by speedboat.
❌ Important! We are AGAINST the quad bike rental for tourists
Recently, a company in Boipeba started offering quad rentals to tourists. We want to make it clear here that Live More, Travel More is against this service as it goes against the wishes of the natives. It benefits only an outside businessman, causing negative impacts on the environment, being dangerous for the tourist and putting lives at risk (people and animals) that transit on the island.
Boat / Speedboat
Sometimes you will find boatmen to help you across some stretches on the island of Boipeba, such as the Oritibe River between Praia da Cueira and Moreré, the Catú River to reach Ponta de Castelhanos, or simply to take you to the natural pools of Moreré.
Photo: Elaine Villatoro
For those looking for day trips by private boat, we recommend Preto. In April/2022 we took a tour with him to watch the sunset at Cabana da Tânia in Canavieiras, which was perfect.
See below the prices of the tours he offers:
| Tour (leaving from Velha Boipeba) | Price R$* (up to 2 people) |
|---|---|
| Around the island | R$ 220 |
| Natural pools and Bainema | R$ 145 |
| Natural pools and Castelhanos | R$ 165 |
| Garapuá | R$ 165 |
| Morro de São Paulo | R$ 250 |
| Canavieiras (Barraca da Tânia) | R$ 250 |
Luggage carrier service
It is necessary to walk from the pier to the quad bike/tractor stop or even to your hotel in Velha Boipeba. With this, some tourists who end up exaggerating the amount of bags or require more comfort can hire a carrier service.
See at the right the price table for 2022* according to the luggage sizes.
Where to stay in Boipeba
Are you wondering where to stay in Boipeba? Among the lodges (pousadas) that we have already tested and approved are Pousada Mangabeiras, Eco Pousada Casa Bobô and Utopia Moreré.
Find more alternatives at booking.com:
Extra tips
- If you can, carry a backpack and lightweight – your journey will be easier. Otherwise, on the ferry, for example, you will have to climb stairs with your suitcase. When arriving on the island, you will probably need to hire a porter or walk with your suitcase on wheels in earthy or sandy areas;
- Take some snacks and water with you so you don’t run the risk of going hungry on the trip;
- Withdraw cash while on the mainland, there is no ATM on Ilha de Boipeba;
- Before traveling, remember to get your international travel insurance! Check out our World Nomads Promo Code.
Now that you know where Boipeba is, how to get there and how to get around the island, check out our article on what to do in Boipeba!
* The prices mentioned here were collected in September 2022 and are subject to change.
Note: We have already worked in partnership with some of the companies mentioned above such as Bahia Traslado, Lancha do Preto, Casa Bobô, Utopia and Pousada Mangabeiras. Rest assured, all opinions expressed here are sincere and reflect our experiences.
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Read also:
- What to do in Boipeba
- Complete guide of Salvador, Bahia
- How to get to the Maraú Peninsula
- What to do in Itacaré
FAQ – Where it is and how to get to Boipeba
Boipeba is located in the Tinharé Archipelago in Bahia, approximately 87 km from Salvador. See where Boipeba is on the map.
Although the distance from Ilhéus to Boipeba in kilometers is shorter, the closest airport to Boipeba is Salvador International Airport (SSA) due to travel time.
As it is an island, access to Boipeba is carried out by a river, by the Rio do Inferno, or by sea, by speedboat.
No, the access to the island is by speedboat. It will be necessary to leave the vehicle in a parking lot near the port of Valença or Graciosa. Read more…
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