Lagoa do Cassange: The Tour-Programs

DESCRIPTION GUIDED EXCOURSIONS:

THE JOURNEY IN TIME

JEEP TOUR

THE ISLANDS OF THE BAY OF CAMAMU

SNORKELING IN THE NATURAL SWIMMING POOLS

HIKE THROUGH ATLANTIC RAINFOREST

AND WATERFALL OF TREMEMBÉ

OTHER ACTIVITIES

MARAÚ PENÍNSULA

POUSADA LAGOA DO CASSANGE BEACH LODGE

GUIDED EXCOURSIONS

THE JOURNEY IN TIME (4,5 hs)

Departing from the “Porto do Jobel” by boat you will initiate the “journey in time” on the “Tanque Island”.

Walking on a trail through the some rain forest, cultivated land and other kinds of vegetation, you will cross over the island passing by a hill with a fascinating view over the bay and native settlements with their typical houses made out of mud and wood, thatched with straw and crowned with giant TV antennas.

During the trail you will learn more about the way people live here in this remote area, and discover how they transform the manioc roots into the delicious Manioc Flower, an ancient Indian tradition. Soon you will question yourself if all these impressions are real and wonder how places like these can exist.

Arriving on the other side, you will cross over the “Maraú River” by boat to the “Tubarão Island” and visit the traditional dendê-plantation from Sr. Eliseu. His stone mill is still mill moved by a donkey to squeeze out the famous dendê oil from the little red brown dendê nuts. The result is delicious reddish coloured oil used for frying and cooking of most traditional meals from Bahia.

The boat will bring you back to the Sky River from where you will glide in a canoe through the amazing scenery offered by the mangroves and its roots in the “Cassange River”.

From the end of the river a 15 minute walk will bring us to the top of the “Morro da Bela Vista” where you can enjoy the most beautiful panoramic view from the “Maraú Península”. In the shadow of the wooden bar you can appreciate fresh coconut water and relax while you let your eyes glimpse towards the ocean. For sure, it won’t be easy for you to leave this place.

Equally beautiful is the way to get back to your lodge which is located just in front of the hill in between the lake and the ocean. After a short walk from down to the Lagoa do Cassange lake, you will cross over the lake in a canoe or kayak. On a short trail through the forest and palm trees you will get back to your bungalow.

JEEP TOUR (6 hs)

On this tour you will discover the whole peninsula with a 4x4 vehicle. After reaching the tip of the peninsula, called the “Ponta do Mutá” and a short walk along the beautiful beaches, you will get to know the little village “Barra Grande”. From the pier with its wooden handcrafted fisher boats, the little streets covered by sand to the carefully decorated guest houses and the huge mango trees in the “city centre”, everything here is very special.

Passing by the natural swimming pool of “Taipu de Fora” beach, driving on sand trails across coconut plantations, you will climb up to the top of the “Morro do Farol” from where you can enjoy a beautiful view over the lakes, beaches and forests of the peninsula.

Climbing down you will be able to take a refreshing bath in the clear water of the “Lagoa Azul”, the “Blue Lake” and relax at its fascinating white and black sand beaches surrounded by coconut trees.

Continuing on a trail through the coastal Atlantic rainforest you will be able to get in touch and appreciate the huge biodiversity and beauty of this rare vegetation.

THE ISLANDS OF THE BAY OF CAMAMU (6 hs)

The northern part of the bay also reserves some very special beauties to be discovered. Hopping from island to island, you will discover traditional fishermen villages on small islands in a wonderfully peaceful location like “Sapinho”, “Taipu” or “Goio” with its paradisiacal beaches and “Ilha da Pedra Furada”, the most beautiful mini island of the bay. At low tide, surrounded by several little beaches, its rocks and green vegetation reach out into the blue sky. Joined by a natural arch the two parts of the little island offer another little surprise, which gave the island its name. On the other side of the bay is the village of Cajaiba where its inhabitants have specialized themselves in building boats. Real, handmade massive wooden boats, the way they used to be centuries ago, with one two or three big masts but no engineers or plants. As most of the masters still are illiterate their knowledge is passed on from generation to generation just by practising their craftsmanship.

Soon you will feel the wish to stay forever, especially after tasting a fresh seafood meal prepared by a native fishermen and his wife, sitting in the shadow of a “Jambo” tree on the “Sapinho Island”, surrounded by the sea.

SNORKELING IN THE NATURAL SWIMMING POOLS (4,5 hs)

Always at low tide it appears, the natural swimming pool at the beach of “Taipu de Fora”. It is at this wonderful beach where nature decided to create a beautiful natural swimming pool surrounded by coral reefs and glittering sand, decorated with infinity of different kinds of fish in all imaginable colours, lobsters, sea turtles …

Almost without any waves, the water often offers a good visibility. It is a wonderful place to go snorkelling and to get in touch with the fascinating life of the underwater world. Back on shore you can relax at a little beach bar and enjoy a fresh coconut water or a “caipirinha”, the most traditional Brazilian lemon and rum drink, eat some fresh shrimps, prawns or lobsters and enjoy the beautiful view.

HIKE THROUGH ATLANTIC RAINFOREST

AND WATERFALL OF TREMEMBÉ (8 hs)

On this trip you will get to know the natural beauties of the southern part of the “Bay of Camamu”, Brazil’s third biggest and most preserved bay. Leaving from the wooden pier of the “Porto do Jobel” by boat; you will float up the “Rio do Céu”, the sky river, through mangrove tunnels and then the “Maraú River” until reaching the enchanting Tremembe Waterfall. There you can watch the fresh water from the mountains, join the salt water from the ocean. Just the perfect places to enjoy a natural hydro massage refreshing your body and soul.

We begin our hike strolling through the little village Tremembe, which seems to be on another world, meeting its friendly inhabitants and getting to know their way of living in this remote area which is currently undergoing great changes as a new road is being built passing write next to it.

After crossing the village and the new road, we slowly move into the forest passing through manioc, cocoa and cinnamon plantations. We will cross some riverbeds and walk up on an ancient path opened up by slaves, passing by ant colonies, monkey stairways and tatu holes. Soon the green of the forest will enclosure the sky. We will descend through dense forest into the valley of the Rio Beirao until reaching the river. Crossing the river you will discover wonderful swimming pools in the middle of the Atlantic rainforest. The perfect place to take a refreshing bath, jump from the rocks into the natural pool from the Poco Fundo and feel the special energy of this untouched place. It will be just you, your friends, the river and the forest and probably you will forget that civilization exists… Got hungry after so much adventure in the forest? No problem back in the village you will have the opportunity taste the delicious fresh seafood like a Pitu, brazils famous fresh water lobster, prepared by a local women in her very simple restaurant. On our way back through the Bay you will have the opportunity to visit the village of “Maraú”, the district’s “capital”, divided in upper town and lower town, like most traditional colonial cities in Brazil. Once, at the time where everything in Bahia still was transported by boat, the beating heart of the region, it now is famous for it’s slow moving time, its friendly inhabitants and their never ending hope that they will survive their geographic isolation and that things will get better.