Cachoeira do Tijuípe

The water is in no hurry here. It tumbles down in wide rapids, fifteen meters from bank to bank, and gathers in pools where the temperature comes as a surprise: it's warm. The fall itself is low, just 4 meters, and that hardly matters. What holds visitors here is the whole scene, the constant sound over the rocks and how easy it is to get there.

A waterfall that isn't in Itacaré

Tijuípe is in the district of Serra Grande, in the municipality of Uruçuca, not in Itacaré, a detail that often trips up anyone planning an itinerary. Access is via the BA-001, between Itacaré and Serra Grande, with the entrance at km 46, on the right-hand side of the road. The waterfall is 8 km from Praia de Itacarezinho, so it fits easily into a day along the coast.

There is an entrance fee: R$ 30 per person. The property has a parking lot, which is the starting point of the trail.

Short trail, easy pace

From the parking lot to the water, the path is short and easy. It requires no physical preparation or hiking gear, and that is exactly why visitors tend to highlight the easy access. For a day when the priority is the water rather than the walk, it's just right.

Rapids and warm pools

Anyone expecting a tall, thundering fall will find something else. Tijuípe is wide and low: the water spreads over the rocks in rapids and opens into warm-water pools, perfect for lingering. The 15-meter width gives the place a horizontal shape, that of a river sliding along rather than a cascade plunging down.

After your swim

The property has a restaurant, Magia Tropical, rest areas and a tropical flower plantation. Visitors often praise the cleanliness and the food. Many turn the outing into a long break, with lunch and downtime between one dip and the next.

Tour agencies often combine the waterfall with the Trilha das 4 Praias. Bookings can be made through Itacaré Turismo, at 73 99912-4495.

Who it's for

For anyone who wants a waterfall without the effort: families, mixed groups, travelers with a relaxed pace who prefer warm water to a long hike. It also works as an add-on to a beach day in the area. It's not the place for those looking for a big waterfall, nor for those who avoid crowds: visitors complain about overcrowding on holidays and about the entrance fee, so it's worth going outside those days if your calendar allows.

Practical info

• Getting there: BA-001, between Itacaré and Serra Grande, entrance at km 46, right-hand side.
• Location: district of Serra Grande, municipality of Uruçuca.
• Distance: 8 km from Praia de Itacarezinho.
• Trail: short and easy, starting from the parking lot.
• Entrance: R$ 30 per person.
• Facilities: parking lot, Magia Tropical restaurant, rest areas and a tropical flower plantation.
• Bookings and combined tours: Itacaré Turismo, 73 99912-4495; often combined with the Trilha das 4 Praias.
• Heads-up: holidays tend to get crowded.