Upon entering the fishing village aspect will not be immediately apparent, though it will become so when one reaches the beach at the end of the esplanade and sees the fishing boats moored out there in the water.The esplanade is a recent phenomenon, having replaced the dirt street which was the villages principal thoroughfare until several years ago. During this transition simple houses were transformed into restaurants and crafts shops -- many of excellent quality -- and Praia do Forte has become a Bahian Carmel by the Sea ecological reserve, a place which has retained reality in the sense that it is not only tourists who spend time here, but Salvador residents as well
Praia do Forte is the centre of two major environmental maritime projects: the Project Tamar aimed at preserving the turtles from extinction, and the Institure-project Balaia Jubarte , which tracks the few hundreds whales frequenting Praia do Fortes sea shores. A visit to the Institute is a must. Tours for whale watching are organised from August till October.
Main attractions:
Other interesting activities in Praia do Forte, are: (Humpback) whale-watching schooner tours from July untill October (100% garantueed last year), horse-back riding, jeep-tour, the sea turtle by night outing (possible from the months of December to February), tour to the Sapiranga Ecological Reserve.