From Itacaré to Salvador (Barra)
Replies: 11 - Last Post: Apr 4, 2012 2:53 PM Last Post By: Harry05
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From Itacaré to Salvador (Barra)
Within a few days I will be travelling from Itacaré to Salvador (Barra). In the LP Brasil I read that it might be easier to catch a bus to Bom Despacho and then the ferry to Salvador.Anyone has experience with this or know how it works, with the ferry will I arrive in Barra (which seems to be case if I watch the map in the LP) or at the Terminal Maritimo. In this last case are there taxis waiting near the ferry (as I don´t think it´s wise to walk around with my backpack)? How much will it be for a taxi?
Thanks answering,
Harry
1
Don't know what map you are "watching", but the car ferry from Bom Despacho arrives at the terminal in Salvador that is fairly close to the Pelourinho historic district but not to Barra. (There is a local bus from the street in front of the terminal that goes to Barra though, but not easy to figure out which when at the stop and they are passing fast. You can try asking other people waiting.) Everybody on the ferry has packages and luggage, so you don't have to worry about a backpack. But there are taxis waiting as you get off the ferry. To Barra might be around R$25.You can also take the bus from Itabuna around the bay to the bus terminal in Salvador.
2
To be honest I'm not sure there's much of a saving in time after faffing about changing buses, catching the ferry and then cabbing/ bussing it to Barra. It's about the same price to cab it from the rodoviária to Barra as from the Cidade Baixa. From Itabuna you can catch the night bus through to Salvador, which might be convenient in terms of time saved, as it gets you in bright and early and you can sleep on the bus.Of course if you plan on visiting Itaparica it's a good option. For God sake don't stay in Bom Despacho if you do, there are much nicer options elsewhere.
If you take the ferry option and get off at the Terminal Maritimo, then you will need to cross over to the bus stop in front of the Elevador Lacerda, look for any bus marked Barra. Otherwise you can take the elevador up, walk across to the Praça da Sé and take one from there.
3
There are two ferry terminals:1) the car ferry one near the Feira Sao Joaquim where the big ferry from Bom Despacho on Itaparica docks. There are buses for Barra at the bus stop on the main street in front (which I have taken), where many passengers will be heading after getting off the boat.
and
2) the one behind the Mercado Modelo where the 'peqeuno lancha' (small boat) from Mar Grande on Itaparica docks (and the catamaran from Morro do Sao Paulo) This is the one close to the Elevador.
The bus to Bom Despacho that the OP mentions connects with ferry #1.
The distance between the two terminals is a couple of km along an industrial street, usually sparsely populated by pedestrians.
5
Thanks answering. On which map I was watching, this was the one in my LP and the line coming from Bom Despacho seems to end in Barra on this map.Already went to the Rodoviaria in Itacaré and there are direct busses to Bom Despacho so I am gonna take that one and cross with the ferry.
6
Well, in my ancient 4th edition LP, there is a half page map showing the Bay (Baia dos Todos os Santos), the islands, and the Reconcavo, that shows two dotted ferry lines from Itaparica, one from Bom Despacho and the lower one from Mar Grande (as mentioned above), neither of which ends in Barra.Direct buses from Itacare to Bom Despacho? Direct as in no stops? I'd be very surprised. Or just no changes of bus? And more surprised if it saves significant time over the night bus suggested that goes around the bay.
But do let us know the exact details for future travelers.
Have a good time. I am fond of that ferry ride, even sometimes in a storm. If it's calm, buy yourself some Romeo e Julieta (guayaba jam and cheese) or home made ice cream from the vendors on board.
7
@amobr82, you are right the ferry route from Bom Despacho ends at the point of Salvador (which seems to be theTerminal Maritimo) in my version of the LP (latest I think, page 458) but the ferry from Mar Grande seems to end much more south on my map (but I don´t know where that is, I thought this would be Barra).With direct bus I meant that I don´t have to change, but I let you know the details after arriving.
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"the ferry from Mar Grande seems to end much more south on my map (but I don´t know where that is,"See POST #2.
In fact, here is a video of some Brazilian tourist arriving. (excuse their choice of background music :-) You can see the blue terminal building and eventually the Mercado Modelo (yellow building) with the Elevador Lacerda behind it as they exit. You go up the Elevador to reach the Pelourinho historic district.
In the opening seconds (16-19) you can see a point of land with some tall buildings. Barra is well on the other side of that point.
Barra only has a small marina for pleasure boats.
9
Did the trip yesterday. Took an aircon bus from Cidade Sol for 35 Rs. They do the leg Itacaré to Bom Despache 7 times a day. There is also another company (Aguia Branca) doing this leg several times a day, so more than 10 departures daily.The bus stopped a some rodoviaras and there were a lot of other stops for people getting on and off the bus. The trip took me 5 hrs from Itacaré to Bom Despache. Ending at Bom Despacho I just went with the flow to the ferry. Had to wait about half an hour befor the ferry left, it took about an hour to get to Terminal Maritimo (3,95 Rs). So total time of the trip was about 6,5 hr.
There I just went of with the flow, found a taxi which took me to Barra for about 20 Rs (metered taxi)
11
For the people looking for a budget accomodation, also updated my thread ¨looking for a budget accomodation in Salvador (Barra)¨. Luckily they are reasonably priced at this time of the year.
