Experience the ultimate Bahia cycling tour with a 7-day journey through the enchanting Cocoa Route, connecting the historical streets of Ilhéus to the stunning landscapes of Serra Grande and Itacaré.
The route crosses sun-kissed beaches, rugged rocky coastlines and immersive trails within the lush Atlantic Forest. Beyond the scenery, you explore the region’s rich cocoa culture through guided tours at local farms, learning about the heritage of chocolate.
Designed for comfort and authenticity, the trip includes overnight stays in charming guesthouses, each reflecting the region’s laid-back beach vibe. Private groups can also customize their tour in southern Bahia.
Please note: This is an active cycling tour (moderate, 3/5), riding about 20–35 km a day (2.5–3 hours on the bike) over 4 cycling days plus a hiking day and a canoe afternoon. The minimum age is 14 and travelers should be healthy, active and used to cycling (it is not designed for professional cyclists). Group departures run 8–14 people on fixed dates, and the itinerary is pre-established.
Day 1
PlanetaEXO’s local partner picks you up at Jorge Amado Airport (IOS) and takes you to your hotel. After check-in, a tour of Ilhéus explores the city center, its history and its connection to the writer Jorge Amado. The day ends adjusting the bikes and going over safety tips.
Meals included: No meals included
Day 2
The route to Serra Grande begins along a stunning beach with light sand, coconut groves and small streams, perfect for getting familiar with your bike. Use the free afternoon to relax at the paradisiacal Sargi Beach, where the group spends the night.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 3
From Serra Grande, cycle past viewpoints and country roads to Fazenda Juerena Milagrosa, a well-preserved cocoa farm with a private reserve and agroecological production. Leaving the bikes at the farm, a walk through cocoa plantations leads to the Milagrosa Waterfall for a refreshing dip, then you ride back to the village with a stop at Prainha de Serra Grande.
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch
Day 4
Ride across the beach toward the rural zones on forest-shaded dirt roads, with challenging climbs rewarded by panoramic sea views. You visit an organic cocoa farm that also makes chocolate, vanilla and dairy, welcomed with a brunch and chocolates, then cool off in a lake near Serra do Conduru State Park before riding back for a free afternoon at the beach.
Meals included: Breakfast / Brunch
Day 5
After a 20-minute drive, explore four stunning beaches in the Itacaré area on a smooth hike through beach, rocky shores and Atlantic Forest. Back in Itacaré in the late afternoon, paddle a Hawaiian canoe on the calm Rio das Contas to watch the sunset. Tonight you stay at Vila do Dengo, a cozy inn capturing the peaceful Bahian coast.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 6
From Itacaré, cycle an asphalt road parallel to the Rio de Contas to the village of Taboquinhas and the charming Fazenda Vila Rosa, with gardens, natural pools and a lake. A guided tour reveals cocoa harvesting, fermentation, drying and handmade chocolate-making, with tastings. After lunch at a riverside restaurant, head back to Itacaré by boat.
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch
Day 7
The tour ends with one last breakfast in Itacaré, after which the local partner transfers you back to Ilhéus, a drive of about 1 hour and 40 minutes, with a flexible departure time to suit your schedule.
Meals included: Breakfast
You stay in charming, hand-picked guesthouses, with two categories available (Standard and Superior): 1 night in Ilhéus, 3 nights in Serra Grande and 2 nights at Vila do Dengo in Itacaré. Specific properties vary based on availability and your preferences.
Pier do Pontal: beachfront on Pontal Bay, 26 rooms, pool and restaurant (Standard or Superior).
Green 53: a 9-room boutique hotel in the historic center, with private bathrooms, smart TVs, minibars and safes.
Meals are served at the hotels in each region and at the cocoa farms visited during the tour; the meal plan included changes by day (see the itinerary). On days when lunch or dinner is not included, you can eat at the hotels or local restaurants at your own cost, and the guides are happy to recommend places.
At hotels and farms, meals are buffet-style (local restaurants may be à la carte), with international, Brazilian and typical Bahian recipes, and options for dietary restrictions (vegetarian, vegan, lactose-free, allergies, etc.). Breakfast typically includes bread, cheese, cold cuts, fresh fruit, cake, tapioca, eggs, coffee, milk and juice; lunch and dinner feature rice, beans, meat or chicken/pork, fish, pasta and vegetables.
From
$ 1,850 / per person
From
$ 1,850/ per person