Blog · Morro de São Paulo

How do you get from Morro de São Paulo to Boipeba, and what is there to see?

Updated: October 2026

Short answer: Boipeba is the neighbouring island just south of Morro: quieter, and car-free. The most direct route is to cross Tinharé island by 4x4 (about 1 hour), then the Rio do Inferno by boat (5 to 10 minutes) to Boca da Barra beach. A private speedboat takes around 50 minutes if the sea allows. Stay 2 or 3 nights to enjoy it; if you only have a day, the Volta à Ilha stops at Boipeba.

What is Boipeba?

Like Morro, Boipeba belongs to the Tinharé archipelago, in the municipality of Cairu. The island lies within the Tinharé and Boipeba Environmental Protection Area (APA), and private cars are not allowed: people get around on foot, by tractor or by quad bike. It has four villages: Velha Boipeba (the main one, where boats arrive), Moreré, São Sebastião (Cova da Onça) and Monte Alegre. It's a bit like Morro was years ago: fewer people, less noise and long beaches lined with coconut palms.

How do you get from Morro de São Paulo to Boipeba?

The 4x4 is the most practical option: it leaves at fixed times, avoids the open sea and shows you Tinharé's interior on the way. The private speedboat is the fastest, but it depends on the weather: the sea tends to be rougher from June to October. Via Valença you need two tickets: Morro → Valença (35 to 40 minutes), then Valença → Boipeba (about 1 h 20).

With us: the 4x4 transfer Morro → Boipeba, ferry crossing included, or the transfer to Boipeba. Coming straight from Salvador? There's also a Salvador → Boipeba transfer (about 5 h 30).

What is there to see in Boipeba?

• Boca da Barra: Velha Boipeba's beach, where the river meets the sea. The classic sunset spot.
• Tassimirim and Cueira: half an hour's walk from Boca da Barra along the beach. Cueira is one of the few beaches on the island with some waves.
• Moreré and its natural pools: about 7 km from Velha Boipeba (an easy trail, or by tractor or quad). The pools are reached by boat at low tide.
• Bainema: an almost deserted beach of white sand and coconut palms as far as the eye can see.
• Ponta dos Castelhanos: the island's southern tip and its reef, named after a Spanish galleon wrecked there in the 17th century.
• Cova da Onça (São Sebastião) and Coroa Grande: a fishing village and a sandbank that appears at low tide, both stops on the boat tour around Boipeba.

From Morro, the boat trip to Moreré & Bainema combines the pools and the beach in one day.

How much time do you need?

• One day: the Volta à Ilha from Morro stops at Boipeba (Boca da Barra / Cueira) and at the Moreré pools. See our Volta à Ilha guide.
• 2 or 3 nights: the minimum for Boca da Barra, Moreré at low tide and the boat tour around the island.
• A trip of 8 days or more: add 3 to 5 nights in Boipeba on top of Morro (see how many days to stay).

When is the best time to go?

The region has a dry season from August to March and a rainy season from April to July; April, May and June are the wettest months. From September to November you get good weather and fewer people; New Year and January are the busiest time. For the Moreré and Castelhanos pools, pick days around the new or full moon: low tide is lower and falls in the morning. More in our best time to visit guide.

Practical tips

• Pack light: with no cars, luggage is moved by wheelbarrow or tractor.
• Bring a torch: not every street is lit.
• Check the tide table before heading to Moreré or Castelhanos.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take from Morro to Boipeba? About 1 h 10 by 4x4 and boat, around 50 minutes by private speedboat, and over 2 hours via Valença.

Is there a direct scheduled boat between Morro and Boipeba? No: scheduled boats connect in Valença. The direct speedboat is private and depends on the sea.

Can you do it as a day trip? Yes, with the Volta à Ilha or the boat trip to Moreré and Bainema. To really enjoy the island, stay 2 or 3 nights.

Are there cars in Boipeba? No. People get around on foot, by tractor or by quad bike.

When should you go? September to November: good weather and fewer crowds. Avoid April to June, the rainiest months.

Boipeba with us

4x4 transfer Morro → Boipeba · Transfer to Boipeba · Volta à Ilha · Boat to Moreré & Bainema · Salvador → Boipeba transfer

Keep reading: The Volta à Ilha · How many days to stay · Best time to visit