How to Get to Morro de São Paulo from Salvador da Bahia

There are several ways to get there:

• By air
• By sea on a catamaran
• Semi-overland route

We used the semi-overland route on our own (without a travel agency) to get there, and we used the catamaran to return. Below, we list all the available options and detail the ones we experienced firsthand.

We will share all the choices with you. However, if you prefer comfort and hassle-free travel, these options might suit you best:

By Air

The flight lasts approximately 20 minutes. There is daily frequency with an estimated cost starting around 478 Reais ($123 USD) per person.

Direct Sea Route (Catamaran or Speedboat)

Catamarans and speedboats depart directly from the maritime terminal. The journey takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes.

We chose this option for our return trip from Morro de São Paulo to Salvador. On the way there, we traveled semi-overland on our own.

The boat trip can be as exciting and adventurous as it is uncomfortable.

The fantastic part is crossing the sea on a catamaran, enjoying the motion of the waves, and even spotting whales along the way.

The challenging part is that the continuous pitching motion can cause severe seasickness for many people, even after taking medication beforehand.

Tip: Try to sit in the stern (back of the boat), where movement is significantly reduced.

In some rare instances, boats have suffered breakdowns or delays due to marine life impacts or mechanical issues.

In our case, some of us thoroughly enjoyed the voyage while others felt unwell throughout the ride. But we were lucky enough to see whales!

Schedules

• Salvador / Morro de São Paulo: 09:00h, 14:30h
• Morro de São Paulo / Salvador: 11:30h, 15:00h

Reservations

We strongly recommend booking in advance. On the morning of our departure from Morro, we bought our tickets at the pier and there were only 3 seats left—exactly the number we needed!

• Reservations: reservas@transferlima.com
• Website: www.transferlima.com

Prices are standardized. They can also organize pickups or drop-offs at the airport.

You can check schedules, companies, and direct booking options at this link.

Semi-Overland Route

As shown on the map, this route involves a maritime leg from Salvador da Bahia to Itaparica Island, followed by an overland stretch to Bom Jardim or Valença pier, and finally a short boat crossing to Morro de São Paulo.

Travel agencies sell full packages from the airport or hotels in Salvador all the way to Morro (e.g., Cassi Turismo). These trips use comfortable, air-conditioned buses where you only need to step out for the boat crossings.

We initially contacted them via email (cassiestrangeiro@gmail.com), but eventually opted against it because we would have had to wait nearly 2 hours at the airport. We decided to try a cheaper—though less restful—DIY alternative.

The package price via Cassi Turismo is around 130 Reais ($33.3 USD).

DIY / "On My Own" Semi-Overland Options

Leg 1: Salvador to Itaparica Island (Maritime)

This stretch can be done via Ferry Boat from São Joaquim Terminal to Bom Despacho. Other boats cross from the main Nautical Terminal to different parts of the island, but reviews were mixed.

We took the Ferry Boat, which cost around 5 Reais per person.
PLEASE NOTE: Direct catamarans to Morro de São Paulo and boats to Vera Cruz depart from the Nautical Terminal. To reach Bom Despacho, you must go to São Joaquim Terminal (commonly known as the Ferry Boat terminal).

The Ferry Boat leaves hourly from São Joaquim Terminal.

To go directly from the airport to São Joaquim Terminal, you can take a Taxi, Uber, or the Metro. An Uber from the airport costs around 60 Reais.

We took a free shuttle from the airport to the nearby metro station. There, we bought a single ticket for 3.7 Reais to the end of the line at "Acesso Norte", which connects to Shopping Bela Vista. This mall has free Wi-Fi if you need to request an Uber. However, having mobile data is ideal. We bought a TIM SIM card (15 Reais) with a data plan (9.99 Reais), which kept us connected throughout the journey. Full details on buying a SIM card in Brazil are published in our guide link.

A taxi from Shopping Bela Vista to São Joaquim Terminal was 20 Reais, while our Uber cost 12 Reais.

Tip: At São Joaquim Terminal, you can pre-purchase the bus segment from Bom Despacho to Valença for 21.5 Reais, which is slightly cheaper than buying it at the counter upon arrival in Bom Despacho (25 Reais).

Leg 2: Bom Despacho to Bom Jardim

Upon arriving in Bom Despacho, you will need to get transportation toward Valença or the police roundabout ("rotonda policial").

Options include taxis, shared vans, and regular buses. Since it was low season, vans were asking 150 to 350 Reais for 3 people, so we took the regular public bus for 25 Reais per person.

We got off at the police roundabout (Google Maps location here).

There is a bus stop right across the road where the local bus to the pier ("Atracadouro Bom Jardim") passes. A taxi waiting there offered a ride, but we felt safe waiting for the bus.

A few minutes later, the local bus arrived. Tickets for the bus plus the slow boat combined cost 12 Reais (plus 1.5 Reais pier fee).

Fast speedboats are also available. Slow boat departures are synchronized with local bus arrival times.

The slow boat ride is scenic, offering a relaxed tour around the island with beautiful views.

It makes a short stop at Gamboa before arriving at Morro.

Cost & Duration (DIY Method)

Cost: Approx. 40 Reais ($10.2 USD) per person, plus city transport in Salvador (Metro ticket + shared Uber cost).

Timeline Example:
13:00 - Took 1:00 PM Ferry Boat
14:00 - Arrived in Bom Despacho
14:20 - Bus departed from Bom Despacho
16:00 - Arrived at Police Roundabout
16:20 - Local bus to pier
16:45 - Boat departed from Atracadouro
17:30 - Arrived in Morro de São Paulo

Alternative Variations

• Instead of getting off at the roundabout, stay on the bus until Valença, then take a boat from there. Note that the bus does not drop you directly at the pier in Valença, so a short walk or taxi is required.

• Take a van or taxi directly from Bom Despacho ferry terminal to Bom Jardim or Valença.

Note: Agency transfers (such as Cassi Turismo) depart near Mercado Modelo toward Vera Cruz on Itaparica Island, using comfortable AC buses. Total travel time is around 3:30h.

What to Do in Morro de São Paulo

We wrote a detailed review of our experience and recommendations in Morro de São Paulo here.

Here are additional tours with free cancellation to help you explore your options:

Hotels & Accommodation

Check availability and prices on the interactive accommodation maps below:

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