Arraial de ajuda is prominent in southern Bahia for its beautiful coastline. It first became popular with the hippies in the early 70's. It is dotted with many rustic inns which give a blithe feel to this place.
The Chapel of Our Lady of Ajuda is popular with religious tourists because of the various miracles which have taken place in the past.
It has a pedestrian district known simply as "Broadway". Broadway contains many restaurants and bars which provide a large variety of food and music. It also displays necklaces and other adornments which have been made by the natives and hippies. Stone and wooden artworks too are sold by many new artists.
A breathtaking view of the Discovery Coast can be experienced from top of the cliff on which Arraial is located.
Arraial de ajuda is unique in many ways. The shops mostly open at the end of noon and close at approximately midnight. Partying can go on till the early hours of morning and the dress code is very informal in most places. Shorts are common at nightclubs while bikinis are very common at shopping areas.
The Pitinga Beach is near Arraial and is 1.5 kilometers away from the city center. Automobiles can go only until Mar Bar and Restaurant, after which one has to travel on foot to reach the beaches. The Pitinga Beach is one of most beautiful beaches in Arraial. It also has a nudist section which is on the south side of the beach.
The Apaga-Fogo Beach is used for swimming, fishing, windsurfing and jet skiing. It has reefs which have formed natural pools at low tides in that particular area.
Trancoso offers coral pools, open sea, and an estuary, where one can swim in fresh waters.