First of all make sure you have the right Valença as there is also a Valença in the state of Rio.

To get to Valença, Bahia, you can get a plane from almost anywhere in Brazil (Tam, Gol or Varig airlines) to Salvador or get a bus directly to Valença from Rio or Sao Paulo (São Geraldo bus company) or any city in-between (São Geraldo or Aguia Branca bus company). It´s a lot easier to get to Valença (Morro, etc.) from Ilhéus or any city along the coast than going to Salvador first.

Valença has an airport but it only receives chartered flights.

You can also go directly to Morro via the Catamarã (pronounced ca-ta-ma-ran) from the Terminal Maritimo in Salvador (opposite Mercado Modelo). It costs around 50 reais per person and takes about 2 hours, but there aren´t many daily departures so check the website for schedules. Then, you can take a lancha (boat) to Valença (about an hour, at around 5 reais), or the lancha rápida (fast boat), at 10-12 reales.

From Salvador (aeroport)

By car or taxi: Go to the Terminal São Joaquim on Av. Oscar Pontes and get the ferryboat (called, ferrybote) to Bom Despacho (Itaparica). From there, get the BA001 for about 100kms, passing Nazaré until you arrive to Valença. The turnoff to Guaibuim is about 4kms before the entrance to Valença.

By bus (on foot)
At the airport, there is an executive bus that passes the door, or you can take it at the terminal in the airport (exit the airport building, follow the footpath on the left of the parking area til the end). You must take the small executive buses (Rio Vermelho company) that go to Praça da Sé (4 reals).

Get off at Praça da Sé (there is small row of bus stops, about 45 minutes ride). Pelourinho is close-by, following the avenue on the right). Walk straight ahead (on the right) and you will see a huge square (Praça da Sé). Go to the end of the square to the elevator (Elevador Lacerda) that will take you to the Cidade Baixa (lower city), it costs 0,05 cents.

Once you get off the lift, you will have to decide whether want to get the Catamarã (50 bucks) or the ferribote (5 bucks). If you decide for the first option, just cross the street, pass the Mercado Modelo and continue to the terminal. If you decide to take the ferry, in front of the entrance/exit of the lift, you will see another row of bus stops. You can take one of them to the ferry terminal (ask anyone which one to take to the ferribote), or you can walk (about 2 kms.), passing the Navy Base and Federal Police building.

This may all sound too complicated but we did it all to make sure it´s right. The advantage of doing it on foot is that the bus ride to Praça da Sé makes for a real tour of Salvador. You get to see all the most important neighbourhoods in Salvador and pass all the beaches (orla), Barra neighbourhood, Ondina, Rio Vermelho, Itapóã, etc. At the end of the ride, before getting on the lift, you are close to Pelourinho and can walk around the historical part of Salvador before continuing. There is a great restaurant on one of the corners of Pelourinho square.

If you chose the ferry, once you get to the terminal buy tickets to Bom Despacho. When you get there (about an hour and 15 minutes), follow everyone out along the footbridge and, on the right, you will see bus ticket booths (Cidade Sol and Camurujipe), where you have buses straight to Valença all day until about 8pm.

From the south (Ilhéus, Porto Seguro, Itacaré)

By car: Get on the BR 101 (From Itacaré, you will have to go to Ilhéus first). Enter the town of Travessão (91kms after Itabuna) for access to the BR001. From there, go another 97kms to Valença passing Camamu, Ituberá, Nilo Peçanha and Taperoá.

By bus: Go to the bus terminal at any city or town and get tickets to Valença at the Aguia Branca booth (around 25 reais).

By plane: Go to the nearest airport (Ilhéus or Porto Seguro. From Itacaré, you should go to Ilhéus first) and get tickets to Salvador. Then follow the steps from Salvador.

For more information on the shortest or cheapest route to Valença, please contact us.