The Bohemian Beach Town Drawing Travelers to Southern Bahia

"Although initially developed by the Portuguese, who first set foot here in 1500, the Brazilian fishing town of Trancoso remained virtually undiscovered until a small group of Paulistano hippies came upon it in the 1970s and happily settled in. Although the installation of new roads and the arrival of electricity a decade later increased accessibility, the vibe was set: Trancoso remains a sleepy, bohemian beach destination."

"The town's heart is Quadrado, a central square anchored by a small white church called São João Batista, built during the 17th century. A makeshift soccer pitch sits in front of the church, lined by Trancoso's signature colorful low-level houses. The entire square is now recognized as a Unesco World Heritage Site."

"Occupying 15 of those houses is Uxua Casa Hotel & Spa. This was one of Trancoso's first upscale hotels, opened in 2009 by Dutchman (and former Diesel creative director) Wilbert Das, in collaboration with local artists. Suites are spread across the cluster of houses (some of which date back to the village's founding)."

Trancoso, a fishing town in southern Bahia, Brazil, was discovered by Portuguese explorers in 1500 but remained largely unknown until hippies from São Paulo settled there in the 1970s. The town's bohemian character was established before roads and electricity arrived in the 1980s. Today, it remains accessible via Porto Seguro's airport or a private airport, with increasing popularity partly due to Anderson Cooper's rental property. The town's heart is Quadrado, a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring a 17th-century church and colorful colonial houses. Uxua Casa Hotel & Spa occupies 15 of these historic houses, while Pousada Tutabel offers beachfront accommodations with comprehensive amenities.

Read at Elite Traveler