O Cajueiro

Taipu de Fora has only one market, and it’s quite far from central Barra Grande. We found only one place serving breakfast, so keep that in mind because breakfast isn’t included in the rate. The value is fair, and it’s certainly among the lowest prices in the community. We stayed in a two-person tent with an air mattress and bedding. The tent wasn’t new but was clean when we arrived, as was the bedding. The pillow was quite uncomfortable, and the mattress had a small hole and slowly deflated during the day. The owners didn’t mind inflating it whenever we asked and offered to replace it, but we didn’t think that was needed. Our belongings were fine in the tent, though we felt a little uneasy about leaving them there. There are electrical outlets, but you’ll need extension cords. The showers aren’t heated, which didn’t bother us in the hot weather. The more private bathroom shower had weak water pressure. Two shared outdoor showers had stronger pressure but offered little privacy. It looked like the campsite might also offer larger tents with fans. The campsite is well located in Taipu de Fora. The owners were friendly and willing to work with last-minute changes to our plans, which isn’t easy for a business. They also arranged a very safe transfer to Ilhéus.

The food was okay, but the service really let the place down. The attendant looked visibly dirty, clothes and hands, and the tables were dirty too. The moqueca baiana was okay. Our Parmegiana wasn’t breaded, maybe that’s just how they make it, and had ham with very little cheese. We asked for juice and were told they had it, but nobody was available to make it at the time.

There’s a wide-ranging menu at great prices for this area, with meals cooked to order and homemade sandwiches. The food tastes wonderful, especially the fish moqueca with cashew and banana, which is phenomenal. They also have affordable plates for one person or a child, including stroganoff and steak with fries that should appeal to kids. The restaurant is excellent and the service is very good.

I loved the music and the rustic decor makes it a really pleasant place to eat. Service was excellent, too. There are two menus, one for snacks and one for meals, with a good range of choices. I’d recommend it for a good meal at a fair price and truly great service.