Ponta de Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe, in Salvador (BA), leads a ranking that evaluated 200 beaches from 11 countries. The Bahian representative is on the list of Brazilian destinations recognized with the Blue Flag certification.
Ponta de Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe, located on the stunning Ilha dos Frades, in Salvador (BA), was elected the best beach in the Americas and the Iberian Peninsula. The recognition came after a rigorous evaluation conducted by the International Center for Training in Beach Management and Certification (CIF Playas), which analyzed 200 beaches from 11 countries. With an impressive score of 0.97 on a scale of 1, the Bahian destination secured the top spot in the overall ranking, reaffirming its status as a natural jewel of the Brazilian coast.
This is not the first time the beach has been recognized abroad: Ponta de Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe has been awarded the exclusive international Blue Flag seal, a prestigious recognition granted to places that meet strict socio-environmental quality criteria. Other points on the coast of Salvador also appeared on the CIF Playas list, such as the Itapuã Lighthouse (103rd), Paciência Beach (117th), Porto da Barra (118th), Flamengo Beach (121st), and Piatã (122nd).
“This recognition reinforces what Brazilians already know: we have one of the most beautiful and diverse coastlines in the world! The Ministry of Tourism has been working to expand access to these destinations, promoting initiatives such as ‘Discover Brazil: Flying’ and working to improve tourism services throughout the country,” highlighted the Minister of Tourism, Celso Sabino.
The CIF Playas study considered beaches in Brazil, Argentina, Cuba, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Ecuador, Spain, Chile, Venezuela, and Peru. However, the analysis did not encompass the entire Brazilian coastline, except for the beaches in Bahia. In addition to leading the overall ranking, Brazil’s diverse coastline stood out in other award groups. Jurerê Internacional, in Florianópolis (SC), in the urban category; Estaleiro, in Balneário Camboriú (SC), in the village category; and Praia do Forte, in São Francisco do Sul (SC), in the rural category.
In the 2024/2025 season, 49 Brazilian locations, including 38 beaches and 11 marinas in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Santa Catarina, Bahia, Alagoas, and Ceará, will have the globally recognized Blue Flag certification. The seal, granted by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), is one of the most respected global recognitions of environmental quality, requiring compliance with several sustainability criteria.
The prominence of national beaches and marinas reinforces the potential of local tourism and adds to the federal government’s efforts to stimulate the sector. Coordinated by the Ministry of Tourism, the “Conheça o Brasil” (Get to Know Brazil) initiative, for example, seeks to encourage and facilitate travel by Brazilians in the country through partnerships with airlines. The initiative involves expanding the number of flights, which is expected to have a positive impact on the economy, generating business and creating jobs.
Source: www.gov.br