Ponta de Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe, in Salvador (BA), tops the ranking that evaluated 200 beaches from 11 countries. The Bahian representative appears 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), has been named 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 up to 1, the Bahian destination secured the top spot in the overall ranking, reaffirming its status as a natural jewel of the Brazilian coastline.
This is not the first time the beach has stood out internationally: Ponta de Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe holds the international Blue Flag seal, awarded to locations that meet rigorous socio-environmental quality criteria. Other points on Salvador’s coastline also appeared in the CIF Playas list, such as Farol de Itapuã (103rd), Praia da Paciência (117th), Porto da Barra (118th), Praia do Flamengo (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 qualify tourism services across the country,” highlighted Tourism Minister Celso Sabino.
The CIF Playas study considered beaches from Brazil, Argentina, Cuba, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Ecuador, Spain, Chile, Venezuela, and Peru. However, the analysis did not cover the entire Brazilian coastline, except for the Bahian beaches. In addition to leading the overall ranking, Brazil stood out in other award categories. 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 from São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Santa Catarina, Bahia, Alagoas, and Ceará, hold the Blue Flag certification. The seal, awarded by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), is one of the world’s most respected environmental quality recognitions, requiring compliance with various sustainability criteria.
The spotlight on national beaches and marinas reinforces local tourism potential and complements the federal government’s efforts to stimulate the sector. Coordinated by the Ministry of Tourism, “Discover Brazil,” for example, aims to encourage and facilitate domestic travel by Brazilians through partnerships with airlines. The initiative involves expanding flight offerings, positively impacting the economy and generating business and jobs.
Source: www.gov.br