Arraial is well placed for exploring the southern Bahia coast. The most popular day trips include Trancoso (a quieter, more upscale village), Caraiva (remote and car-free), and Espelho Beach (often called one of the most beautiful beaches in Brazil). Recifes de Fora is a boat trip to a natural offshore swimming pool with good snorkelling.
Closer to hand, Porto Seguro's historical centre preserves some of the oldest colonial buildings in Brazil. The Jaqueira Indian Reserve offers a guided visit to a Pataxo indigenous community. Monte Pascoal Park, the first point of land sighted by the Portuguese in 1500, is worth the drive for its historical weight and forested trails.