The Rio de Contas is one of Bahia's major rivers, and its broad, mangrove-fringed estuary right at the south edge of Itacaré is worth a half-day on the water. Small wooden boats make the trip upriver from the town waterfront, through stands of mangrove rich in birdlife — frigatebirds, ibises, kingfishers, and the occasional caiman lying still on the banks.
Tours generally combine the estuary with a stop on a sandbank for a swim and a meal, returning by late afternoon. Operators in town can arrange a half-day or a full-day trip; expect to pay around R$100-150 per person depending on group size.