Barra Grande is a chic beachside enclave on the coast of Piauí. This once simple fishing village is fast making a name for itself, due to its beautiful restaurants, bars and pousadas, as well as its spectacular beaches and ideal conditions for kite surfing.
While this town is certainly growing, with new bars and hotels popping up every year, it’s still peaceful enough to feel like you’ve left the real world behind for a while.
What makes Barra Grande, Piauí special?
During the day time, it’s all about blue skies, hot sand and ice-cold beer. There are several restaurants on the beach front where you can enjoy cocktails and fresh seafood, as you watch the kite surfers work their magic on the waves.
After dark, Rua Pontal da Barra, the village’s sandy main strip, comes to life, with heaving restaurants and open-air bars, as the sounds of laughter and acoustic music fill the air.
Things to do in Barra Grande, Piauí
The town’s relaxed pace makes it ideal for relaxed afternoon strolls through its sandy streets, getting lost among the luxury hotels and beach houses. There are several boutique shops to explore, selling crafts, clothing and accessories. Grab a tasty pastry from Padaria da Barra, the local boutique bakery. Take a nap in a hammock beneath the shade of a tree or enjoy a cool dip in the ocean. Pure bliss.
How to get to Barra Grande, Piauí?
Barra Grande is located an hour’s drive from Parnaíba. There are buses which operate regularly all day from Parnaíba bus station to Barra Grande, or you can drive along the BR-402 and follow the signs to Barra Grande.
The nearest airport is Parnaíba International Airport, which is an hour’s drive from Barra Grande, but it only receives a small number of flights each week.
The nearest capital city is Teresina, which around 5 and a half hours’ drive away (map below). Teresina Airport offers more regular flight connections to the rest of the country. Expresso Guanabara offers several daily bus services to Parnaíba for around R$75-R$125. The 6.30am bus from Teresina continues on to Barra Grande (R$98-R$118 – the more expensive price is for a better seat that lies almost flat, known in Brazil as ‘leito’). If you’re already in Parnaíba, you can jump on that bus at 13.36h each day (R$20.50-R$38.50).
Fortaleza is about a 6 hour drive away and also has a well-connected airport. You can rent a car from Localiza and take the CE-085 road towards Parnaíba (map below). Expresso Guanabara offers several daily bus services to Parnaíba from R$110-R$177). From there, you can take a bus to Barra Grande.
Last updated: 26 Nov 2023