Salvador de Bahia

• Pickup at the airport and transfer to your comfortable Salvador hotel.

• You will take a half-day historical tour through Salvador de Bahia, where you will trace the development of the city from its humble beginnings to its current place as the third largest city in Brazil. We will visit the Farol Da Barra Lighthouse at the entrance to the vast bay as well as the UNESCO Heritage Site of Pelourinho, which is the largest complex of colonial architecture in the South America. We will also visit the church of São Francisco with its gold-leafed Baroque interior and the Pelourinho square which is the heart of the old town.

• After breakfast at the hotel, you will have the rest of the day to explore this fascinating city. There is much to see in the second most visited city of Brazil: no other place is better for catching a spectacular capoeira fight or to see the country’s African influences. Walk though the historical city center in Cidade Alta to see handsome colonial architecture that has been restored to its original glory. Once the bohemian heart of Salvador, the city center’s art scene is being revived with open-air cafes, bars and artist ateliers. Our Additional Services below offer interesting activities and tours in and around Salvador.

• Transfer to the Airport or Bus Station to continue your journey or return home.

• 3 nights at comfortable hotels based on US standards.
• Guided visits with English speaking tour guides.
• All transfers and entrance fees.
• All breakfasts. 4-star and up hotels offer breakfast buffets.

A comfortable schooner cruise to two (Frades Island and Itaparica Island) of the 36 islands in this sparkling bay, a day of rest and relaxation with great views of the city both on the outbound and homeward journeys. Lunch is included as well as optional transport to the colonial town of Itaparica, just a short distance away, for a light walking tour of the charming waterfront town.

A full-day tour of Praia do Forte, a fishing village 80 kms north of Salvador, home to some of the best beaches in Bahia. Stops include: Barra do Jacuípe where the river meets the ocean, the Sapiranga reserve where you will learn about the delicate restinga ecosystem, the ruins of the Garcia D’Ávila castle (1556) which was once the home of the largest landowner in the New World, as well as the headquarters of the national sea turtle preservation project and one of Brazil’s most successful ecological programs. There will also be time to relax on the beach or browse in the many local handicrafts stores before returning to Salvador. Lunch is included in this tour.

You will enjoy a night of Bahian entertainment and cuisine in the 18th century colonial complex of Solar do Unhão, an estate with its own church, sugar mill, manor house and slaves’ quarters. The performance is a showcase of the multiple African traditions that are still alive in Bahia. The presentation begins with the sacred dances of the Candomblé, and then puxada de rede in honor of Yemanjá, the goddess of the sea, followed by maculelê, an acrobatic stick and sword dance from the cane fields. The highlight of the show is an exhilarating display of capoeira, the stunning martial art/dance of Angolan origin. The show ends with the samba de roda, a spinning, swirling version of this exuberant national dance. Dinner is a buffet of international and Bahia fare.