Salvador de Bahia Tour: Afro-Brazilian Capital

• Upon arrival to Salvador, one of our Brazil For Less representatives will meet you at the Salvador airport and take you to your confirmed hotel. Check out our selection of excellent Salvador de Bahia hotels.
• Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure, exploring the city and its lively nightlife.

• Today you’ll enjoy a half-day historical city tour of Salvador de Bahia with an expert English-speaking guide. You will start the tour in the modern district of Barra, famous for its lighthouse perched at the end of a rocky peninsula.
• You will then continue on by car or coach to the historical district, known as Pelourinho, which is home to South America’s largest and most well-preserved complex of colonial architecture. You’ll take a stroll through the narrow, lively streets of Pelourinho full of colorful buildings decorated with pastel-painted façades. You will stop to visit the Church of Sao Francisco with its lavish Baroque interior and then continue to Pelourinho square, the vibrant heart of Salvador.
• After the tour, you’ll return to your hotel and have the remainder of the day to enjoy at your leisure.

• Continue exploring this fascinating historical city at your own pace. You can choose to compliment your stay with one of our additional Salvador tours or simply relax and enjoy the laid-back atmosphere of the town at your leisure.
• Recommended activities include a boat tour of the beautiful bay, or an African-oriented city tour to learn how the large African community has influenced the culture of the city over the centuries.

• Check our exciting additional Salvador de Bahia tours if you want to extend your stay, or meet your transfer to the airport for your journey home or on to your next destination.
• Browse our full range of Brazil travel destinations for additional vacation ideas, and feel free to ask your travel advisor for any suggestions.

Note: Hotel prices during Reveillon (Brazil’s New Year’s Eve festivities) and Carnival increase. Please ask your travel advisor how prices for your Brazil vacation may differ during these periods.

• 3 nights in Salvador de Bahia in Brazil hotels based on US standards
• All tours stated in the itinerary with expert English-speaking guides
• All transfers and entrance fees
• All breakfasts

PLEASE NOTE:

A tourist visa is required upon entry to Brazil for citizens of the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Travelers not within this group are advised to check with the Brazilian consulate where they reside for visa requirements and inquiries. For more information on obtaining a Brazil tourist visa, please read our blog on how to apply for a Brazil visa.

Explore the magnificent Bay of Salvador and enjoy views of the entire area with a schooner excursion. You’ll meet your guide at your hotel who will take you to the port to board a comfortable schooner for a full-day cruise around the bay. You’ll stop at 2 of the 36 islands that comprise the sparkling bay. The first stop is Monk’s island, known to have the most spectacular beaches in the entire region. Here you’ll have some time to soak up the sun and swim in the warm, turquoise waters. You’ll then continue on to Itaparica Island where you’ll enjoy lunch (included) and take a walking tour of the island’s lovely colonial town and waterfront. After the tour, you’ll return to your hotel in Salvador.

The African roots of Salvador de Bahia are pervasive in this vibrant city. Home to the largest African community in Brazil, Salvador is proud of its rich heritage. This half-day tour will take you to some of the most important spots pertaining to this heritage: the former slave market in Pelourinho, symbol of the Black Movement; the Afro-Brazilian Museum retracing the West African origins of the city; and the Sociedad Protectora dos Desvalidos, fraternity composed of former slaves whose main goal was to help the liberation of all slaves in Brazil. The society was founded in 1832, 56 years before the final abolition of slavery by the Brazilian authorities. You’ll also visit the Church of our Lady of the Rosary and the Casa do Benin (House of Benin), where you can admire the wonderful works of African artists and sculptors.

A small fishing village 50 miles (80 kilometers) away from Salvador, Praia do Forte is said to have the best beaches in the region. You’ll meet your guide at your hotel and start the scenic drive along the Coconut Highway to the village, where you will first visit the ruins of the impressive Garcia d’Avila castle dating back to 1556. This used to be the home of the largest landowner in the Americas. From the ruins, you’ll enjoy spectacular views of the coastline.

You’ll enjoy lunch (included) in Praia do Forte before visiting the headquarters of the TAMAR Project, a national sea turtle preservation project and one of Brazil’s most successful ecological endeavors. After the visit, you’ll have some free time to relax on the beach or browse the local handicrafts stores before returning to Salvador de Bahia.