Also see Chapada Diamantina, which can be reached from Salvador
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Salvador ToursSalvador was founded in 1549 and is today the third largest metropolis in Brazil. It was also the country's first capital for over 200 years, during the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. In the 18th century, it was the second largest city in the Portuguese Empire, after Lisbon, establishing itself as the largest shipyard and exporting port in the Southern Hemisphere. The Historic Center of Salvador, also called Pelourinho, is the largest colonial architectural complex in Brazil, recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
In this city of many contrasts, both historical and modern, old houses and monumental buildings juxtapose the city's modern and contemporary architecture. The secular aspects of the numerous popular festivals blend perfectly with the celebrations of the Catholic religion and the Afro-Brazilian Candomblé religion. The bells of the old churches mingle with the sound of berimbaus, musical instruments of capoeira - a fighting style created by African slaves - and with the sound of the atabaques (drums) of the festivities in the temples of the Candomblé religion , dedicated to the African gods, the Orixás. Salvador is always enveloped in the exotic aroma of palm oil, the fruit of the palm tree of the same name and the main ingredient in famous Bahian dishes such as caruru, vatapá, acarajé, and abará. |
Sample Salvador itineraryDay 1 - arrive Salvador, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Then enjoy a historical city tour. We start in the modern suburb of Barra at the mouth of the Bay with its famous lighthouse and make our way slowly by car or coach to the old historical section of town, the Pelourinho area with the largest and the best preserved complex colonial architecture in the Americas. We stroll through the narrow, bustling streets lined with buildings in pastel shades of an age gone by. We visit the church of S. Francisco (U$ 1.00 entrance fee not included) with its exuberant gold-leafed Baroque interior and the Pelourinho Square, the heart of the old town. This tour shows two distinct aspects of Salvador, the new and the old, concentrating on the early expansion of the city. It ends at Mercado Modelo, a thriving market of local artifacts. This is Salvador, a perfect example of a harmonious relationship between old and new, preserving the architecture and innovating with new urban planning solutions. The Pelourinho or Pelô, as the colonial city is affectionately known, is one of the most important collections of Baroque colonial architecture in Latin America, appointed in the UNESCO's World Heritage site.
Day 2 - breakfast, then Panoramic "lower city" tour. The lower city tour takes us to the quiet waters of the Itapagipe Peninsula where the first holiday residences were built. Now, a peaceful family district, life moves at a slower pace than the bustling upper city. Fishermen fish from dug out canoes, locals collect shellfish at low tide, schooners are at anchor, all protected by the famous Bonfim church, one of the most important churches of pilgrimage in Brazil. We continue to Monserrat district with its panoramic view of the city. (note that Bonfim church is closed on Mondays)
Day 3 - breakfast, then you will be transferred to the airport or extend your time 
Sample Price per person in US$: (check with us for current price because rates can change due to the exchange rate and holidays, etc.) These prices include roundtrip airport transfers with English-speaking guide, standard rooms in hotels with breakfasts, private tours . We can price for upgraded rooms. Prices change for major holidays and special occasions. The hotels have many rate categories and we used prices valid for much of the year in order to simplify the chart. So please just use these prices as examples until we confirm exact price.
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Here are some other tour options
that can be added or substituted: Full Day Schooner Cruise Board on a schooner for a cruise in the All Saints Bay from where one can have an unforgettable view of the old part of the city of Salvador. Cruising across the bay, we'll pass by several islands, as the famous Frade island, surrounded by groves of palm trees, warm, crystal clear and calm waters. Views of Loreto, Tobar, da Viração, Costa de Fora e Ponta de Nossa Senhora and Paramana, the most popular among these beaches, before getting to Itaparica, the biggest island of All Saints Bay, with 240 km². The word Itaparica means "around the rocks" and the name comes from the barrier of corals laying 1km from the beaches towards the Atlantic ocean, creating a big natural swimming pool, with transparent warm blue water, excellent for swimming or diving. We will have lunch here. Bahia by Night Show and Dinner - In the evening enjoy a marvelous evening of folk dancing and a traditional Bahian dinner - Passengers will be enchanted by the brilliant bahian night life, where music and folkloric manifest in their full magic spirit. We invite you for a regional dinner, including a variety of delicious typical plates and deserts. During dinner, an amazing folkloric show with be presented, featuring the famous "Capoeira" from African salves, the "Maculelê", an impressive dance performed with pieces of wood and big knifes, and the rhythms of the "Candomblé", the old afro-brazilian dances related to religious divinities, specially cultivated in Bahia. Miguel Santana is the name of the Theater where the Bahia Afro Bale performs for the private tour. It is a professional ballet, they've performed all over the world, and it's the only ballet group of its kind in Brazil, and I guess, in the world.... The group show happens in the restaurant called "Coliseu". There is a stage in the middle of the dining area, where the dance group performs. HD tour African Heritage incl tkts (upper city) Uncover Salvador's vibrant African heritage on this half-day tour! Explore the city's historical center, Pelourinho, and delve into the rich Afro-Brazilian culture that permeates Salvador. Visit the renowned Afro-Brazilian Museum, where you'll discover the city's West African roots. Admire the exquisite wooden panels depicting orixas by Carybe, a celebrated local artist. Pay your respects at the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, a landmark church built by the African community. Finally, immerse yourself in the Bahian Gastronomy Museum, learning how African traditions have shaped Salvador's unique cuisine. This tour is a captivating journey through Salvador's soul, perfect for anyone wanting to understand the city's deep African influence. HD Bahia Markets & Cuisine - Demonstration at restaurant (5hs AM) Down through the centuries Salvador's Sao Joaquim market provided an essential link to the farming hinterland of the western shores of the bay. It was to here the sugar cane and tobacco came to be exported. Also to here the farming produce to supply the city came. Ever bustling and bordering on the chaotic, today the market still sells a myriad of products and produce, from fruits and vegetables to spare parts for domestic appliances, to sacred herbs and religious artifacts of the candomble, to the ingredients for Bahia cuisine's signature dish, the moqueca - cilantro, limes, garlic, coconut milk and dende palm oil. We visit the market (is there a better place to seek to understand a city than it local markets and later savor the famous moqueca dish in a local city restaurant. Note: This tour is not a cooking class, but a cooking demonstration. Bahian Cooking Class - At Chef´s Home - AM Only Immerse yourself in the vibrant culinary scene of Salvador with a unique morning Bahian cooking class! Learn the secrets of traditional Bahian cuisine from a local chef in their home kitchen. Explore a bustling market to source fresh ingredients, then get hands-on creating the iconic moqueca, a seafood stew infused with African, Mediterranean, and indigenous influences. Discover the fascinating blend of flavors that define Bahian cooking, and end the class by preparing a delicious dessert using aromatic spices. This immersive experience is the perfect way to connect with local culture and tantalize your taste buds. FD tour Cachoeira - Day in Heartland (lunch not included) The river port city of Cachoeira is a colonial jewel nestled in the valley of the Paraguacu River, the main tributary that flows into the western shore of the immense Bahia de Todos los Santos. As a port, it was the main trading post between the agricultural hinterland and Salvador during the sugar and tobacco booms, the fuels that powered the Portuguese economy. Cachoeira's impressive colonial architecture, particularly its beautiful examples of Baroque and Rococo churches, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and protected by the Brazilian National Monuments Commission. Simply put, the capital of the country, full of history and vibrant culture, especially Afro-Brazilian traditions, Cachoeira is little visited, even by its neighbors in Salvador, just 110 km away. This is a great little town. Lunch at Fazenda Santa Cruz: Brazilian Gastronomy, Grill, Contemporary (not included).After lunch, visit to the Dannemann Cultural Center, participants will be able to roll their own cigars with the guidance of the cigar makers (02 cigars per person). At the end of the cigar activity, and still at the Dannemann cultural center, a presentation will be offered by a roda samba group. |
