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Arrival in Salvador |
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Salvador
Salvador da Bahia was founded as Brazil’s first capital in 1549, and grew quickly with the sugar plantations and later tobacco as the prime exports. It is the third biggest city in Brazil, with around 3.2 million people. |
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Bahia
The state of Bahia typifies Brazil perhaps more than any other, with idyllic beaches of white sand, palm trees and turquoise waters, and vibrant towns with almost constant celebrations and festivals.
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All Saints Bay
All Saints Bay is the biggest bay of Brazil’s 7367km coastline. There are 56 islands sprinkled around the 1,000sq km of water. |
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Tropical Islands of Bahia
There are many tropical islands along the coast of Bahia. Depending which direction you come from, you could see Tinharé, Boipeba and Camamu as well as the 56 islands of the bay. |
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Colonial Buildings
The colonial buildings of Salvador date back to the 17th Century when the city was the capital of Brazil. Many have been renovated over the last 20 years with funding from UNESCO, who designated the area a World Heritage Site. |
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Upper City
The Upper City contains most of the old government buildings, the governor’s palace, and the city hall. The most important houses and churches of the city were all built on the hilltop in this area. |
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Pelourinho
Pelourinho is the name of the whipping post in the small square where slaves were whipped while being auctioned after their arrival from Africa. The whole area around the square in the Upper City is now referred to by this name. |
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Bahian Cuisine
Bahian cuisine is renowned throughout Brazil for its unique flavors. Dishes such as moqueca, a seafood stew made with coconut milk and spices, are now popular all over the country. |
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Capital of Brazil
Salvador was the first capital of Brazil, founded in 1549 on orders from the King of Portugal. The capital moved to Rio de Janeiro in 1763 after the collapse of the sugar cane industry lessened Salvador’s importance, before the new city of Brasilia was inaugurated in 1960. |
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Lower City
Salvador’s Lower City contains some later colonial buildings, the port, and the market building, where slaves were stored before being moved up the hill to Pelourinho. |
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Lacerda Elevator
The Lacerda Elevator is the latest of many ways of getting up to the Upper City, including a rope and pulley system and a steam elevator. The art deco electric version was opened in 1928. Views of the bay from the top are spectacular. |
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Church of St Francis
The baroque Church of St Francis and Convent complex was completed in 1723. The ornate carvings are all covered in gold-leaf, making the inside of the church glitter spectacularly. |
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Capoeira
Capoeira developed as a method of self-defense from a form of martial art brought to Brazil from Angola. It was banned by the authorities, so slaves incorporated music, with the berimbau stringed instrument, to make it appear more like a dance. |
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Candomblé Ritual
Candomblé is a religious ritual that origínated in Nigeria and was adapted by Bahian slaves. The rituals seen around Salvador use African drum rhythms and dancing to enable the women to enter a trance. They can be seen all around Salvador. |
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Ilha dos Frades
Ilha dos Frades, or Island of the Friars, is named after two monks who were killed and cannibalized by local Indians. The island is a calmer place now, full of beaches, palm trees and waterfalls. |
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Itaparica
Itaparica is the biggest island within All Saints Bay, and an escape from the city for the people of Salvador. Its name means little rocks, which stems from the reef 1km from the southern shore that protects the beaches and provides a natural swimming pool. |
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Salvador’s Churches
Salvador has 365 churches within the city boundaries, many of them decorated with baroque sacred art. The churches of the historic center of the city are all connected by underground tunnels. |
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Salvador’s Museums
There are many museums in Salvador depicting the history of the city. Amongst those are The Afro-Brasilian Museum; the Museum of Archeology and Ethnography; the Museum of Bahian Sacred Art; the Museum of the City and many more. |
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Cachoeira
Cachoeira is known as the jewel of the Bahian agricultural lands surrounding Salvador, with many well-preserved colonial buildings. The fertile land was ideal for growing sugar cane and still grows the best tobacco in Brazil. It is also a center for Candomblé worship. |
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Sugar Plantations
The sugar plantations of Bahia sprang up immediately upon colonization in the early 16th Century. The huge plantations were worked by slaves from Africa and indigenous tribes and bought riches to the whole area until the industry declined in the 1820’s. |
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Lençois
Large diamond deposits were found in the soil around Lençois circa 1845, leading to a population boom of prospectors, and a town as rough around the edges as the diamonds found there. |
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Chapada Diamantina
The National Park of Chapada Diamantina sits at a higher altitude to the surrounding flatlands, making nights generally cooler and a welcome change from those of Salvador and the rest of Bahia.
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Chapadas
Chapada is the name given to the flat-topped mountains of the area, reminiscent of Table Mountain in Cape Town, or Monument Valley in Arizona. They contain a wide variety of flora and fauna both on the surface, and in the forested valleys between. |
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Waterfalls
The numerous waterfalls of Chapada Diamantina range from the highest in Brazil, to small, beautiful swimming holes. The water flowing over them takes its tea-color from the soil found in the area. |
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Cachoeira Serrano
The falls of Cachoeira Serrano are the closest of many around Lençois. There are natural plunge pools and underground tunnels amongst the rapids. |
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Rio Mucugezinho
Rio Mucugezinho lies 20km from Lençois, and amongst the rapids is the Devil’s Well, a delicious swimming hole. |
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Gruta da Lapa Doce
Gruta da Lapa Doce, or the Sweet Grotto Cave, is around 800m long and contains bizarre and beautiful limestone formations and stalactites and stalagmites in the dried caverns of an ancient underground river. |
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Gruta da Pratinha
Gruta da Pratinha, or Little Silver Cave, has a sparkling river entering the mouth of the cave. It is possible to float down the underground section while snorkeling amongst the fish in the clear blue waters. |
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Gruta Azul
Gruta Azul, or Blue Cave, is a lake formed under a cliff. The water is so clear that it is difficult to see the surface, except for an hour during the afternoon when the sun lights up the lake, turning it an exceptionally vivid blue. |
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Morro do Pai Inácio
Morro do Pai Inácio is a 1120m high chapada that sits on the outer edge of the national park, affording spectacular panoramic views from the summit of the other chapadas and the green valleys that connect them. |
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Cachoeira de Fumaça
Cachoeira de Fumaça, or Smoking Waterfall, is Brazil’s highest at 400m. The sheer drop from the plateau results in the water disappearing into a fine mist before it gets chance to reach the bottom. |
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Flora
The rich and varied flora of Chapada Diamantina includes splashes of color from delicate pink orchids, yellow bromeliads and many other flowers amongst the green of the forest. |
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Fauna
The fauna of Chapada Diamantina comes in many sizes, from cutia to capybara to deer and, on rare occasions, jaguar roaming beneath trees full of monkeys, while macaws, woodpeckers and hummingbirds dart around the branches. |
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Diamonds
The diamonds of Chapada Diamantina were formed millions of years ago when Brazil was still joined to Africa. Most around Lençois were removed during the diamond-rush but it still may be possible to unearth your own! |
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Marimbus
Marimbus is a swamp region 95km south of Lençois, where visitors can kayak or canoe through the waters, fishing for peacock bass while caiman alligators and capybaras can be spotted on the banks. |
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Praia do Forte
Praia do Forte was a tiny fishing village on the coast of Bahia before it was discovered by tourists, but it still retains the charm and natural beauty that first attracted people. It lies 80km north of Salvador. |
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Bahian Cuisine
Bahian cuisine is renowned throughout Brazil for its unique flavors. Dishes such as moqueca, a seafood stew made with coconut milk and spices, are now popular all over the country.
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Turtle Sanctuary
The turtle sanctuary is run by TAMAR, a Brazilian government project set up to protect the five endangered species of sea turtle that use the beaches of Brazil to lay their eggs. The eggs are the size of ping-pong balls, and many are incubated at the center. |
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Sea Turtles
Four out of the five Brazilian species of sea turtle nest in Praia do Forte, being the loggerhead, hawksbill, olive ridley and green turtles. The leatherback turtle is found further south. |
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Sapiranga Reserve
The Sapiranga Reserve is a 600 hectare area of Atlantic Rainforest, full of trails through the trees amongst the diverse flora and fauna, with rivers and waterfalls for a freshwater swim. |
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Atlantic Rainforest
The Atlantic Rainforest used to cover the lower half or the eastern coast of Brazil. Having been cleared for logging and living, only around 7% of the original area remains covered. |
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Monkeys
The small monkeys of the rainforest are the black tufted marmoset. They only grow to around 20cm high, and feed mainly on the sap of the trees. |
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Iguanas
Iguanas live under the canopy of a rainforest, usually near rivers and lakes. Their diet is mainly fruits & leaves, but they also eat eggs and insects. They can grow up to 1.75m in length. |
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Macaws
Macaws are monogamous birds that mate for life. They have a shrill shriek which can be heard for great distances around the forest. |
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Hummingbirds
The local name for the hummingbird is Beija-Flor, or ‘Flower Kisser’ in Portuguese. They can hover, fly backwards or vertically while beating their wings up to 70 times per second, which makes the noise that gives them their English name. |
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After being met at the airport in Salvador following your arrival, you will transfer to your hotel in the historical center or by one of the city beaches before being taken on an afternoon tour of the first capital of Brazil. The tour starts by the lighthouse and fort at the entrance to All Saints Bay and continues to the streets of the Lower City before stopping by the Lacerda Elevator which brings people up the hill to the Upper City and has exceptional views of the bay from the top. The tour continues on foot through the squares and narrow streets lined with colorful colonial buildings, to Pelourinho, the heart of the city. The tour also visits the baroque Church of St Francis, with its wood carvings and gold-leaf interior. The evening is free to spend as you wish, experiencing delicious Bahian cuisine in huge portions. (Meals – B)
CAT Tip - Make the most of the trip: Extend your trip by a day or longer to visit more of Salvador’s baroque churches, World Heritage architecture and fascinating museums. |
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All Saints Bay Schooner Tour |
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Following a delicious breakfast you will be picked up at your hotel and taken to the pier in the Lower City for a full day Schooner Tour of All Saints Bay. The trip starts with memorable views of the historical old city and continues across the blue waters of the bay, passing tropical islands such as Ilha dos Frades with beaches backed by groves of palm trees and washed by calm, warm waters. The tour visits the biggest island of the bay, Itaparica, where the tour stops for lunch. Here you will be given the opportunity to swim and snorkel in the calm waters of the reef. The schooner returns to Salvador in the late afternoon, and the evening is free for you to spend as you wish with dinner and the Bahia By Night Show as a few of our Extra options. (Meals – B, L)
CAT Tip - Make the most of the trip: Extend your trip to Salvador by a day or longer in order to see some of the many sights around the city. You could take a trip to Cachoeira and the sugar plantations of the interior or the paradise island of Morro de São Paulo. For more information please see our Extra options |
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Salvador to Lençois |
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After breakfast you will be collected from your hotel in Salvador for the five hour road car ride to Lençois. The road west from Salvador passes through the flat, dry lands of the sertão, the Brazilian interior, to the old diamond mining town of Lençois. The area around the town and the National Park of Chapada Diamantina is a green oasis amongst the dusty outback. Flat topped mountains rise up to 1600m, and the valleys between them are covered in lush forest with waterfalls of pure tea-colored water tumbling over the valley floor. The jungle is home to monkeys, macaws, parrots, butterflies, and even jaguars on rare occasions. After checking in at your hotel, the afternoon and evening are free for you to explore the cobbled streets and colorful colonial houses of the charming town at your leisure. You may also choose to swim at the beautiful Serrano Falls a short walk from the center. (Meals – B)
CAT Tip - Make the most of the trip: Choose to cut down the journey time by flying between Salvador and Lençois in a light aircraft, affording spectacular views of the city and the mountains of Chapada Diamantina. Extra options |
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Chapada Diamantina Tour |
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Many caves and underground rivers exist around the area of the national park. Our full day guided tour takes you to see some of the most impressive examples of these. You will be picked up from your hotel after a typical Lençois banquet breakfast. The first stop on the minibus trip is for a short hike past some spectacular waterfalls where you will be able to swim in the Rio Mucugezinho. Breathtaking stalactites and stalagmites fill the cave at Gruta de Lapa Doce, while the lake at Gruta da Pratinha is crystal clear both on the surface and underground. When the sun hits the water here and at the blue cave, Gruta Azul, the water turns an electric blue hue. The journey back to Lençois stops near the top of Morro do Pai Inácio, one of the flat-topped mountains, in order for you to take a short walk to see the panoramic views from the summit. (Meals – B)
CAT Tip - Make the most of the trip: Extend your trip to Lençois in order for you to spend a few days hiking around the area amidst beautiful scenery, including to Brazil’s highest waterfall. Guided treks can be comfortable or energetic. You can also dig for diamonds or take a trip to Marimbus as well as many other activities. Extra options |
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Cachoeira de Fumaça Trek |
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On your second full day in Lençois, you can take a guided trek to the top of Cachoeira de Fumaça. The highest waterfall in Brazil is so high at almost 400m, that the water never seems to reach the bottom. The journey to it starts by road to the village of Caeté-Açu in the Vale do Capão. From there, the path of beautifully colored rocks and earth travels 2km from the floor of the valley to the flat top of Serra do Sincorá. The views across the valley and to some of the other chapadas are stunning. The next 4km are on the top of the mountain, passing flowers and streams along the way, until we reach the top of Cachoeira de Fumaça. There are more spectacular views that encompass the small lake directly underneath the 400m cliff to the verdant vegetation of the river valley leading away. A small rock ledge affords an amazing photo opportunity. There is also the chance to stop in the Riachinho Waterfall for a relaxing swim on the journey back. (Meals – B, L) |
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Lençois to Praia do Forte |
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You will be collected from your hotel for the six hour road journey to Praia do Forte. The Coconut Highway north of Salvador runs past the rocky coastline and through quaint fishing villages on the 50km journey. After arriving at your hotel, the rest of the day is free to spend at your leisure. There are 13km of beautiful beaches around Praia do Forte, all with waving palm trees providing shade. This delightful old fishing village has a tiny church, while a few restaurants and boutiques line the town’s sandy streets. Sunset on the beach is a favorite time of day, especially when the moon is full and rises out of the sea as the sun sets over the river, lighting up the sky in different shades of bright red. (Meals – B)
CAT Tip - Make the most of the trip: Extend your trip by as many days as is necessary for you to unwind on the idyllic beaches around Praia do Forte. |
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Praia do Forte |
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With a free day in Praia do Forte, you can spend the day relaxing amidst the greenery of your resort, or on the paradise beaches of Bahia. The reef just off the beach acts as a natural breakwater, meaning that the turquoise sea is calm and clear. The tidal pools that form amongst the coral reef warm up in the sun, making swimming and snorkeling amongst the feeding fish an enjoyable experience for anybody, young or old. Eating fresh seafood, cooked in Bahian Cuisine, is also one of the pleasures of a trip to Praia do Forte. You can also visit the famous turtle sanctuary on the beach. Hundreds of female turtles lay around 80 eggs each between May and September. For more information on additional extras please see our Extra options. (Meals – B) |
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Praia do Forte to Salvador |
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After breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up for the journey to the airport in Salvador for your flight home or onwards to another of our fantastic destinations in Brazil. (Meals – B)
CAT Tip - Make the most of the trip: Choose to spend another day or more in Praia do Forte relaxing on the beach or enjoying other activities. The Sapiranga Reserve is an area of Atlantic Rainforest with trails for hiking, cycling or horse-riding amongst the varied flora and fauna. Monkeys, iguanas and macaws can be seen in the trees, while hummingbirds kiss the colorful tropical flowers! |
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