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Arrival in Recife |
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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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Upon arrival in Recife, you will be picked up and taken to your hotel in the city, or in Olinda if you would prefer to stay in the historical colonial city. The rest of the day can be spent at your leisure, browsing art galleries and museums in the two sister cities, or visiting churches and museums. The nightlife of both cities is vibrant and colorful, with many varied styles of Brazilian music to be enjoyed. Seafood dishes are a local specialty, with a variety of restaurants in the area to choose from for dinner. |
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Recife and Olinda Tour |
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You will be taken on a guided city tour of Recife and Olinda in the morning, in order to get a taste of the contrasting charms of the neighboring cities. The tour starts at Boa Viagem, the city beach which is protected by the off-shore reef that gives the city its name. The presence of the reef leads to natural swimming pools with water warmed by the sun. The historical center of Recife, with bridges connecting the islands, leads local people to claim that their city is the Venice of Brazil. This then follows the 7km journey to the UNESCO designated World Heritage Site of Olinda. With cobblestone streets winding around the hilltop, impressive colonial architecture of houses and churches, and fantastic views along the beaches, Olinda is a city sure to charm every visitor. The afternoon and evening are free for you to explore the museums, galleries and churches at your leisure. (Meals - B) |
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Recife and Olinda |
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This day is free for you to spend at your leisure. You may wish to spend further time exploring some of the many galleries, museums and churches in more depth. There may also be preparations for Carnaval or other festivals to observe, with rehearsals taking place in the streets of the cities throughout the year. You can observe the martial art, capoeira that was first developed by African slaves in the north-east of Brazil. There will also be time for you to relax on one of the city beaches of the area and swim in the natural pools formed by the off-shore reef and warmed by the sun. You can also go exploring further a field with one of our optional extra city tours to João Pessoa, Caruaru or Igarassu and Itamaraca. There is also a tour to the beautiful beaches of Porto Galinhas. Feel free to look at our Extra options, (Meals – B)
CAT Tip - Make the most of the trip: Extend your trip to Recife and Olinda by a day in order to have more time to explore all those museums and churches. |
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Recife to Fernando de Noronha |
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After breakfast you will be transferred from your hotel to Recife Airport for your flight to Fernando de Noronha. When flying to the archipelago from the mainland, the best views come from the left hand side of the plane. After arriving on Ilha de Fernando de Noronha, the main island (and the only inhabited one), you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel from the airport. The rest of the day is free for you to explore the island to your heart’s content. You can check out the closest of the beautiful white sand beaches and discover why the islands are known as a cross between Hawaii and the Galapagos. (Meals – B) |
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Fernando de Noronha Free Day |
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A full day tour of the main island gives you the chance to explore the island and find out why people think Fernando de Noronha has some of Brazil’s best beaches. Visitor numbers to the island are limited to have minimal impact on the environment which means you may well have stretches of paradise to yourself. The 4x4 tour takes you to explore the areas that you might not have time for otherwise, including many pristine, deserted beaches, natural pools to swim in, and viewpoints with stunning views of the archipelago’s natural delights. Birds also nest in great numbers around the islands. Pick up at your hotel is after breakfast, returning in the late afternoon. The evening is free to spend at your leisure. (Meals – B, L) |
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Fernando de Noronha Free Day |
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An undoubted highlight of any trip to Fernando de Noronha is a dawn visit to Dolphin Bay. The sheltered bay lays a short walk or ride from the main areas of the island. Every day, hundreds of spinner dolphins enter the bay as the sun rises, cavorting and frolicking in the morning light. Nowhere on earth has such a high number of resident dolphins, and you will soon learn how they acquired their name. The dolphins, which can grow up to 2m in length, then leave the bay to circuit the island. You can take a boat trip around the archipelago which may well be accompanied by their acrobatic antics in front of your craft. You can also visit the protected turtle nesting site and swim with harmless sharks, stingrays and fish that are found amongst the 15 coral varieties. There are many sites around the archipelago with crystal clear tropical waters of fantastic visibility, making it one of Brazil's best scuba diving spots. First time divers are catered for by the island's diving operations. (Meals - B)
CAT Tip - Make the most of the trip: Extend your trip in Fernando de Noronha to spend time learning to scuba dive in one of the world's best dive spots. |
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Fernando de Noronha to Porto de Galinhas |
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After breakfast at your hotel, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back to Recife. The best views of the archipelago come from seats on the right hand side while travelling back to the mainland. On arrival in Recife, you will be picked up at the airport and taken to your hotel in Porto de Galinhas. The beach resort town is around 65km south of Recife, the state capital of Pernambuco. The state is renowned for the quality of its many beaches, and Porto de Galinhas is definitely amongst the best of all. The rest of the day is free for you to spend as you please, getting to know your hotel and the facilities there, or relaxing on the beach as the sun begins to set. There aren't any high rise buildings to block the evening sun in Porto de Galinhas, and the town seems to still retain the feeling of a relaxed fishing village of the old. (Meals - B) |
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Porto de Galinhas |
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The day is free to spend at your leisure in Porto de Galinhas. It is possible to do as much or as little as you like here. The white sand of the ten beaches in the area is perfect for relaxing while palm trees rustle in the ocean breeze. The off-shore reef absorbs the waves of the Atlantic Ocean, meaning that the clear emerald waters close to the beach are calm with waves gently lapping the shore. They have plenty of time to get warmed by the sun, making them the ideal temperature for swimming and snorkeling amongst the coral. Fishing, surfing, windsurfing and scuba diving are other possible activities. You can also learn about the hawksbill turtles that lay dozens of eggs each in the sand of the beaches, and you may get to see - should you be lucky enough - the hatchlings struggling their way out to the sea at night. (Meals - B) |
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Porto de Galinhas |
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Another free day in Porto de Galinhas means that you can spend more time unwinding on the beaches, playing in the sea, or exploring further a field. There are also many other small fishing villages and deserted stretches of white sand paradise that you may feel like exploring closer to your hotel for a day before returning in the evening. The nightlife in Porto de Galinhas is vibrant, with many bars and restaurants lining the sandy roads of the small town. Seafood dishes are made with the catch of the day and coconut milk taken from the many palm trees in the area, plus spices. Feel free to explore our Extra options, (Meals - B)
CAT Tip - Make the most of the trip: Extend your trip to Porto de Galinhas by as many days as you need in order to unwind completely!
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Return to Recife |
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After breakfast, you will be transferred from your hotel to Recife Airport for your flight home or onward to one of our other fantastic destinations. (Meals - B) |
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