Salvador, Bahia Tours

Salvador is the capital of the state of Bahia. Bahia's strong sense of cultural identity, with African, Native Brazilian and European influences, has made Bahia a mystical land with a rich folk culture. People of African descent have contributed greatly and continue to contribute in the preservation of this cultural panorama. Samba was first danced in Bahia, plus a series of games that have been assimilated and preserved to this day. Not only are the most well-known cultural manifestations significant, such as capoeira-an Afro-Brazilian martial art practiced to music, a warrior's dance; Candomblé-an animist religion with roots in West Africa; samba de roda-a type of samba dance in a circle; and afoxé-an African rhythm with a strong influence on many Afro-Carnival groups.

The Pelourinho or Pelô, as the colonial city is affectionately known, is definitely worth a visit. It is the largest collection of Baroque colonial architecture in Latin America, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The topography of Salvador is uneven and most neighborhoods are located on the crests of the city's many hills. There used to be only one way to get from one place to another, the curvy, narrow roads that connected each of these high points, which, as the city grew, became insufficient. Today a network of wide "valley avenues" crisscrosses the region, easing the traffic burden on city roads. From inside the modern, multi-colored office buildings in many parts of Salvador, it is possible to see the turquoise blue waters of a tropical city blessed by the sun, whose people are fun-loving and hospitable.

Day 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 "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

Please note: Historical group tour: Mondays, Wednesday, Fridays in the afternoon
Panoramic group tour: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday in the morning
Private tours can be at other dates and times

2010 Price per person in US$:

BOOKING
REQUEST

Hotel	Single	Double	Triple
Convento do Carmo 5*	$1037	$567	-
Pestana 5*	$563	$331	-
Monte Pascoal 4*	$469	$285	$239
Tropical 4*	$451	$274	$227
Pousada do Pilar 3*	$423	$295	$253
Vila Gale 4*	$399	$261	$243

These prices include transfer in, standard rooms in hotels with breakfasts, group tours, transfer out with driver. We can price for private tours and upgraded rooms. Prices change for major holidays and special occassions. The hotels have many rate categories and we used prices valid for much of the year in order to simplify the chart. At some times of year, rates may be lower.

Here are other tour options:

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. $91 per person .

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. (for 2-3 people, we price for dinner, then show after). $92 per person for group tour, $124 per person with 2 or $100 per person with 3 for private tour

Bahia Cooking Class -
The Bahia dishes have the influence of Portuguese, African and Indian cultures with a predominance of local exotic ingredients. At our class you’ll learn how to cook this distinctive culinary composing for example a Moqueca, made of shrimp or fish, cooked in coconut milk, palm oil, herbs and spices. To drink, we’ll choose from the variety of savory fruits that yield to a number of different tropical cocktail combinations, such as the caipirinha.

Departure from hotels at 7:30am we head (assisted by the local chef Rosa Baiana) to the main open air market in Salvador – feira de São Joaquin. There you will get an introduction to the most important components of the Bahia and Afro-Brazilian cuisine. Every morning, hundreds of wind boats come from the surrounded areas of the All Saints Bay bringing people to this market, some of them come to sell their products and some to look for buying products (all kind of fresh and original products). After getting a sense of this very busy area, we begin learning all about the ingredients, pottery, and stuff used in our gastronomy. After finishing our experience at the market, we drive to our experimental kitchen in a typical Bahia family house. With the supervision of Rosa Baiana, we will prepare 2 or 3 of the most popular dishes in Bahia, such us: Moqueca, Vatapá, Caruru, bobó, Acarajé, Feijoada, etc. At the end of this lesson, it’ll be lunch time to try what you have learned together with the chef and our local guide, enjoying a genuine Bahia meal. Then transfer back to your hotel.
2010 Price per person in US$: 1 = $250, 2 = $128, 3 = $92, 4-7 = $98, 8-9 = $56

Whale Watching at Praia do Forte -
The Humpbacks make an extensive migration from the cold waters around the South Pole until the warm tropical waters in Brazil, where they stay from July to November in order to breed. The Brazilian Humpback Whale Project was created in 1988, aimed to research and to preserve this particular species in Brazil. More than 6000 whales are estimated to occur in Brazilian waters and more than 2000 of these have been photo-identified. Important information has been gathered on the behavior, habitats and conservation needs of the species.