Best of Bahia Tour

12 Days
From $ 1,749

About this SAAT Travel tour: Best of Bahia

The Best of Bahia trip takes you to the exciting Northern city of Salvador, the beating heart of the country’s vibrant Afro-Brazilian culture.  You’ll then head inland to Lencois and the Chapada Diamantina National Park with its dramatic flat-topped mountains, vast sweeps of forest and spectacular waterfalls and cave systems. After exploring this natural wonderland you’ll head back to the coast and set off across the sparkling turquoise waters of the bay to the little island of Tinhare for a blissful few days of sun, sea and sand, Bahian style. The Best of Bahia trip gives you a real flavor of Brazil’s less explored Northern reaches, from its stunning natural surroundings to its fascinating capital city.

  • Day 1

    Arrival in Bahia


    Salvador

  • salvador sunset
  • After flying over the beautiful coastline of Bahia in Brazil's Northeast you'll arrive in Salvador, the first capital of Brazil, until Rio took over in 1763, followed by Brasilia in 1960. Upon arrival you'll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to relax at your hotel or take a stroll around the city centre. Be sure to ask for some restaurant recommendations and spend your first evening sampling the wonderful cuisine of Bahia.
  • Day 2

    Salvador City


    Salvador

  • salvador pelourinho
  • After breakfast you will begin a guided tour of the city's historical and architectural sites. Beginning at Barra's lighthouse and fort at the entrance of All Saints Bay and continuing on through the streets of the lower city. The tour continues on foot through small squares and narrow streets lined with colorful colonial buildings, to Pelourinho, in the heart of the city. Along the way you'll see the Orixás sculptures created by the Bahian artist Tati Moreno, visit the popular Fonte Nova football stadium, make a stop at the Modelo craft market where you can you browse for souvenirs, and see the Nossa Senhora do Rosario dos Pretos Church. (Meals - B)
  • Day 3

    All Saints Bay


    Salvador

  • salvador allsaints bay
  • Following breakfast you will be picked up 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. First stop will be Monk's Island, where you will be able to swim in the inviting waters or relax on the beach. You'll then move on to Itaparica, where you will stop for lunch. The schooner returns to Salvador in the late afternoon and the evening is free for you to enjoy the city. (Meals - B)
  • Day 4

    Inland Road-trip


    Salvador to Lencois

  • lencois sunset
  • After breakfast you will be collected from your hotel for the journey to Lencois. The road west from Salvador passes through the flat, dry lands of the Sertao, the Brazilian desert interior, to the old diamond mining town of Lencois. 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 forests. The area is home to monkeys, macaws, butterflies, and jaguars. After checking in at your hotel the evening is free for you to explore the cobbled streets and colorful houses of the town. (Meals - B)
  • Day 5

    Subterranean Exploring


    Lencois

  • lencois cave
  • After breakfast you will head into the Chapada Diamantina National Park to visit the impressive Lapa Doce cave with its amazing rock formations, stalactites and stalagmites. From here you'll visit Pratinha Farm for lunch and a swim in the crystal clear waters of Pratinha River before making a short journey on to the Poço do Diabo waterfall. You'll round off the day with a short hike to the top of Pai Inácio peak where you'll have an incredible 360 degree view of the park as the sun begins to set. You'll return to your hotel in the evening where you can relax and enjoy dinner. (Meals - B, L)
  • Day 6

    Diamantina Mountains


    Lencois

  • lencois cachoeira fumaca
  • Today you will take a guided trek to the top of Cachoeira de Fumaca, the highest waterfall in Brazil. The journey begins in the village of Caete-Acu from where you'll follow a 2km path from the valley to the flat top of Serra do Sincora. The views across the valley and to some of the other cliff tops are stunning. For the next 4km you'll be walking along the flat top of the mountain, until you reach the Cachoeira da Fumaca Falls. At 400m, it is thought to be Brazil´s highest waterfall. You'll stop for a swim in the Riachinho Waterfall on the way back before returning to your hotel. (Meals - B, L)
  • Day 7

    Wetland Wildlife


    Lencois

  • lencois chapada view
  • The Chapada Diamantina National Park has a wide variety of habitats and today you will explore the marshland area around the Roncador River. Known as a mini version of Brazil's vast Pantanal wetlands, the area is home to a wealth of plant, bird and animal life. Setting out this morning in small boats you will be able to see some of this wildlife at close quarters. After lunching at the Roncador Farm you will visit the Roncador River Waterfalls where we will stop for a swim and sunbathe before returning to Praia do Forte in the afternoon. (Meals - B, L)
  • Day 8

    Back to Salvador


    Lencois to Salvador

  • salvador beach
  • After a relaxed breakfast you will begin the five-hour journey back to Salvador through the stunning interior landscapes of Northern Brazil. Arriving back in Salvador in the late afternoon you can either spend the evening relaxing at your hotel or head out to enjoy the nightlife of the city. Make the most of another Bahian style meal in the state capital and perhaps hit the one of the live music bars in the Pelourinho district. (Meals - B)
  • Day 9

    Catamaran to Morro


    Salvador to Morro de Sao Paulo

  • bahia morrodosaopaulo beachview
  • Morro de Sao Paulo is located on the northern tip of Ilha de Tinhare off of the coast of Salvador. The island is famous for being the site of the Ressaca do Carnival (Carnival's hangover), the fiesta after the fiesta. The turquoise waters of the bay and the beautiful beaches of this mini archipelago of islands crisscrossed by estuaries and mangrove swamps is the ideal place for rest and recuperation, along with a little light partying. Today after a relaxed breakfast you will take a Catamaran ride across the bay to the island where you can spend the afternoon settling in. Luggage is transported across the dunes by porters with wheel barrows. (Meals - B)
  • Day 10

    Beach Day in Morro


    Morro de Sao Paulo

  • bahia morrodosaopaulo boat
  • The little town of Morro de Sao Paulo is nothing if not charming, beautifully situated on the headland surrounded by jungle covered hills, mangrove and palms. The town has a supremely relaxed pace helped along by the fact that there are no cars permitted on the island. Today you can spend the day reveling in the laid back atmosphere of this beautiful beach town, relaxing on the beach and wondering along its sandy streets stopping off at some of the boutiques and restaurants along the way. (Meals - B)
  • Day 11

    Last Bahian Sunset


    Morro de Sao Paulo

  • bahia morrodosaopaulo fort
  • The little town is dominated by a lighthouse and the ruins of an old fort built in 1630, today you can take a stroll along the coast to enjoy panoramic views from the site of the old fort, you may even spot some dolphins. Make the most of your final full-day in Bahia by catching plenty of beach time and watching the sun set over the sea. (Meals - B)
  • Day 12

    Back to Rio


    Morro de Sao Paulo to Rio

  • rio samba show
  • After breakfast you will head back to Salvador by boat and on to the airport for your flight back to Rio. Once in Rio you can connect with your flight home. This tour can be combined with any of our other fantastic destinations in Brazil or South America - how about a trip to the Pantanal or the Brazilian Amazon or exploring the exciting Argentine capital of Buenos Aires? (Meals - B)
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Delicious Share on Google BookMark Share on MySpace
Request quote
Show more options


Choose one or more destinations
Peru
Argentina
Brazil
Galapagos
Chile
Central America
Telephone number
Country
when is the best time to call?
Fields marked with (*) are mandatory