Salvador

Bahia situated on the NE coast of Brazil is a lovely tropical state with white sandy beaches, coconut groves, golden sunshine, refreshing blue sea and great weather year round. It is the heart of Brazil. Once the economic, cultural and political center of the South Atlantic. Bahia is colonial, modern and mystical. White settler from Europe, black slaves from Africa, along with the native Indians built a harmonious life, which still prevails today. Salvador / The Savior - capital of Bahia was the first capital of Brazil. It is divided into 2 - "Lower City" at sea level contains the old port and commercial district - "Upper City" is reached by stone steps and the Lacerda elevator, it contains the old government buildings, residential district, museums and churches. Salvador and its many beaches are there to be discovered and enjoyed. There are enough churches for each day of the year; majestic and simple: made of gold, silver and stone like the São Francisco and Senhor do Bonfim. There are many museums like the Costa Pinto, which portray the art, customs and life of the past. Fortresses built centuries ago in medieval style still stand. Pelourinho is considered the most important architectural setting in the world that has completely restored recently. Bahia is a unique architectonic monument, with its old mansions and houses. The warmth of the "Baianos" and their openness is evident. People of mixed blood - mulattos - the result of an incredible mixture of races: black, white and Indian. Religious festivals like the Capoeira, a dance game originated from the slaves using a musical bow "berimbau", are fascinating. Bahia is known as the Land of All Saints. It is characterized by its profound and multiple religious beliefs specially Catholicism and Candomblé. Bahia is a fantastic mixing of religions, which constitutes a great part of Bahian soul.

SERVICES

TRF o.w. Airport / Hotel- Passengers will be met at the arrival gate and will be accompanied to the hotel. Guide will assist passengers with handling of luggage at the airport, at the hotel and check-in procedures.

TRF o.w. Airport / Praia do Forte - 85 km - Passengers will be met at the arrival gate and will be accompanied to the hotel. Guide will assist passengers with handling of luggage at the airport, at the hotel and check-in procedures.

H/D Historical Bahia Tour - Duration: 8 hrs. Tour operates from Tuesdays through Sundays, leaving at 9:00. Leaving the hotel, tour will stop at Barra Lighthouse, entrance to the All Saints Bay. Baia de Todos os Santos / All Saints' Bay is not only biggest bay but also one of the biggest in the world. Barra Lighthouse was build using the foundations of the Santo Antonio Fort. After time for photos, tour will pass by Santa Maria Fortress, Porto da Barra where Tomé de Souza docked in the 16th century; Ladeira da Barra, Vitria and its 19th century mansions; Campo Grande and the monument of the Liberation of Bahia; Castro Alves Theater, Sete de Setembro Avenue and its throbbing commercial life; São Bento Monastery and last but not least - the main stage of Bahian Carnival - Castro Alves Square. This is the site of the Portuguese America. Tour will continue visiting the upper entrance of the Lacerda Lift; See Square; Terreiro de Jesus - a square with 5 churches, among them the Basilica Cathedral, the Saint Francis of Assiss church - built in the 18th century and famous for its gold-inlaid interior. Pelourinho - declared in 1985 an UNESCO World Monument, Latin America's biggest colonial complex with buildings dating back from the 16th, 17th and 18th century, that has been completely overhauled by the city authorities. Another stop will be at Carmo church and monastery for a visit

H/D Historical Bahia Tour + Mercado Modelo (Handicrafts Market) - Duration: 4 hrs. For the with lunch option: 4 hrs. Tour operates daily, leaving at 9:00 and 14:00. For afternoon departures, tour will start with lunch. Leaving the hotel, tour will stop at Barra Lighthouse, entrance to the All Saints Bay. Baia de Todos os Santos / All Saints' Bay is not only biggest bay but also one of the biggest in the world. Barra Lighthouse was build using the foundations of the Santo Antonio Fort. After time for photos, tour will pass by Santa Maria Fortress, Porto da Barra where Tomé de Souza docked in the 16th century; Ladeira da Barra, Vitria and its 19th century mansions; Campo Grande and the monument of the Liberation of Bahia; Castro Alves Theater, Sete de Setembro Avenue and its throbbing commercial life; São Bento Monastery and last but not least - the main stage of Bahian Carnival - Castro Alves Square. This is the site of the Portuguese America. Tour will continue visiting the upper entrance of the Lacerda Lift; See Square; Terreiro de Jesus - a square with 5 churches, among them the Basilica Cathedral, the Saint Francis of Assiss church - built in the 18th century and famous for its gold-inlaid interior. Pelourinho - declared in 1985 an UNESCO World Monument, Latin America's biggest colonial complex with buildings dating back from the 16th, 17th and 18th century, that has been completely overhauled by the city authorities. Another stop will be at Carmo church and monastery for a visit. Instead of returning to the hotel tour will close in front of the Mercado Modêlo - Handicrafts Market for shopping and a visit to the surrounding area.

H/D Panoramic City Tour - Duration: 3 hrs. Tour operates daily, leaving at 9:00. Leaving the hotel, tour will stop at Barra Lighthouse, entrance to the All Saints Bay. Baia de Todos os Santos / All Saints' Bay is not only biggest bay but also one of the biggest in the world. After time for photos, tour will pass by Oceânica avenue and Centenário avenue - where the biggest shopping center of Salvador is located; Fonte Nova and the Otavio Mangabeira Soccer Stadium; Vale de Nazaré and viaduct complex; Américo Simes tunnel ­ one of the links between the Upper and the Lower city; School and Church of the São Joaquim Orphans. Tour arrives at Ribeira with a partial view of Alagados and the Plataforma and Lobato suburbs, where oil was first found in the country. Further on, Nossa Senhora da Penha church and Beira Mar (seaboard) Avenue. One of the highlights of the tour is a visit to Senhor do Bonfim church on Sagrada Colina / Sacred Hill (church is closed on Mondays), reputed to be the sanctum of Bahian faith. Tour will stop for a visit. Tour will continue as far as Mont' Serrat - 17th/18th century fort and church - and a full panoramic view of the city of Salvador. Beginning its return tour will pass by Boa Viagem church, Feira de São Joaquim - open market, Comércio - commercial district, Mercado Modelo - a handicraft center installed in the old Customs building. Closing the tour, vehicle will pass by Avenida do Contorno and a leisurely view of the bay

H/D Historical Bahia Tour with Lunch - Duration: 6 hrs. Tour operates from Tuesdays thru Sundays, leaving at 9:00. Leaving the hotel, tour will stop at Barra Lighthouse, entrance to the All Saints Bay. Baia de Todos os Santos / All Saints' Bay is not only biggest bay but also one of the biggest in the world. Barra Lighthouse was build using the foundations of the Santo Antonio Fort. After time for photos, tour will pass by Santa Maria Fortress, Porto da Barra where Tomé de Souza docked in the 16th century; Ladeira da Barra, Vitria and its 19th century mansions; Campo Grande and the monument of the Liberation of Bahia; Castro Alves Theater, Sete de Setembro Avenue and its throbbing commercial life; São Bento Monastery and last but not least - the main stage of Bahian Carnival - Castro Alves Square. This is the site of the Portuguese America. Tour will continue visiting the upper entrance of the Lacerda Lift; See Square; Terreiro de Jesus - a square with 5 churches, among them the Basilica Cathedral, the Saint Francis of Assiss church - built in the 18th century and famous for its gold-inlaid interior. Pelourinho - declared in 1985 an UNESCO World Monument, Latin America's biggest colonial complex with buildings dating back from the 16th, 17th and 18th century, that has been completely overhauled by the city authorities. Another stop will be at Carmo church and monastery for a visit. Lunch will be at a typical restaurant.

H/D Historical Bahia + Panoramic CityTour with Lunch Duration: 3 hrs. For the with lunch option: 4 hrs. Tour operates daily, leaving at 9:00 and 14:00. For afternoon departures, tour will start with lunch. Leaving the hotel, tour will stop at Barra Lighthouse, entrance to the All Saints Bay. Baia de Todos os Santos / All Saints' Bay is not only biggest bay but also one of the biggest in the world. Barra Lighthouse was build using the foundations of the Santo Antonio Fort. After time for photos, tour will pass by Santa Maria Fortress, Porto da Barra where Tomé de Souza docked in the 16th century; Ladeira da Barra, Vitria and its 19th century mansions; Campo Grande and the monument of the Liberation of Bahia; Castro Alves Theater, Sete de Setembro Avenue and its throbbing commercial life; São Bento Monastery and last but not least - the main stage of Bahian Carnival - Castro Alves Square. This is the site of the Portuguese America. Tour will continue visiting the upper entrance of the Lacerda Lift; See Square; Terreiro de Jesus - a square with 5 churches, among them the Basilica Cathedral, the Saint Francis of Assiss church - built in the 18th century and famous for its gold-inlaid interior.

F/D Schooner Cruise with Lunch Duration: 9 hrs. Tour operates daily, leaving at 8:00 - Tour will leave the hotel, taking passengers to the pier by the Mrecado Modelo / Modelo Market at the lower city. Boarding a typical Bahian schooner, passengers will sail the Baia de Todos os Santos / All Saints Bay, passing by the São Marcelo fortress - guardian of the Bahian people that protected the city from invasions from the Dutch and Spanish and a fantastic view of the two - upper and lower cities of Salvador. Arrival at Ponta de Nossa Senhora ­ Our Lady point, on Ilha dos Frades - Island of the Friars, with a stop for a swim in tranquil, clear and balmy waters. Boarding the schooner again, tour will touch Itaparica Island where schooner will remain until 15:30, giving passengers enough time to select a place for lunch and explore the city of Itaparica, visiting Fonte da Bica (fountain), São Lourenço Fortress and the boulevard. Lunch will be at one of the typical restaurants on the island.

F/D Cachoeira Historical Town Tour with Lunch - 100km Duration: 9hrs. Tour operates daily, leaving at 8:00. Cachoeira is a colonial town - 100km from Salvador, situated in the Recôncavo Baiano area, by the Paraguaçu river. Cachoeira was built in the mid 17th and 18th centuries when the peak of the sugarcane economy prevailed in the area. Cachoeira has fine examples of baroque residences with Portuguese tile covered façades and wrought iron grilled balconies of intricate beauty. Cachoeira presents to this day, the Black Culture heritage brought to Brazil by African slaves and Cachoeira's candomblé (voodoo) terreiros (plot of land put aside for religious ceremonies) are famous throughout Brazil. On Saturdays, a typical fair is an attraction in itself for the people that attend, their wares and exhibition of goods. On the way to Cachoeira, tour will pass by big sugarcane, cassava root, tobacco, bamboo plantations and an experimental cocoa plantation.

F/D Northern Beaches + Praia do Forte Tour with Lunch Duration: 8:30 hrs. Tour operates daily, leaving at 8:30. Tour will take passengers along the Estrada do Côco as far as Praia do Forte 85 km north of Salvador, by the coast. Tour will visit the northern seaboard with beautiful lagoons, palm fringed beaches, plateaus and preservation areas, passing by Arembepe, Guarajuba and Itacimirim beaches. After passing by these beaches, tour will arrive at Praia do Forte - nicknamed the Brazilian Polynesia with its balmy waters protected by reefs and luxuriant vegetation. At Praia do Forte, there is a location of the TAMAR Project (Tartaruga Maritima / sea turtle project) that protects sea turtles nesting grounds. Along the coast of Brazil, there are several of these sites that are operated by the local inhabitants, fishermen families. After a visit to TAMAR tour will visit the ruins of Garcia d'Avila castle, built in 1552.

Bahia by Night w/ Dinner + Show - Duration: 3 hrs. Tour operates daily, leaving at 9:45.

Bahian folklore tradition is well expressed by the many dances and rituals. A Bahia by Night tour will take passengers to a show house where a typical Bahian and international food buffet dinner will be served. Show will explain the origins of Bahian tradition like the Samba de Roda and the Maculelê, Samba de Caboclo, Candomblé and its Orixás with their unique dancing choreography and drum beats, Puxada de Rede (the pulling of the fishing net) when they are bringing Xaréu (a type of fish) in. Capoeira - a leg contact fight and has become a dance / game, brought to Brazil by the Angola slaves and practiced all over the country and fast becoming practiced in other countries where Brazilian immigrants practice. "Playing " Capoeira requires fast leg movements that rarely take one of the players off an almost crouching position.