Smile, you're in Bahia! The motto of Salvador and its state is easy to comply with – the vibrant culture, the sunny weather and the beautiful scenery will put a smile on your face.

Salvador's colonial heritage has created a unique, rich cultural fabric. From the martial art of capoeira, played on street corners, to the resurgence of the traditional West African religion candomblè, you'll be dazzled by the African heritage, colonial architecture, and a dazzling bay.

Day 1 – Salvador da Bahia
Arrive in Salvador, capital of the state of Bahia. We'll meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel to settle in. You'll have the rest of the day at leisure to explore the city – and Salvador's incredible beaches. Stay at the "Pousada do Boqueirão" a recently renovated colonial house overlooking the Bay of All Saints, located in the historic centre of Salvador. Or, stay on the beach front with Hotel Vila Gale.

Day 2 – Historical City Tour

In this tour, we will visit the main historical sites of Salvador. We will start this tour in “Cidade Alta” where you will have the opportunity to explore the first streets and architectural complexes built in Bahia. We will continue by visiting at “Farol da Barra”, which is now “Museu Náutico da Bahia” (Nautical Museum). Next, we will go towards “Porto da Barra”, where we will see “Forte de Santa Maria”, and “Forte São Diogo”. From “Porto da Barra”, we’ll visit the traditional neighborhoods of “Corredor da Vitória”, “Campo Grande” (“praça da apoteose“ of Salvador’s carnival) and Piedade. After that, we arrive at Pelourinho the highlight of our tour. Designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site it holds the most important colonial architecture in the world from the XVII and XVIII centuries.

Colored houses, the symbol of Portuguese architecture and stone streets add an interesting touch to this tour. Many beautiful churches, such as “Igreja de São Francisco” (São Francisco church), squares and monuments and important museums enrich the landscape of Pelourinho. The next part of this tour is a visit to “Cidade Baixa” where we will visit the famous “Igreja do Bonfim” (Bonfim church), which holds several different religious manifestations of the Bahia people. This is where the famous feast of “Lavagem do Bonfim” takes place (when the steps of the church are washed). The last part of our tour is devoted to visit  “Forte de São Marcelo” (São Marcelo Fort). This fort, which is almost circular, was built in 1650 because of the danger of a Dutch invasion. It played a fundamental role in preventing enemies from entering the port. The magnificent view of “Baía de Todos os Santos” makes the visit to the fort special. L

Day 3 – Cachoeira
Drive through the oldest farmland in Brazil as you head to Cachoeira, a colonial town 70 miles from Salvador. This area is – and has been for years – home to sugar cane and tobacco plantations, bucolic towns and country markets. We'll visit one farmstead with a manioc flourmill and get a sense of rural life in Brazil, and tour the colonial architecture of Cachoeira proper. We'll eat lunch in Cachoeira and return to Salvador in the late afternoon, and have dinner and watch a traditional folk show at an old manor house by the bay. B,L,D

Day 4
Return to the airport for your flight to Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo. B

Salvador da Bahia
Trip length	4 days/3 nights
Departs	Daily (except Fridays)
2008 Per person cost	$689.00 for historic Pousada do Boqueirão $714.00 for beach front Hotel Vila Gale
2008 Single supplement	$152.00 for historic Pousada do Boqueirão $147.00 for beach front Hotel Vila Gale
Prices based on two people sharing in 3-star accommodations. Four and 5-star accommodations available on request. International and domestic airfare not included. Prices increase Prices increase for Christmas, New Years, Carnaval and other holidays. Pricing and itinerary are subject to change until booking is confirmed.

Staying on in Brazil? Whether your interest is wildlife or culture, in a short extension tour you can experience more of the rich living heritage of this vibrant country. And for the adventurous wildlife enthusiast, why not visit Hyacinth Camps? We can even arrange hotels and transportation.