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BEST THINGS TO DO IN SALVADOR, BRAZIL

6 Unique Things To Do In Salvador, Brazil 

A trip manifested took me to Salvador de Bahia, Brazil. In 2004, my best friend planned a fabulous trip with all the best, unique things to do Salvador, Brazil. We wanted to visit a country rich in African history and Brazil with its Afro-Brazilian culture and tropical coastline was the perfect place. 

To prepare for the trip, I studied Portuguese and ecstatically immersed while visiting. Natives were impressed with my language skills, which boosted my confidence to venture solo one afternoon. Brazilians are warm and loving people and we were embraced, ate traditional cuisine, watched the Olodum practice, and celebrating their New Year Eve’s tradition was a unique and unforgettable experience. 

Welcome to Salvador!

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We arrived in Brazil and our tour guide and driver for the trip were waiting for us. Roberto and Hans were the best and we had many hearty laughs and dinners together. They took us off the beaten path to experience the native culture, neighborhoods, shops, and real life in Salvador.  

We stayed at the lovely Pestana Bahia Hotel overlooking the beautiful Atlantic ocean. Our hotel included a scrumptious, fresh breakfast buffet every morning. The laundry service was excellent. 

Pestana Bahia Hotel

Bahia By Night Show at Solar do Unhao 

An old sugar mill, the Solar consists of a number of beautifully preserved heritage buildings centered on a lovely stone courtyard that dates back to the 18th century. Half the fun is just to wander around and explore the various buildings set on the waterfront (the views are fabulous). The night folklore show is hosted on the lower level of the main building.

 

African Oriented City Tour

The tour starts in the modern suburb of Barra at the mouth of the Bay with its famous lighthouse and make our way slowly to the old historical section of town, the Pelourinho area with the largest and the best-preserved complex colonial architecture in the Americas. We strolled through the narrow, bustling streets lined with buildings in pastel shades of an age gone by. We visited the church of S. Francisco 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.

We shopped at Mercado Modelo, a thriving market for local artifacts. The Mercado Modelo is the area/port where slaves came into Brazil. You can ride the elevator that transported the slaves for 5 cents at the time. 

Best Things to do Salvador, Brazil

 

Olodum Rehearsal with Dinner

Every Tuesday evening, the Pelourinho area resounds to the sound of the repique and surdo drums of the many drumming troupes of Salvador. We attended the rehearsal where the dances and songs for the coming carnival are rehearsed to the infectious samba-reggae rhythm. Dinner after the show was included.

 

Cachoeira County Ride Tour 

We left the city behind and drove through the oldest farmland in Brazil. This is the land of sugar cane and tobacco plantations, peaceful colonial towns and busy country markets. We visited an experimental cacau plantation. We had lunch in Cachoeira, a charming colonial town in a beautiful setting on the banks of the Paraguassu River and later took a walking tour of the town with its many wood sculptors ateliers and bustling market. We visited the Sisterhood of the Boa Morte, a sorority which traces its origins back to the time of slavery.  

Best Things to do Salvador, Brazil

Roberto took us to a local jeweler who makes custom jewelry. Surprisingly, Angela is from Washington, DC and had moved to Salvador! We got some lovely pieces and beautiful rings made. The agate ring I purchased and wear daily receives the most compliments on a day-to-day basis. It’s my favorite ring and strong as a concrete. 

We also had leisure days to explore the city on our own, relax at the beach, and experience the clubs with natives. We were greeted with kindness and love, especially from those who wanted to learn English. Exploration is absolutely one of the best things to do in Salvador, Brazil. 

One day, riding the local bus we were loss and no one spoke English. As we’re getting off the bus, the entire bus yells, “NO!” At that moment we all spoke the same language. They knew for whatever reason we didn’t want that stop. As I was trying to communicate with the bus driver in Portuguese, an older lady tapped my shoulder and motioned, follow me. She escorted us to our stop. Obrigada!

Best Things to do Salvador, Brazil

 

Urban Development Tour

Like most Brazilian cities, Salvador is growing but not always in a controlled fashion. This tour took us to the side of the city not always seen by the majority of visitors to Salvador. We saw the different realities of urban life for the fortunate and the less fortunate. Our tour ended in an inner city community, a favela deep in the heart of some of the most exclusive residential areas of Salvador. We were met by the community leaders and given a detailed explanation of the work being done within the community. We visited the school, a children’s day-care center, medical center and small business project, all financed by the community itself. This is a warming example of a community bravely finding solutions for its problems. We were able to watch them practicing capoeira. 

Best Things to do Salvador, Brazil

 

New Year’s Eve Dinner & Celebration

The countdown, fireworks, and shows were at the hotel, so we didn’t have to worry about transportation. Brazilians traditionally wear all white on New Year’s Eve; it’s the color of peace and the color worn by devotees of Candomble to honor Yemanja (the goddess of the seas, oceans and rivers). Offering a white flower to Yemanja is also part of the ritual. Brazilians believe in the power of the colors, wearing color accessories with all-white clothes. For example, yellow symbolizes good wealth in the upcoming year and red if you are expecting love.

Brazilians know how to party and it was an amazing way to bring in the new year. You must add these best things to do in Salvador, Brazil to your travel list. I guarantee you will have the time of your life!

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Until next time, peace!

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