Travel to Salvador da Bahia

Offering a joyful mixture of races, Salvador is deeply rooted in its African origins and also resolutely Brazilian in its soul. It celebrates the carnival with more enthusiasm and friendliness than anywhere else in Brazil. A festive and warm city, Salvador is the right place to discover on a Tuesday evening, when the historic centre is transformed into a stage of salsa orchestras parading through the streets. It will not take you long to really get into the atmosphere. During both night and day, you will enjoy the jewel of architecture that Pelourinho constitutes, with its colorful façades, its baroque churches and its cobbled streets of historic charm. A city located on the seafront, Salvador also has beaches, which, although not rivaling those of Rio, allow you to swim and sunbathe freely. The visit to all of the beaches of Bahia enables you to go back up the coastline to the north, passing through Rio Vermelho, Pituba, the garden of Allah, Placaford, Itapoan and the Abaesté lagoon with its pleasant white sand. From the Salvador marina, a day trip also offers the chance to embark to the Ilha dos Frades (the monks' island). Swimming in the area You can continue by boat to Itaparica. A buffet lunch, then a visit to the town of Itaparica. Then back to the city. But beautiful beaches lovers would not miss the excursion to Praia do Forte (the fort's beach): 62 miles from Salvador is the "Tamar project", a breeding centre of marine turtles located at the edge of a vast and beautiful beach. The tour includes the visit of the do Forte village, as well as the Arembepe fishing village. Plan one day. Finally, architecture lovers can visit the old colonial cities of Cachoeira and Santo Amaro. Located 74 miles away from Salvador, they have stunning historic streets lined with colorful houses and baroque churches. The day trip starts at 7 o'clock in the morning.

Costa do Sauipe, the new seaside resort of Bahia

In the surroundings of Salvador da Bahia's, 43 miles north of the international airport, a massive complex was constructed since 2001 in a natural setting. Designed in the form of a village, eleven resorts, including five 5-star hotels, and six pousadas stretch on an area of 170 hectares of impeccably maintained gardens, along a mangrove and a 4-mile long beach. This holiday village offers a choice of fifteen restaurants, a large water sports centre, a sports ground with a golf course, an equestrian centre and 15 tennis courts. It also has fitness centres, a real town centre area (called "Vila Nova da Praia") lined with craft shops, clothes and jewellery shops, restaurants, but also a pharmacy, a bank, a post office... A range of events and activities are also on the agenda. In short, there is something for all tastes and budgets. It will please both couples looking for calmness and families seeking animation. The entire setting of the village was designed to respect the environment: recycling bins can be found often along the small streets. Vacationers looking for "greenery" can enjoy a varied fauna and flora. You can regularly glimpse small monkeys, half-tame tropical birds in restaurants or outdoor gardens. Remember that it is forbidden to give food to the animals. Moreover, the village complex is owned by a Brazilian group whose aim is intended to promote employment and social development of the coastal communities from the north of the state of Bahia. Generally speaking, it has nothing to do with the fabulous historic centre of the city of Bahia. More specifically, this resort complex reveals a dark side: its huge size removes the authenticity of the destination. Fans of pousadas, picturesque and charling hotels and of cultural heritage should thus avoid staying here.