Salvador de Bahia, Brazil – Vacation Packages

Salvador, capital of the state of Bahia, was the first major port and the capital of colonial Brazil for almost two centuries. Known as the ‘African heart of Brazil’, removed from the artificial glamour of Rio de Janerio, the city lies between green tropical hills and broad beaches along the bay of Todos os Santos. It was built on two levels with administration buildings and residences constructed on the hills; forts, docks, and warehouses on the beaches. To this day the city is still divided into upper and lower cities.

From 1500 to 1815 Salvador was the nation’s busiest port. A significant portion of the sugar from the northeast and gold and diamonds from the mines in the southeast passed through Salvador. It was a golden age for the town; magnificent homes and churches resplendent in gold decoration were built. Many of the city’s baroque churches, private homes, squares, and even the hand-chipped paving bricks have been preserved as part of Brazil’s historic patrimony. In Salvador, more than anywhere else in the country, the African influence in the makeup of Brazilian culture is readily visible, from the spicy dishes still called by their African names (caruru, vatapa, acaraji), to the ceremonies of candombli which honor both African deities and Catholic holidays, to the capoeira schools where a unique African form of ritualistic fighting is taught.

Why go to Salvador de Bahia, Brazil?

• Lounge at the huge selection of beaches
• Carnaval: huge party, incredible experience, must-see for travelers; usually in February, most years

For more on Salvador de Bahia and Brazil, check out the Brazil Travel Guide on BootsnAll.