Bahia Trip – Brazil

Day 2 | Salvador

After breakfast, your guide will collect you from your hotel for a walk through the historic centre of Salvador, the Pelourinho. This part of Salvador was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 and is a prime example of colonial history and a symbol of the Black movement in Bahia. Here you will find various churches, museums, local artists’ studios, shops and restaurants. The main attractions include the house of the famous Brazilian writer Jorge Amado, the cultural group Olodum (known for Michael Jackson’s hit ‘They Don’t Care About Us’) and the Church of São Francisco.
Next, you’ll head to the Escola de Capoeira do Mestre Bimba, a traditional capoeira dance school. Capoeira is a martial art that combines elements of dance and music whilst simulating a fight. This martial art has its origins in the era of Brazilian slavery. Nowadays, it is practised by people all over the world. The dance is characterised by fast and complex movements, which require considerable strength and speed. During the workshop, you will be taught the finer points of capoeira, learning not only the movements but also how to play the traditional instrument (the berimbau).
Accommodation: Hotel Casa do Amarelindo | bed and breakfast

Day 4 | Salvador – Chapada Diamantina

(approx. 420 km | 6-hour drive)
In the morning, you will be taken to Salvador Airport (approx. 35 km outside the city) where you can collect your rental car from the car hire company. Once you have your rental car, you’ll drive independently to your next destination: Lençóis, further inland in the state of Bahia. On the way to Lençóis, you’ll see typical ‘pau a pique’ houses dotted along the roadside. This is a construction method that uses bamboo and clay to build the walls of the house. You’ll notice that you’re really heading into the interior. You’ll see the sertão, the cerrado (savannah-like landscape) and the Atlantic Rainforest. In the countryside, you’ll find a mix of palm trees, cacti and tropical rainforest.
Lençóis is a small town in the heart of the Chapada Diamantina National Park. This sparsely populated region, with its unique landscapes and stunning views, has not yet been discovered by the tourist crowds. The name Lençóis derives from the fact that the river flowing alongside Lençóis foams when it rains heavily, creating a white expanse on the water’s surface. This makes it look as though a sheet is resting on the water (a sheet is ‘lençol’ in Portuguese). You will be staying at Hotel Canto das Águas, beautifully situated on the outskirts of the village of Lençóis. The hotel features many works of art by local artists.
Overnight stay: Hotel Canto das Águas | bed and breakfast

Day 5 | Chapada Diamantina

Today, about 75 kilometres from Lençóis, you’ll explore the impressive Lapa Doce cave, full of stalagmites and stalactites. Afterwards, you’ll visit Poço do Diabo, a waterfall that plunges into a deep pool, perfect for swimming or abseiling. The landscape along the Mucugê River is lush and rocky – a wonderful place to unwind. At the end of the day, you’ll climb the iconic Morro do Pai Inácio. At the top, a breathtaking view and a stunning sunset over the vast landscape of the Chapada Diamantina await you.
Overnight: Hotel Canto das Águas | bed and breakfast

Day 7 | Chapada Diamantina

The 6 km trail separating the Capão Valley from the Fumaça Waterfall is surrounded by breathtaking views of the Chapada Diamantina and takes you to an altitude of 1,490 metres above sea level. Here you can marvel at Brazil’s highest free-fall waterfall (380 metres). Before the water hits the ground, it turns into a fine, smoke-like mist. Hikers will enjoy the panoramic views over the Capão Valley, the biodiversity at the summit of the table mountain and the breathtaking views of the gorge surrounding the Fumaça Waterfall. The total walking distance is 12 kilometres.
Accommodation: Hotel Canto das Águas | bed and breakfast

Day 8 | Chapada Diamantina – Boipeba

(approx. 475 km | 7-hour drive)
Today you’ll drive to Valença, where you’ll drop off your rental car and take the ferry to the island of Boipeba. Once you arrive, you’ll be met by a member of staff from your accommodation, who’ll escort you there. You’ll be staying at Pousada Mangabeiras, situated at the end of Boca da Barra beach, on the highest part of a 48,000^m² estate, by the sea, surrounded by lush greenery and in a peaceful location. The estate also features a section of native forest where you will find a wealth of diverse local flora, including coconut palms, cashew trees, biribas (a Brazilian fruit tree from which the berimbau, the musical instrument used in capoeira, is made), orchids and many mangabeiras (a local tree species).
Accommodation: Pousada Mangabeiras | bed and breakfast

Day 10 | Boipeba – Itacaré

(approx. 135 km | 3-hour drive)
From Boipeba, you’ll take the boat back to Valença on the mainland. From here, you can drive on to Itacaré in your rental car and explore the town at your leisure. Along the way, you’ll enjoy the beautiful green countryside and, every now and then, catch a glimpse of the beach in the distance.
Overnight stay: Barracuda Boutique | bed and breakfast

Day 12 | Itacaré – Trancoso

(approx. 400 km | 8-hour drive)
In the morning, you’ll drive your rental car on to Trancoso, situated in the southern part of the state of Bahia. Trancoso is a charming village with an authentic atmosphere. It is situated on one of Brazil’s most unspoilt and undiscovered beaches, allowing you to completely unwind.
Accommodation: Etnia Pousada & Boutique Hotel | bed and breakfast

Day 14 | Trancoso – Porto Seguro – Amsterdam

Your trip of Brazil comes to an end today. You will drive from Trancoso to Porto Seguro Airport and return your rental car there (approx. 30 km / 1.5-hour drive). To do this, you’ll take the ferry just past Arraial d’Ajuda to Porto Seguro. At Porto Seguro airport, you’ll board your intercontinental flight to Amsterdam, via São Paulo.

Day 15 | Amsterdam

You arrive in Amsterdam today.