Brazil Vacation Package - Salvador, Praia do Forte and Porto Seguro (8 Nights)

With this package you can discover three of Bahia's most sought after coastal destinations - Salvador, known for its history, culture and beauty; Praia do Forte, a quaint fisherman village, known for its beaches, restaurants and artisan shops; and Porto Seguro (including Arraial d'Ajuda and Trancoso), known for its idyllic beaches and vibrant nightlife and its nature reserve of original Atlantic rainforest. The city of Salvador, the fisherman village of Praia do Forte and the historic town of Porto Seguro are three destinations that will give you a glimpse of the riches which the state of Bahia has to offer. Bahia is the main Tourism destination in Brazil and is known for its rich history, culture and unexplored nature. This package includes comfortable lodging in pousadas and hotels, and cultural and nature tours with a private English speaking guide.

Day 1: You will arrive in Salvador and check into the charming historic hotel Catharina Paraguacu. After that, you might want to relax and take your time to enjoy the bohemian neighborhood, or even visit the beach and sample the Bahian delights of the beach huts. We suggest you have lunch at the Yemanja Restaurant for traditional Bahian food. In the afternoon, a complementary stress release massage at your hotel will totally relax you and let you unwind in preparation for the evening's entertainment. You will experience Bahia by night, having dinner at the Solar da União, also the venue of the Museum of Modern Art of Bahia, where you can enjoy Brazilian food and drinks while enjoying a folkloric show. This show features an excellent presentation of local perspectives from capoeira to samba, to ancient slave dances and even a sample of candomblé, a religious rite typical in this region

Day 2: Today you will begin your journey through Salvador visiting Pelourinho, the historical district of the city, followed by a delicious Bahian lunch. Then you will visit the Mercado Modelo in the Cidade Baixa. The Mercado Modelo is a handicraft market that used to be the merchandise and slave-trading outpost of the city. Here you can buy many handicrafts and local products. Make sure you visit the dungeon below the market where the slaves were kept prior to sale. We suggest dinner at the Lambreta Grill, an award winning seafood café.

Day 3: You will check out of the hotel Catharina Paraguacu and be transported by a private vehicle to Praia do Forte. The journey takes roughly an hour, and when you arrive you will check into the Pousada Farol das Tartarugas. We suggest having lunch at 'Bar do Souza'; try their delicious and famous 'bolinhos de peixe' (Bahian-style fish cakes) and/or a fish or shrimp moqueca (Bahian stew). After lunch we suggest you visit the TAMAR PROJECT (turtle NGO) Visitor Center and then on to Papa Gente's Natural Pools for snorkeling (times may vary due to the tide). By the end of the day you will have worked up a hardy appetite so we suggest having dinner at the Fata Morgana restaurant (Spanish food).

Day 4: Today you will be taking an 8-hour nature tour. Begin by exploring the region of Sauipe, where you will take a 4-Wheeler Tour (1 adult per 4-wheeler) through the Atlantic rainforest vegetation and along rivers. During the ride, there will be a stop at the Sauípe River for a swim and to go down the rapids on inner tubes. The 4-Wheeler Tour will be followed by lunch at the fisherman village of Diogo. Then you will take a canoe trip down the pristine river of Imbassai which is surrounded by snow-white dunes. You will explore nature in this unspoiled part of the world. Back at Praia do Forte, we suggest you have dinner at Japa, an excellent Japanese Restaurant followed by a stroll around the main street of the village to visit the shops and cafes.

Day 5: Today you may choose between one of 3 tours: Horseback riding, Sauipe River Catamaran or Sauipe Adventure Expedition. 1. 3.5-hour horseback ride will begin by taking you through a lake, then along sand dunes, followed by a trail through tropical forest to the Castelo Garcia D'Avila, and finally winding down and along the beach back to the village. 2. 7 km Catamaran ride to the mouth of the River Sauipe, passing through beautiful areas of coastal rainforest vegetation and mangroves. A specialist guide will tell you about the various ecosystems and you will have the opportunity to swim and do a bit of bird watching. 3. The Sauipe Expedition will take you on a hike through local wetland vegetation to the banks of the River Sauipe, where you will board native wooden canoes and row to the mouth of the river, with the help of a specialist guide. You will have a chance to enjoy a refreshing dip in the river or sea, before returning to your pousada in a 4x4 vehicle. The afternoon is free to relax and enjoy Praia do Forte.

Day 6: After breakfast you will check out of the Pousada Farol das Tartarugas and say goodbye to Praia do Forte. You will then be driven in a private, air-conditioned vehicle to the Salvador airport from where you will take a plane to Porto Seguro (a 35 minute flight) [Note: This flight is not included in this Package and must be booked separately At the Porto Seguro airport you will be met by a private driver and taken in an air-conditioned vehicle to the Hotel Estalagem, where you will check in. Sometime after lunch you will be taken on a city tour by an English-speaking private guide to visit the historical part of Porto Seguro. The tour starts by taking you to the top of the hill, where the old city lies, showing you a beautiful panoramic view of the beaches and the lower part of the village. You will visit the very first church, prison and town hall of Brazil. Then on to the colorful fisherman's harbor and the market at the mouth of the Buranhem River. Your tour will continues along some of the most beautiful beaches north of Porto Seguro until Coroa Vermelha, where a monument to the first Religious Mass in the year 1500 lies. This was where the Portuguese discoverers, together with the native Indians participated in the first ever Mass in Brazil, held by Father Henrique.

Day 7: After breakfast today you will be taken on a full day tour to visit Arraial d'Ajuda and Trancoso. You will be driven in a private vehicle to the exotic village of Trancoso, about 30 km south of Porto Seguro. Trancoso was settled by Jesuits in 1563 in order to protect the Indians from the Portuguese colonists. You will see a church built of bones and whale oil and visit some of the most beautiful and untouched beaches of the region. On the way back from Trancoso you will stop in the picturesque, colorful village of Arraial d'Ajuda, where your guide will give you a city tour.

Day 8: This morning you have a choice of 2 tours: 1. The Jaqueira Indian Reserve - a visit to a nearby Pataxá Indian reserve. Your native guide will take you on a trek through the forest, explaining the traditional hunting methods used, medicinal values of the indigenous plant life, importance of the preservation of the surrounding nature, and the history and secrets of the rainforest. Afterwards there will be a presentation of Indian dances and rituals and you will have an opportunity to sample some native cooking, such as fish cooked in leaves. 2. The Vera Cruz Preservation Unit a visit to an original Atlantic rainforest reserve of over 6,000 hectares (14,830 acres). This reserve has the richest variety of trees and plants in the world; even more than the Amazon. After an introduction about flora and fauna your guide will take you on a 2 hour walk through the reserve, crossing bridges over the tree tops with views of valleys below, with explanations of the various species and the nature that exists within the forest. (This tour only occurs on Tuesdays and Thursdays) After lunch you will be taken on a snorkeling trip to Recife de Fora, one of the many beautiful coral reefs in the Porto Seguro region. With natural pools and crystalline water, this reef is ideal for snorkeling to see the many varieties of tropical fish, colorful marine life and coral formations.

Day 9: After breakfast and checking out of the Hotel Estalagem, you will be taken to the Porto Seguro airport. We are certain that you will have enjoyed your trip and we look forward to seeing you again in Brazil.