Brazil · SALVADOR
The old capital keeps its colour in Pelourinho and its rhythm in the drums that practise there most nights. These 15 cover the historic centre, the bay by schooner and the food, each priced and paced.
Spend eight hours sailing from Salvador’s Nautical Terminal across Todos os Santos Bay to Ilha dos Frades and Itaparica. Swim in calm water, enjoy a fruit round and live music, eat at a beachfront buffet, and watch the sunset on the return. Guides speak Portuguese, English, French, Spanish, and Italian.
Spend six hours exploring Salvador with a private guide such as Wilson, Mônia, Vagner, or Ronaldo. Visit Yemayá’s waterfront altar, Dique do Tororó, São Joaquim Fair, and an Ewe Fon Candomblé temple. Taste acarajé, enjoy lunch by the sea, and learn how African traditions shaped Bahia.
“Monia was very knowledgeable and considerate. You can tell she is not only passionate about the things she’s explaining but also the person she’s giving the tour to. Zero complaints and memorable experience.”
Walk from Praça Castro Alves through Salvador’s historic center and Pelourinho with a live guide in English, Spanish, or Portuguese. See Rio Branco Palace, Lacerda Elevator, Cruz Caída Square, and São Francisco Church, with time for cultural stories, local tastes, and views over the ocean. Groups are limited to 10.
“Maria è una guida molto brava e professionale, ha tarato il tour sui miei interessi e curiosità. Bellissima esperienza ! Grazie”
Meet your English-, Portuguese-, or Spanish-speaking guide at 2 pm by Salvador Cathedral for a private walk through Terreiro de Jesus, the Cross of São Francisco, and Escola do Olodum. Learn how African culture shaped Salvador through faith, liberation, music, capoeira, and Carnival. Guides have included Eduardo, Sayuri, Adilson, Nilza, Facundo, and Carlos.
“We had an amazing walking tour in Salvador. Our tour guide, Sayurin, was extremely knowledgeable and patient with us. She started the tour by asking us if we had any questions or specific topics we wanted to learn about. Based on our input, she took us to various sites throughout the city that were relevant to our interests. Salvador is a city with a rich history, both good and bad, and Sayurin did an excellent job of discussing difficult topics such as slavery, prostitution, and the black Brazilian experience. Despite the sensitive subject matter, we found her approach to be respectful and informative. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed the tour and…”
Travel from Salvador along Bahia’s Coconut Road to Praia do Forte and Guarajuba Beach. You’ll have time for the fishing village, optional Projeto Tamar visit, swimming, sun, and Bahian food. Hotel pickup is included at selected central hotels, with guides listed in Spanish and Portuguese. One guest also reported excellent English from the guide.
Spend one hour learning basic samba steps with an English-speaking instructor at Associação de Capoeira Mestre Bimba, Brazil’s first capoeira school, founded in 1937. Yasmin is praised for her calm, clear teaching. You’ll also learn how samba, capoeira, Afro-Brazilian culture, and Salvador’s past connect.
“Amazing activity! Learning about the history of samba and how it coincides with capoeira was incredible informative and fun. If you combine the capoeira class with the samba class be ready for a great workout.”
Join Adriano or another English-speaking local guide for a 90-minute walk through Salvador’s historic center. From Praça Castro Alves, follow Rua Chile to the Lacerda Elevator, Praça da Sé, Terreiro de Jesus, Igreja de Ouro, Olodum’s house, and Michael Jackson’s filming location. Expect a small group of no more than seven people and plenty of local tips.
“The tour was amazing. We recommend it 100%. Our guide Adriano was so knowledgeable and so passionate about the history and culture of Salvador. He was so friendly, caring and fun. He also gave us a lot of good recommendations of what to do in Salvador in the next days. We learned so much and we will definitely come back in the future.”
Spend four hours exploring Salvador’s African and Indigenous religious traditions with a private guide and air-conditioned transport. Visit the Afro-Brazilian Museum, Pierre Verger Gallery, Dique do Tororó, a maroon community, a Candomblé terreiro, and Pelourinho. Guides speak English, Spanish, French, Italian, or Portuguese. An optional sacred oracle consultation costs extra.
“It was a fantastic tour, our guide Fernando was great!”
At Associação de Capoeira Mestre Bimba, Yasmin guides complete beginners through basic attacks, defenses, and flowing movements in English or Portuguese. This one-hour class introduces capoeira as martial art, dance, music, and Afro-Brazilian cultural practice. Meet at the school in Largo do Terreiro de Jesus. Bring comfortable clothes and expect a workout.
“Would 100% recommend, they were welcoming and super patient and explained some of the history of Capoeira before jumping into the class. An experience we won’t forget!”
Spend an evening in Salvador with shared hotel pickup, a guided walk through the historic center, a traditional Bahian dinner, and a lively cultural show featuring capoeira, maculelê, samba, drums, and sacred dance. The guide speaks English, Spanish, or Portuguese. Group size is limited to four participants.
“Ohjelma oli erinomainen. Herkkäkorvaisille suosittelen korvatulppia. Kannattaa mennä yläkatsomoon, jotta näkee koko shown. Laadukas ja ammattitaitoinen esitys, vahva suositus! Ruokailu tapahtui hyvässä ravintolassa, mutta siellä ei kysytty esim. pihvin kypsyysastetta. Muuten ruoka oli laadukasta. Kokonaiskesto oli enemmänkin 3 tuntia, koska emme tarvinneet kuljetusta.”
Travel from Salvador along Bahia’s Coconut Road to Praia do Forte, where you’ll see natural pools, a fishing village, local crafts, and a turtle sanctuary. Continue to Guarajuba for beach time and lunch by the water. Hotel pickup, a car, and a live guide in English, Spanish, or Portuguese are included. Groups are limited to six.
“Sehr persönliche Tour mit vielen verschiedenen Aspekten. Traumhafter Strand- super Mittagessen! Sehr zu empfehlen!!!”
Spend six hours with a private-feeling group of up to four, visiting Pelourinho, Dique do Tororó, São Joaquim Market, an old African arrival port, a historic Candomblé terreiro, and Yemanjá’s seaside shrine. Guides such as Mônia, D. Maria, and Fernando bring strong local knowledge, with lunch in a Black family’s home included.
“Mônia is the perfect guide for a day long adventure in Salvador. Her breadth and depth of knowledge as well as her friendly nature will have you asking where did the time go. I left with a better understanding of the city, its people and cultural expressions. The views, the tastes, a little shopping are a very good way to spend your day, whether short on time or on town for a while. Thanks to her driver as well, don’t remember her name.”
Leave Salvador for Santo Amaro, Cachoeira, and São Félix on a private, guide-led day trip through Bahia’s Recôncavo. Walk colonial streets, visit the Sisterhood of Our Lady of the Good Death, cross an 1830 British bridge, eat a buffet lunch on a farm, and watch cigars being rolled at the Dannemann factory. Guides speak five languages.
“If you ever have the chance to visit beautiful Salvador de Bahia and want to get a real insight on all levels try to get the one and only Wilson as your guide. Not only is he a professor of history, he is a "know-all-about-everything"!, speaks perfect English and most important he is such a wonderful human being full of laughter and humour. We thouroughly enjoyed our day tour to Cachoeira and the city tour of the upper city the next day. Thanks also to our wonderful driver Adriana, who drove us savely to all destinations on the long tour and through the dense traffic of Salvador. She is the…”
You’ll tour Salvador from Barra Lighthouse to Pelourinho, passing modern districts, Municipal Square, Lacerda Elevator, Terreiro de Jesus, and St. Francis Church. Pickup and drop-off at central hotels are included. Guides speak Spanish and Portuguese, with English listed in the tour details, though language arrangements should be confirmed before booking.
“He contratado esta excursión para mis padres y lo han pasado genial! Súper recomendable”
Spend an energetic evening at Associação de Capoeira Mestre Bimba, the school founded in 1937 by capoeira pioneer Mestre Bimba. You’ll watch capoeira rodas, samba, Maculelê, live music, drumming, and acrobatics in an organic cultural presentation. English and Portuguese are available, but expect heat, movement, and a real association setting rather than a polished stage show.
“The best experience in Salvador if you want to get in touch with the magic of Afro-Brazilian culture and learn about his ancient roots.”
Pick a summit, a coast or a waterfall.
