Salvador da Bahia Brazil's third most populous city, and former capital, is now the capital of Bahia state. Salvador is also the ninth largest city in Latin America. Renowned for its African-influenced cuisine, music and architecture, Salvador is known as the Capital of Joy because of its exuberant week-long Carnival celebrations, Brazil's largest. In fact, Salvador Bahia is home to the largest street Carnival on our planet! 

Divided into two distinct sections by an escarpment, the city offers beaches ideal for swimming and diving. Inlets with great surfing waves beckon nearby, and rolling hills and mountains provide a backdrop to the city. Salvador da Bahia, often abbreviated to Bahia by Brazilians, is one of Brazil's cultural highlights.

This city of nearly 3.6 million people has managed to retain its African soul and develop the best of its colonial legacy into a unique, vibrant culture. It was here in Salvador da Bahia – the first capital city of Brazil, that the Portuguese, African and indigenous cultures met, melded and produced the vibrant music, food, customs and religion typical of Bahia to this very day.

Today’s Salvador is an expanding, city on the move that is proud to be the home of the, recently built, largest indoor shopping mall on the continent of South America. Unlike most Brazilian cities, Salvador Bahia has jobs and people are flocking to Salvador from neighboring states to work and be apart of this economic upswing that Salvador has been experiencing for several years now.      

In 2003, Brazil elected a populist president who named African Brazilian and Native-American Brazilian cabinet members, many from Bahia. Thus, opportunities are expanding for Afro-Brazilians in Salvador. Hence, the Pelourinho cultural, shopping and dining district seems more alive than ever. Pelourinho is the most important historical center of colonial architecture in Latin America. It contains the last slave market in Brazil; the First African Church in the new world, built in 1704; art galleries, souvenirs shops and various other important historical landmarks. Touring this district gives you a good prospective of the African influence in the building of Brazil.

A common sight on the streets of Salvador, or Pelourinho, is the Afro-Brazilian Baianas (Bahian women) in their traditional white balloon dresses. White represents the color of Iansã, goddess of the wind. These traditionally dressed Baianas sell the Afro-Brazilian food Acarajé, which is a deep-fried bread made from mashed brown beans with the skins have been removed.  The mash is deep fried in dendé oil.  Acarajés are usually accompanied by camarão (small sundried shrimp), pimenta (hot pepper sauce), vatapá (a paste made from sundried shrimp, peanuts, cashews, and coconut milk), caruru (okra stew), and/or a salad.  Often, you'll see indoor and outdoor tables spread with a spicy and exotic assortment of Bahia's version of this fast-food.  

Olodum, an internationally acclaimed Afro-Brazilian cultural dance band from Bahia, takes their name from an abbreviation of Olodumaré, the Yoruba expression for "God of all gods." More than a band, but also NGO engaged in many social and educational projects. The group has served as a backbone for the Black community throughout Bahia and is a crucial part of the Black Movement “movimento Negro” in Brasil. You can also take samba classes at their casa in Pelourinho. 

Salvador is located on the southeastern promontory of the bay of Todos os Santos (Bay of Saints). It is the largest bay on the Brazilian coast, covering 1100 sq km (425 sq mi) and containing some 38 islands.

The city’s climate is tropical and daytime highs normally range between 25° C and 32° C (77° F and 90° F).

While there is some rain throughout the year, most falls between May and September.

There's much more to Salvador than this and baianos are glad to show off their both parts of their city. Alta cidade is the older portion of the city, where colonial buildings and quaint streets take you back to a previous time. The Pelourinho neighborhood, with pastel colored buildings, is considered the most charming. It's also the center of Salvador's nighlife, with restaurants, bars and folkoric shows. A walking tour is well worth the time. Not far from this neighborhood is an elevator connecting the high city to the Cidade Baixa, the newer portion of Salvador.

The Upper City sits on a bluff that rises abruptly some 70m (230 ft) above the Lower City. The steep terrain has made passage between the two sections difficult. Technological innovations in the late 1800s facilitated access, beginning in 1873 with the construction of a vertical pedestrian lift, known as the Lacerda Elevator. The elevator was replaced with a new system in 1928, and today it carries more than 50,000 passengers daily. In recent years two cable railways—the Plano Inclinado Gonçalves and the Plano Inclinado Liberdade/Calçada—have been added to link the two areas.

The Lower City occupies the low ground along the waterfront and is the commercial and financial center of the metropolitan area. The waterfront includes commercial docks and warehouses, as well as a Brazilian naval base and a small boat anchorage for fishing vessels. A popular attraction in the Lower City is the Mercado Modelo, a market catering largely to tourists. (We offer Upper City/Lower City optional excursions that can be added to your Classic Discovery, Exclusive, and Specialty tour packages)

On a closing note, it is worth mentioning that no trip to Salvador da Bahia is complete until you join us for our optional excursion – all day - island hopping tour of the Bay of Saints on board our chartered yacht that departs for the tropical gem of an island – Itaprica. Just a 45 min ferry or fast boat ride from Salvador’s center city, Itaprica is the ‘perfect getaway’ from it all for those peaceful moments that we all long for when on vacation.

If shopping is your passion you will be happy to know that Salvador Bahia is home Shopping Salvador      The largest shopping mall on the entire continent of South America.