State of Bahia

Our tour starts in Salvador. Although many head to Bahia for its tropical coastline and tasty caipirinha drinks, the state’s most popular destination is undoubtedly its capital. Salvador is home to Afro-Brazilian heritage at its richest: deep-fried seafood, festive drum-pounding sounds, mystical religious ceremonies, dance and an artistic form of martial arts called capoeira.

Morro de Sao Paulo

Today we make a daytrip by boat from Salvador to Morro de São Paulo. We explore this vibrant island by foot, visiting the fort, lighthouse, shops and beaches. Free of cars, Morro de São Paulo is North Brazil’s hangout hotspot. It has a vibe to it which puts everyone there in a good mood.

Salvador

Before relocating by flight and then by land to the resort town of Porto de Galinhas, we explore Salvador some more. This historic city is renowned for its crumbling yet nevertheless impressive Portuguese architecture. Salvador serves as Brazil’s second most visited urban destination after Rio de Janeiro. Today we are provided with a guided tour, exploring the sites and landmarks in depth. UNESCO declared the old town a World Heritage Site in 1985. Salvador is one of the oldest colonial cities in the Americas. There is much to see and enjoy: music blasting on the streets, authentic cuisine, charming squares, colorful buildings and more.

Pontal de Maracaipe

As a daytrip from Porto de Galinhas, we head south along the coast. The first stop is a beach called Pontal de Maracaipe. There we see a multicolored sandbar. Next is the beach of Praia dos Carneiros. Its landmark is a historic church located in the middle of a long and sandy beach. Next is the beach of Praia Barra Grande. There we walk along sand which splits the ocean in two. Lastly, we visit a beach called Pontal do Maragogi. There we take a boat ride out to the sea so we can see the natural pools. Snorkeling gear is provided. Note that some of today’s attractions and activities may need to be removed from the tour should the sea tides not be low enough.

Porto de Galinhas

Before relocating by flight and then by land to the fishing village of Jericoacoara, we do a couple of fun activities in Porto de Galinhas. We take a sailboat (a.k.a. jangada) to a nearby natural pool as well as go buggy-riding on the beach. Porto de Galinhas has been voted ‘Best Brazilian Beach’ for the eighth time in a row by the readers of Voyage & Tourism magazine. Before heading to the airport in Recife, we also visit the colonial city of Olinda. Characterized by bright white churches, pastel-colored buildings, historic fountains and cobblestone streets and squares, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is spread across several small hills overlooking Recife. Incidentally, Olinda is one of Brazil’s three best locations to celebrate the world-renowned Carnival, along with Salvador and Rio de Janeiro.

Fernando de Noronha

On a side note, would you like to extend this 13-day tour by 3 days so you can visit the island of Fernando de Noronha? There is a direct flight there from Recife. The reason why Fernando de Noronha is not automatically included is because it is more of a ‘special interest’ kind of destination. Even though there is a handful of attractions which make this island nice, ultimately it is best suited for families looking for relaxation and otherwise for those who like surfing.

Jericoacoara

As an excursion from Jericoacoara by buggy, today we do the so-called ‘east route’ in this specific order: Prea Beach, Lagun Beach Club, Lagoa Paraiso (a.k.a. Paradise Lagoon) and Lagoa do Amancio (a.k.a. Loving Lagoon). In the evening, we walk to the ‘Por-do-Sol’ dune to watch the sunset over the ocean. Later we check out the nightlife. It is quite authentic.

Parnaiba

Leaving Jericoacoara, we are not taken directly to the hotel located in the town of Parnaíba. Instead, we make a lot of fun stops en route. Driving literally along the beach, firstly we are taken to a dock. There we get on a boat and search for sea horses. Next, we take a ferry crossing so we can reach an indescribable place called Mangue. There we see bizarre mangrove formations, swings, hammocks and visitors making crazy poses. After watching people go wild, we go sand boarding and dune bashing. Next, we check out a lagoon called Lagoa de Torta. We later visit Tatajuba Beach (a.k.a. Desert Beach) and then, Camocim Beach. Before reaching Parnaíba, we ride on some more sand dunes and otherwise make a ferry crossing at Coreau River.

Lencois Maranhenses National Park

Before relocating from Parnaíba to the town of Barreirinhas, we go on a scenic boat cruise along a delta with sand dunes surrounding us. Lunch is included on today’s tour. Barreirinhas is the gateway into Lençóis Maranhenses. This national park receives as many as 60,000 visitors a year. It includes 70 kilometers (43 miles) of coastline and an interior composed of rolling sand dunes. May through September, the valleys among the dunes are full with freshwater lagoons.

Lencois Maranhenses National Park

Our morning starts with a flightseeing tour over sand dunes and lagoons. This just may be our most unforgettable adventure while at Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. The day continues with an adventurous morning-to-sunset 4x4 tour, checking out sand dunes and lagoons. We also have time for swimming. The lagoons in the park are often interconnected with one another, as well as with the rivers which run through the area.

Lencois Maranhenses National Park

Before relocating by land to the city of Sao Luis, we explore Lençóis Maranhenses National Park some more. We spend the day doing a boat tour. The highlights are the river itself and the desert viewpoints. Few places on Earth can be compared to the unique physical features of this ecofriendly destination.

Manaus

We relocate by flight from Sao Luis to the city of Manaus and then take a drive to our ecolodge. Lodging in a vast rainforest is in itself an experience, as are going on river cruises to see wildlife. We have saved the best for last, meaning spending our final days of this grand tour exploring the Amazon. Note that virtually all meals are included by the ecolodge during our stay.

Amazon River

The Amazon is the world’s most renowned rainforest for good reason. The highlights for today are interacting with pink dolphins in their natural habitat and spotting a variety of creatures in the jungle. In the dark night, we take a boat cruise in search of caimans and other wildlife.

Amazon River

The Amazon is the final destination on our tour around North Brazil. Transportation will be arranged for you to reach the airport in Manaus.