Bahia's Beaches & Culture: Salvador & Boipeba - 7 Days

Day 2: Sightsee in the City of Salvador

Start your day with a visit to Salvador's Upper Town. Wander the streets and alleys of the famous Pelourinho historic district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to one of Latin America's largest existing collections of 17th and 18th-century colonial architecture. In this district, you'll find the Church of São Francisco, often considered the country's richest Baroque work.

Afterward, visit Lower Town, the coastal area of the city of Salvador. The Lower Town is linked to the Upper Town by the Lacerda Elevator. Here, you can visit the Church of Senhor do Bonfim—the most famous Catholic church in Salvador—and the Mercado Modelo, a traditional craft center.

Day 3: Bahian Percussion Workshop, Art & Literature Tour of Bahia

On this morning's excursion, discover the percussive heart of Bahia at an interactive workshop. The rhythmic soul of this region is African, and the distinctive syncopations created by Bahians have inspired many international musicians such as Paul Simon, Wayne Shorter, and Michael Jackson. A local percussionist will act as your guide as you learn about Bahia's rhythms and Capoeira hand percussion instruments. 

Later, on a private group tour, visit the landmarks, museums, and galleries showcasing the works of masters like novelist Jorge Amado, artist Carybé, and photographer Pierre Verger. Their works documented daily life in and around Salvador, showcasing the markets, street scenes, and religious traditions that combine to make Bahia such a singularly beautiful culture.

Start in the beachside suburb of Rio Vermelho at Amado's former home, which is now a museum celebrating his life and work. Then, visit sunkissed Porto da Barra Beach to see Carybé's work on display in the 17th-century São Diogo Fort. Porto da Barra beach is also home to a permanent interactive digital exhibition highlighting Verger's iconic black and white photographs. The works of Carybé and Verger come to life each evening when they are projected on the museum's facades.

Day 4: Transfer from Salvador to Boipeba 

Today you'll transfer overland to the Bahia de Todos os Santos (Bay of All Saints) in Salvador. From here, catch a ferry boat to Ilha de Itaparica, where a car will be waiting to take you to Bom Despacho. There, board a small speedboat to Boipeba Island. On this peaceful island, you'll find a utopia of palm-lined bays, thatched-roof beach shacks, and a pace of life so serene you cannot help but unwind. The island's central town of Velha Boipeba is a quiet and rustic affair, with an almost Caribbean feel to its laidback streets, jewelry sellers, and local restaurants.

Day 5: Guided Canoe Ride Through the Mangroves

Enjoy a special experience in nature: a guided canoe ride through a shaded mangrove forest. When the tide is favorable, head off in a handmade wooden canoe. This traditional canoe is built with logs gathered from the forest during certain phases of the moon by native fishermen from Boipeba and the region.

Travel up the River Piã through long and narrow mangrove channels, exploring all the treasures of the river's ecosystem up close. You'll find a diversity of local shellfish in the mangroves, including several species of crab (siri, guaiamu, and aratu crabs), oysters, and lambretas (giant clams). Silence reigns inside the mangroves, bringing with it a sense of tranquility and harmony. Three types of mangrove trees are found in Boipeba: the white mangrove, red mangrove, and Siriba mangrove, each with a different appearance and structure. 

Day 6: Full-Day Tour Around Boipeba Island

This morning you'll set out on foot to the beach of Boca da Barra in Boipeba, where your all-day excursion will begin. Take a boat to the natural pools of Moreré, about half a mile offshore, with warm, clear water and a great diversity of fish and coral. Enjoy some scuba diving before taking some time to relax at a floating bar with some local seafood and drinks such as caipifrutas (made with sugar, fresh fruit, and cachaça, a spirit similar to rum). Next, sail past Moreré Beach, home to a small fishing village with just over two hundred inhabitants, and pass the broad and peaceful Bainema Beach. 

Before lunch, visit the beach of Ponta dos Castelhanos, located at the entrance of the Catu River. The beach's name originated from the sinking of a Spanish galleon in 1535. Stop on a sandbank for a swim, and have lunch in the village of São Sebastião, also known as "Cova da Onça." The seafood in this isolated village is fresh and caught in the region. After a long rest, enter the mangrove-shaded estuary of the Inferno River to visit the towns of Canavieiras or Tapuias. After stopping to taste some oysters and enjoy the beautiful sunset, return to Boipeba in the evening. 

Day 7: Transfer to Salvador & Depart