Rio de Janeiro, Salvador da Bahia, and Praia do Forte

Depart to Rio de Janeiro via overnight flight.

After passing through immigration and customs, proceed to the reception area, where our inbound services representative will be holding a sign with your name on it.  You will be greeted and then transferred to your hotel.

In the evening, you will have a multicultural dinner show at Teatro Lebron that brings different cultures of Brazil to the stage.  The show perfectly combines a variety of Brazilian dances that developed from African rhythms via the slave trade and from the natives that lived in Brazil before colonization.  The presentation combines diversity and culture: the Ziriguidum from the Northeast, the Folklore from Amazon, the Capoeira from Bahia, and samba dance from Rio de Janeiro.  Overnight in Rio de Janeiro.  (D)

Notes: 1.) Check-in time in Rio de Janeiro is typically 2:00 PM.  We can request early check-in for you but cannot guarantee it.  2.) The multicultural dinner show is available on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Depart from the hotel after breakfast to visit the two most famous landmarks of the city and see the natural beauty of Rio de Janeiro from up above.  After a scenic drive along Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, you arrive at the bottom of Corcovado Hill.  You then embark on a comfortable train that ascends the mountain, where the statue of Christ the Redeemer is located 2,300 ft. above sea level.  The Christ statue, known as the “Wonder of Rio”, was recently voted one of the 7 New Wonders of the World.  Upon arrival at the top, you use the panoramic elevators or escalators to arrive at the foot of the statute.  There, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Rio de Janeiro and discover why it is called the “Marvelous City”.  Afterwards, you descend the mountain and stop for a delicious Brazilian Barbecue lunch.

Over a million tourists each year visit the world famous Sugar Loaf Mountain, which has become an iconic symbol of the city of Rio de Janeiro.  Rising up from a small peninsula at the entrance of Guanabara Bay, its name is said to refer to its resemblance to the traditional shape of a concentrated, refined sugar loaf.  The journey to the top is made in glass cable-cars.  The first cable-car takes you to the top of Urca Hill, which rises 215 meters above sea level and offers spectacular views of the entire bay and its surrounding islands.  From Urca Hill, you continue in a second cable-car to the top of Sugar Loaf which rises 395 meters above sea level and offers a 360 degree view of the entire city including Botafogo and Copacabana Beaches, Corcovado Mountain, and downtown Rio de Janeiro.  (Duration: approximately 8 hours.  Lunch will be served at Estrela do Sul BBQ).  Following the tour, you will be returned to your hotel.  Overnight in Rio de Janeiro.  (B,L)

Free day. Overnight in Rio de Janeiro. (B)

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Salvador da Bahia. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. Salvador, the capital of the state of Bahia, was at one time the capital of Brazil, and is now the center of Afro-Brazilian life. It is divided into two parts. The “Lower City” is at sea level and is where the city´s original port and commercial area, including Mercado Modelo, are located. The “Upper City” is reached through the Lacerda elevator. This part of the city is where most of the museums, churches and modern architecture are located. The city, without a doubt, keeps in touch with its African roots and traditions with respect to its cuisine, religion, and artwork. Overnight in Salvador da Bahia. (B)

In the morning, you will have a walking tour of Pelourinho, the historic center of Salvador da Bahia, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will appreciate the well-preserved colonial architecture and can visit the area’s shops, art galleries, and churches, including the São Francisco Church, with its extravagant gold leaf baroque designs. The tour finishes at the Largo do Pelourinho, the triangle-shaped heart of the neighborhood. Note: This tour is only available on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

In the evening, you will visit the Miguel Santana Theatre in Pelhourinho, for a folkloric show presented by the Bahia Folklore Company (Balé Folclórico da Bahia), one of the most respected folklore dance troupes in the world. The performance includes a presentation of multiple African dance traditions that heavily influenced the Bahian culture. You will see the Candomblé (dance in honor of the gods); Puxada de Rede, a song by fishermen in honor of Yemanjá, the goddess of the sea; Maculelê, an acrobatic stick and sword dance with its origins in the cane fields; Capoeira, a martial art/dance of Angolan origin and the Samba de Roda, a spinning, swirling version of the exuberant national dance. Optional dinner at a local restaurant (not included). Overnight in Salvador da Bahia. (B)

In the morning, you will have a panoramic tour of the Lower City, which offers another perspective of Salvador da Bahia. You will drive by the Itapagipe Peninsula, where life moves at a slower pace, and the Bonfim Church, one of the most important pilgrimage churches in Brazil, deeply influenced by the Candomblé beliefs.

The tour continues to the Monserrat district with its panoramic view of the city and then on to the Mercado Modelo, a thriving market for local goods and souvenirs. This is also where you can test your bargaining talents! After the tour, you will be returned to your hotel. Overnight in Salvador da Bahia. (B)

Note: The Bonfim Church is closed on Mondays.

Morning transfer to Praia do Forte, a small beach village 80 km. north of Salvador. The main attractions here are the palm-lined beaches, the Tamar Project Station, a national project dedicated to the protection of endangered sea turtles and the Castelo do Garcia d’Avila, an impressive Portuguese ruin dating from 1552. Afternoon free to enjoy the surrounding area or the amenities of the hotel. Overnight in Praia do Forte. (B,D)

Free day to enjoy the surrounding area or the amenities of the hotel. Overnight in Praia do Forte. (B,D)

Free day to enjoy the surrounding area or the amenities of the hotel. Overnight in Praia do Forte. (B,D)

Transfer to the airport in Salvador da Bahia for your return flight to your final destination. (B)