Brazil · SALVADOR TOURS
Pelourinho is the postcard and the rest of Bahia is the reason to stay. These 15 cover the historic centre, the Afro-Brazilian roots walks, the schooner to Itaparica and the coast north, priced and timed.
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, then buy a buffet lunch at a beachfront restaurant. Guides speak Portuguese, English, French, Spanish, and Italian.
Spend six hours with a private guide such as Wilson, Mônia, Vagner, or Ronaldo, visiting Rio Vermelho, Dique do Tororó, São Joaquim Fair, a Candomblé temple, and a seaside community. Expect thoughtful cultural context, acarajé, lunch, and comfortable private transport.
“Wilson was an incredible guide. He not only pulled back the curtain on Bahian culture, but also taught us an incredible amount about my family’s African heritage. The food as well we spectacular, we ate at places that you would never find on your own. Another thing I’ll say about Wilson is he is a very knowledgeable PhD historian. He was able to answer our questions about everything we were curious about, not just about Salvador. I would highly recommend this tour for anyone who is a fan of history and wants an opportunity to see the lesser known side of Salvador!”
Spend 2.5 hours walking from Praça Castro Alves through Salvador’s historic center and Pelourinho. Your English, Spanish, or Portuguese-speaking guide covers Rio Branco Palace, Lacerda Elevator, Cruz Caída, and São Francisco Church, with cultural context and time for questions.
“Maria was a Super , excellent Guide, we were late with our cruise ship, but she waited for us; she told us lots about Salvador, we tasted several meals, drinks; we were very happy with her”
Meet at Salvador Cathedral at 2 pm for a three-hour private walk through Terreiro de Jesus, the Cross of São Francisco, and Escola do Olodum. Your guide may be Eduardo, Sayuri, Aldison, Nilza, or another member of the team. Expect candid talks on colonization, slavery, capoeira, samba, Carnival, and Afro-Brazilian life.
“Guide très intéressant Passionné par son hobby tel qu il présente son activité Nous recommandons”
Travel from Salvador to Praia do Forte and Guarajuba Beach with a guide in Spanish, Portuguese, or possibly English. Walk through a fishing village, learn about sea turtle protection at Projeto Tamar, and swim or relax beside calm waters. Hotel pickup, transport, and drop-off are included.
Spend one lively hour learning samba basics with an English-speaking instructor such as Yasmin at Associação de Capoeira Mestre Bimba. You need no partner or dance experience. Along with the steps, you’ll hear how samba, capoeira, and Afro-Brazilian culture shaped Salvador.
“A wonderful lesson with a brilliant teacher. The history of the location also felt very special. I would highly recommend the lessons here!”
Meet English-speaking guide Adriano at Praça Castro Alves for a 90-minute walk through Pelourinho. See Baía de Todos os Santos, Rua Chile, the Lacerda Elevator, Praça da Sé, the first Faculty of Medicine, Igreja de Ouro, Olodum’s house, and Michael Jackson’s filming site.
“Adriano was an exceptional tour guide who made my visit to Salvador truly unforgettable. His deep knowledge of the city's history,culture, and traditions added incredible depth to the experience.As we explored the historic town, he shared fascinating stories and insights that brought the past to life.His passion for Salvador’s heritage was evident in every explanation. Beyond his expertise, Adriano was warm, friendly, and approachable,making us feel comfortable throughout the tour. His fluent English made communication effortless, allowing us to fully appreciate the significance of each site.Whether answering questions, recommending local gems, or simply sharing his enthusiasm,he went above ...”
Spend four hours tracing Salvador’s African and Indigenous spiritual traditions, from the Afro-Brazilian Museum and Pierre Verger Gallery to a maroon community and Candomblé terreiro. Private groups of up to six receive hotel pickup, transport, and a multilingual guide such as Fernando, Monia, Maria Nunes, or Nilson.
“This was terrible and not what was promised or what i paid for. in addition, someone ran into the back of the taxi. I want a full refund.”
Join Yasmin for a one-hour beginner capoeira class at Associação de Capoeira Mestre Bimba, founded in 1937. You will learn basic attacks, defenses, and flow movements while exploring capoeira’s Afro-Brazilian roots. English and Portuguese instruction, bottled water, and no prior training required.
“I feel this is a very uniquely Salvador experience and felt more connected to the area by attending this lesson. I definitely recommend it to anyone (regardless of fitness) who want to learn something more hands-on about Salvador. Just don't forget to bring a water bottle, wear comfortable/sport clothes, and expect to sweat... a lot!”
You’ll be picked up at select Salvador hotels for a four-hour evening with a live guide in English, Spanish, or Portuguese. Walk through the historic center, try the local cravinho drink, enjoy a Bahian dinner, and watch a powerful show featuring Capoeira, Maculelê, samba, drums, and sacred dances.
“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 with a guide such as João Luis, Rodney, Sérgio, or Wilson. Explore Praia do Forte, its turtle sanctuary, fishing village, natural pools, and local crafts, then enjoy three hours at Guarajuba Beach. Lunch and entry fees cost extra.
“Joao Luis was a terrific guide. He shared relevant information, and happily expanded when we asked follow up questions. He also has a dry wit, which made the conversations more fun. JL was also flexible throughout the day, so we never felt rushed and got to spend as much time as we wanted at each stop. He also made excellent eating recommendations. As a driver, he was careful and safety conscious, without being overly slow. I highly recommend a private tour for maximum flexibility and efficiency, and JL made our visit a pleasure.”
Spend six hours tracing Salvador’s African heritage with a small group of up to four. Visit Pelourinho, São Joaquim Market, an old slave port, a historic Candomblé terreiro, and Yemanjá’s seaside altar, then share feijoada in a Black family home. Guides may include Mônia, D. Maria, or Fernando.
“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.”
Travel privately from Salvador with a professional guide to Santo Amaro, Cachoeira, and São Félix. You’ll see colonial churches, Afro-Brazilian religious history, the 1830 bridge, a farm lunch with valley views, and hand-rolled cigars 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…”
Start with hotel pickup, then trace Salvador from Barra Lighthouse through the modern city to Pelourinho. You’ll see the Lacerda Elevator, Cathedral Basilica, and St. Francis Church with a Spanish or Portuguese guide. Guide Painho has received praise for his care, though language arrangements deserve confirmation.
“O tour começou positivo, com o transfer pontual e o guia, “Painho”, se apresentando de maneira simpática. Gostamos de conhecer mais sobre a cidade de Salvador. No entanto, ao subirmos pelo Elevador Lacerda, o grupo acabou se dispersando e ficamos aguardando um chamado do guia, o que não ocorreu. Ao percebermos sua ausência, notamos que outras duas famílias também haviam ficado para trás. Ao tentar contato telefônico com o guia, percebemos uma mudança brusca de postura, inclusive com ele elevando o tom de voz durante a ligação. Em vez de retornar cerca de 200 metros para reagrupar as três famílias (incluindo a minha), ele nos repreendeu e pediu que o…”
Spend an energetic evening at Associação de Capoeira Mestre Bimba, founded in 1937 by Capoeira Regional creator Mestre Bimba. You’ll watch Capoeira rodas, Samba, Maculelê, live music, drumming, and acrobatics in an informal cultural performance. Plan for one to one and a half hours, and wear light clothes.
“Es wurde hervorragend gezeigt, wie Capoeira, Samba und das Drumming gelebt wird. Es war interessant und beeindruckend zu sehen, wie alle, von jung bis alt, mitmachten.”
Pick a summit, a shoreline or a dancefloor.
