Our tour through Brazil started in Salvador da Bahia. Our plan was to relax on the beach for a few days, then continue to travel to Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo & the Iguazú Falls. Thought, planned and done…
We chose the Iberostar Selection Praia do Forte. The resort is located on a kilometer-long sandy beach littered with palm trees. However, the ocean was a bit too rough and wild for us.
In order to deal with the jet lag, we relaxed the first day on the beach. Since the sky was covered with a thick clouds, we did not use sun protection. A very big mistake !!!! We only discovered the effects in the evening. We were bright red like crabs and had to avoid the sun for the next few days. 😔
Anyone who knows us knows that with such a great, wide sandy beach, we cannot do without a morning run. 😉
The city Salvador was a good hour’s drive from our resort, so we booked a guided day trip. We always find it interesting to get some background knowledge from a guide and not just walk around the sights.
Salvador da Bahia is the third largest city in Brazil after São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. It is right at the tip of All Saints Bay and is therefore often called São Salvador da Bahia de Todos os Santos (Holy Savior on All Saints Bay).
A steep cliff divides the city into two halves: the Cidade Alta “upper town” and the Cidade Baixa “lower town”. The two parts of the city are connected by the “Palno-Inclinado” cable car and the “Elevador Lacerda”.
on the left the Elevador Lacerda
Cidade Alta
Pelourinho – Cidade Alta
Cidade Baixa
Cidade Baixa
Unfortunately, the favelas (poor districts) are also typical of Brazil. We caught a glimpse of it as we drove by.
Favelas
Our last stop was the pilgrimage church of Nosso Senhor do Bonfim. You could buy wishbands there and attach them to the church lattice with 3 knots (very important – 3 knots).
In our hotel complex we were spoiled with culinary delights around the clock. There was everything that made our gourmet heart beat faster 😊
The small fishing village of Praia do Forte could be reached by a walk on the beach in about 1 hour. There wasn’t much to see there, the former fishing village has now completely adjusted to tourism. You can find cafes, bars and souvenir shops there.
Well rested, we continued our tour through Brazil, taking a domestic flight for Rio de Janeiro.
Our personal opinion about the Salvador da Bahia region:
- For a purely beach holiday, we would choose another destination, but in combination with a round trip, this is perfect.
- You have to visit the city Salvador da Bahia if you are in this area.
Best travel time:
You will never find the perfect travel time for all of Brazil, as there are different climates. We recommend January to March and September to December for the Bahia region, as there is hardly any rainfall at this time.
Hotel recommendation:
Iberostar Selection Praia do Forte
