Package #19 – Visit Rio de Janeiro and Salvador
Day 1. Usa / Salvador
Arrival at Salvador International Airport, then transfer to the hotel. Rest of the day at your leisure. The city of Salvador, founded by Thomé de Souza in 1549 close to the Bahia de Todos os Santos (Todos os Santos Bay) was Brazil’s capital until 1763. Today the Bahia state capital is normally called “Happiness Land” for being a magic, enchanting, fascinating and mystical place, with its 365 churches, one for each day of the year. The most rich and beautifully decorated of all is São Francisco Church, the most visited one, as well as Bonfim Church, with a great number of believers from different religions. The city is divided into two sections:
On the “Cidade Baixa” (Low City) is below sea level and close to the old port, the Mercado Modelo (Modelo Market) which offers all kinds of typical shopping items, and the Solar do Unhão, a beautiful Museum and elegant restaurant.
On the “Cidade Alta” (High City) we have the Pelourinho, Praça Castro Alves, the old government buildings, churches, museums and modern buildings. The Lacerda Elevator connects both parts of the city. One of the local features is the “Baianas” (Bahia typical women), which is mentioned in Dorival Caymmi’srhymes : “- What is it that the Baiana has?” (“O que é que a Baiana tem?”) – and the answer comes quickly: caruru, vatapá, acarajé, juicy moqueca, abará, cocadas and all that fits on her tray, representing the famous and delicious Bahia cuisine. The traditions can be appreciated in many places such as:
– Caper dancing, or fight, played at the beriberi rhythm
– The Mandible rituals, a spiritual belief originated from old African culture
– Carnival, a Brachia party since the XVII Century. In Salvador visitors should go to the Fortresses, Lagos do Abate (Abate Lagoon) and participate on its intense nightlife.
Overnight at your hotel.
Day 2. Salvador
Breakfast. Half-day city tour, visiting the most important places of this beautiful city.
A trip through the centuries, going back to history starting point and Brazilian people origins. The tour starts at the Santo Antonio da Barra Fortress, Barra Lighthouse, the geographical limit of Bahia de Todos os Santos / ocean, Porto da Barra (a city’s benchmark), Ladeira da Barra, Corredor da Vitória, Dois de Julho Square (Campo Grande), Castro Alves Theatre, Piedade Square, Convent and São Bento Church, Castro Alves Square (the core of Bahia’s carnival), Sé Square. Stop at Terreiro de Jesus, walk to: Basílica Cathedral, Ordem Terceira de São Francisco (Golden Church), Medicine College, Pelourinho Hotel (the house where Jorge Amado, the famous Brazilian writer lived). The highest point of the tour: Pelourinho, he soul of Bahia people, considered by UNESCO as the world’s most important colonial architecture complex from the XVII and XVIII Centuries. The City Museum, Nsa. Sra. do Rosário dos Pretos, Ladeira do Carmo (Church and Museum).Return to hotel. This evening, you will be attending the best folkloric show Salvador has to offer. This show You will know Bahia’s wonders in this authentic folklore show on Candomblé, Samba de Roda, Maculelê, Dança de Caboclo and a magnificent capoeira dancing session. Overnight at your hotel.
Ask if you can book the optional Capoeira show and typical dinner with the best of Bahian cuisine (no drinks included).
Day 3. Salvador
Breakfast. This day we will depart by boat to Frades Island. Swimming and other activities such as relaxation in the tents, with seafood and drinks included, walks to the Nsa. Sra. de Guadalupe Church or nearby beaches. Arrival and lunch. Before returning back to the hotel, we will take brief walk in the city of Itaparica, Fonte da Bica, with its colonial houses.
Return at 03:30 pm. Arrival at the Tourism Terminal and transfer to hotel. Overnight at your hotel.
Day 4. Salvador / Rio de Janeiro
Breakfast. Departure to Rio de Janeiro at the most convenient departure time. Arrival at Rio, transfer to the hotel. Your hotel is located in the Copacabana area (Other areas available also). Famous for its beaches Capacabana’s Atlantica Ave offers innumerous café’s and restaurants. The astonishing beauty of the Guanabara Bay bewitches visitors to Rio. Rio’s famous landmark statue of Christ the Redeemer perched atop Tijuca National Forest. It has a Botanical Garden of almost 350 acres containing over 5,000 species of plants, fine museums like the Indian Museum and the National Historical Museum.
The rest of the day free to rest from the trip and to be acquainted with Copacabana. Evening at your leisure. We recommend the Plataforma 1 nightclub show where you can enjoy an excellent Brazilian show (This optional tour is not included on total price) if you want to book it just let us know via email or calling us. Overnight at your hotel.
Day 5. Rio de Janeiro – Christ the Reedemer
Breakfast. Tour to El Corcovado (Christ Statue) and to the Sugar Loaf (lunch included). The 704-meter above sea level ride to El Corcovado is on a trolley or by cable car. At the top of the mountain, you will have the opportunity to see the Christ Statue, 90 feet tall.
From this point, you will enjoy a panoramic view of Rio, the beaches, mountains and the Sugar Loaf, all of them resulting in one of the most spectacular urban and natural sceneries in the whole world. Overnight at your hotel.
Day 6. Rio de Janeiro
After breakfast enjoy the tour to Petropólis. This tour will take you to the Imperial city, founded by Don Pedro 1, Emperor of Brazil. The city is home to several palaces, among them the Crystal Palace, the Rio Negro Palace, the Palacio dos Correios, and the Summer Palace of the emperor. A charming city, a city that you may have never though it exists in Brazil. The Petropolis tours only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Overnight at your hotel.
If you preffer you may take the tour for an additional cost; Tropical Islands is an all day tour that cruises the bay in safe and comfortable sailboats. Tropical fruits are freely served on board, as well as the typical Brazil’s drink, the Caipirinha.
The boat stops for those who want to swim in the clean waters of the bay, where it is possible to see the bottom. After this stop, we will head to the Island where a buffet-style lunch will be served with a varied selection of dishes mainly seafood and barbecue. The stay on the island takes approximately 3 hours, enough for swimming in the ocean or to play the available sports. (This optional tour is not included on total price) if you want to book it just let us know via email or calling us.
Overnight at your hotel.
Day 7. Rio de Janeiro
Breakfast. Hotel check out at 12:00 Noon. If you have time we recommend having lunch in one of Rio’s churrasquerias; these are the typical Brazilian steak houses, where you are served innumerous types of beef cuts, salads, and pastas, all you can eat, at an unbelievable price. (This is not included on total price).Transfer to Rio International Airport to take your departure flight to your home city
SALVADOR & RIO BEST OF BRAZIL
Services in Rio:
- Round trip transfers
- 3 nights
- Daily breakfast and hotel taxes
- Full day Tour to El Corcovado and Sugar Loaf with lunch included
- Imperial Petropolis Half day Tour
- Local Hosted and Bilingual Tour Guides
- Assistance with the Brazilian visa requirements (Consulate fee not included).
Services in Salvador Bahia:
- Round trip transfers
- 3 nights
- Daily breakfast and hotel taxes
- Historical Half day City Tour
- Bahian folklore night show with dinner
- Tour to Frade Island and Itaparica Cruise (no lunch included)
- Local Hosted and Bilingual Tour Guides
Important Information: American citizens are required to obtain consular visa to visit Brazil, your passport must be valid for more than 6 months from return date. Cost of tourist Visa for Brazil not included. Other Nationalities may need also please write or call us.
