things to do in salvador de bahia, brazil

As an homage to Salvador de Bahia, a 2014 World Cup host city, I am sharing a few highlights of my trip that I thought you might also enjoy.  Salvador, like Rio de Janeiro, is right by the water.  But, in addition to the beaches, it has a lot of other things going for it. These are some of them:

The Atlantic side.

The beaches - Of course, I have to start with the obligatory beach scene.  Salvador has access to both the Atlantic Ocean, where the surf is pretty strong, and the All Saints Bay (Bahia de Todos os Santos), where the waters are calmer.  The beaches are a great place to not only enjoy the sun but also to people watch.  If baking on the beach for hours on end is not your thing, you can also visit a nautical museum, a lighthouse (faro de barra), and a park -- all along the beach.

A church in Pelourinho.

Pelourinho - As the former Brazilian capital of a Portuguese colony, Salvador's old town, called Pelourinho, has a lot of history (it used to be the center of the slave trade), beautiful buildings in the colonial style, a lot of churches that showed the wealth and power of the Portuguese Empire, and plenty of activities (you might see a lot of drummers from different cultural groups, including Olodum, practicing on the streets).   

Drummers practice on the
streets of Pelourinho.

Tuesday night concerts - One of the best street parties in town, you can watch free concerts, follow drummers parade up and down streets, and eat food from street vendors. It is also a great place to meet locals and fellow travelers. It does get crowded and wild so make sure to always be aware of your surroundings. Also, be aware of enterprising locals who might want to "protect" you during your evening out and about town - they may ask for a fee or a tip for that "protection" later. A group of travelers I befriended at a concert and I were "protected" by a scrawny little kid named, "Elton."

Candomble - If you are into religion, or the study of it, you might be interested in not only visiting the old colonial Catholic churches in Pelourinho but also checking out a religion that traces its roots back to Salvador called, Candomble. See, when traders/kidnappers brought African slaves to Salvador, they kept their customs, beliefs and culture going through Candomble. I was fortunate enough to be able to attend a ceremony. A few participants started speaking in tongues when they were touched by their gods. Unfortunately, when the gods touched me, I still spoke English. The priest explained to me that I may not have been similarly inspired to speak in tongues because I'm "gringa." Never been called that before. Go figure.

Performing capoeira.

Capoeira - This Brazilian martial arts is pretty cool to watch because it looks like a pretty dance. You can watch a lot of street performers, or you can go to a studio and learn how to do it. Street performers expect a tip when you take pictures of them doing their thing. Go ahead and give them a few reais. After all, they're working hard to show off their stuff that you're enjoying.

A bubbling (bg) bowl of Moqueca.

Food  - I found Salvador to be less meat-centric and more of a seafood haven. The Salvador specialty is called Moqueca, which is seafood stewed in dende oil and coconut milk. It is very rich but delicious. Another dish I enjoyed is called Casquinha de Siri, which is the crab meat stuffed in the shell and breaded. Another one is called Bolinho de Bacalhau, which is cod fish that has been breaded, balled and deep fried. I also found the fruits in Salvador to be fresh and delicious as a snack, as a juice drink or in a cocktail.

Fourth Beach in Morro.

Morro de Sao Paulo and/or Boipeba - Approximately two hours away by boat or 20 minutes by charter plane from Salvador are these beautiful and small beach villages. Morro doesn't have roads so you know you will be away from any hustle and bustle. Boipeba is less developed than Morro so it is the better option if you truly want to get away from it all. Either way, the beaches in both are clean and pretty, and, for the most part, not crowded. For the most part, you should expect to just relax on the beach or on your hammock, read a book, eat, drink beer or cocktails, maybe play futbol on the beach, attend beach socials at night, sleep, and repeat. Bliss!

As you can see, Salvador has a lot to offer and more.  I hope you have a great time when you visit.

What did you enjoy about Salvador?