Islands and Lagoons Get away for a week in the spectacular sea and beaches of Bahia on this holiday in north eastern Brazil. You'll explore a vast peninsular with a freshwater lake on one side and the sea, dotted with islands on the other. All fringed with Atlantic rainforest. You'll also visit the colonial city of Salvador with its pastel-coloured buildings and lively music in the streets. Day 1: Fly from London Heathrow direct to Sao Paulo on an overnight flight with TAM airlines or fly with TAP via Lisbon. Day 2: Land at Sao Paulo and change for an internal flight to Salvador (or from Lisbon to Salvador). You'll be met at Salvador airport and driven to a charming boutique inn in the old quarter of this colonial city, one of the oldest in Brazil, but away from the hustle and bustle (there's always a party going on in Salvador!). Time to relax and settle in. Day 3: You'll be picked up by one of our guides and taken around the colonial city of pastel-coloured buildings, including churches and markets. A bit of time to shower and change and then you'll be taken to an amazing display of the culture and dance of Salvador. We promise it will be one of the highlights of your trip. Day 4: This morning, you will be driven a few hours down the stunning coast until you reach a spectacular peninsular, the sea on one side and a vast freshwater lake on the other. You'll arrive at a small resort on a coconut tree fringed beach where you can settle into your private air-conditioned bungalow, have a swim, lie back on a hammock or go for a walk along the beach and see the spectacular sunset. Tonight, you will have a delicious welcome dinner, one of our favourites is 'Moqueca de Peixe'. Moqueca is the famed dish of Bahia, a stew made with coconut milk, dende (more of this to come) and spices, made here with the freshest of fish from the sea. This is an area where it's possible just to catch lobsters and crabs in the mangroves. Day 5: Day at leisure to enjoy the beach. Day 6: A boat trip to one of the many islands nearby, as well as enjoying the birdlife along the mangroves, today you'll learn about how the locals live and farm. Highlights include the traditional ways of producing manioc (cassava) dating back to Indian times. You're also going to see dende, a type of palm oil, with a very red hue, which identifies many of the Bahia region's dishes. You're also going to have a walk through the Atlantic rainforest. Day 7: More islands today. Our favourite is one where they make large wooden sailing schooners, still by hand. Even the sails are made on the island. You will also spend some of the day enjoying some of the spectacular snorkelling in the clear seas. Day 8: Morning at leisure. In the afternoon, you'll be driven to Salvador where you'll take a plane to Sao Paulo and then connect to an internal flight overnight. Day 9: Afternoon arrival back at Heathrow airport. If you started your trip on a Saturday, this will be a Sunday. This beaches holiday for 2 people sharing a private tour costs from £2,300 per person. The tour price includes flights from the UK, all accommodation, activities/excursions with guides, time with local people, private transfers and some meals. If you wish to take this tour as a family, contact us with your family breakdown for a quote. This 9-day tour fits ideally into a week off work, but it is also possible to extend this tour, e.g. with an extension in Rio or Sao Paulo, spend longer in Salvador or explore the chapadas. Please do telephone to have a chat about options.
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