Salvador - Walking on the streets of the Historical District of Salvador, we feel like being taken back to the ancient times of Brazilian History. Until 1763, Salvador was the capital of the Portuguese Crown in Americans, besides being the main port of the southern hemisphere until the eighteenth century. With an extensive shoreline and a constant year round temperature (around 25° C/ 77° F), Salvador is an innovation to outdoor leisure activities. The city's tropical climate is enhanced by steady gentle breezes blowing the Atlantic Ocean and the All Saint's Bay. With approximately 50 Km of beaches and one third of the shore of the All Saint's Bay, Salvador is the ideal location for relaxing seaside vacations and the practice of water sports. Its people is formed by native Americans, Portuguese and Africans and present an unique ethnic and cultural diversity that's stands out for its harmonious and democratic coexistence, rarely found in the world today. The particular traits of each ethnic group that forms city's population create original music, dance, and many other artistic cultural expressions.

FD Historic and Panoramic city tour.
We start in the modern suburb of Barra at the mouth of the Bay with its famous lighthouse and make our way slowly by car or coach to the old historical section of town, the Pelourinho area with the largest and best preserved complex of colonial architecture in the Americas. We stroll through the narrow, bustling streets lined with buildings in pastel shades of an age gone by, soaking in the sights and sounds of this vibrant city. We visit the church of São Francisco with it's exuberant gold-leafed Baroque interior and the Pelourinho square, the heart of the old town. We return to our vehicle and hotel by an alternative route.

FD Praia do Forte.
Praia do Forte is a quiet fishing village 80 kms north of Salvador and home to some of the best beaches in Bahia. The road to Praia do Forte (Coconut Highway) takes us to the small villages and deserted beaches of the North Coast. We visit the Sapiranga reserve with it's restinga vegetation, a delicate ecosystem which survives on a sandy soil. We visit the ruins of the imposing castle (1556) which gives the area its name. From here we have a panoramic view of the northern coastline. We visit the headquarters of the TAMAR Project, the Brazilian sea turtle preservation project. Then it's time for lunch and a laze in the sun (or shade!) and a swim in the warm waters of these pristine beaches.