Day 1
You will arrive in Salvador and check into the charming historic hotel Catharina Paraguacu. After that you might want to relax and take your time to enjoy the bohemian neighborhood, or even visit the beach and sample the Bahian delights of the famous beach huts. We suggest you have lunch at the Yemanja Restaurant for traditional Bahian food. In the afternoon a complementary stress release massage at your hotel will totally relax you and let you unwind in preparation for the evening’s entertainment. You will experience Bahia by night, having dinner at the Solar da União, also venue of the Museum of Modern Art of Bahia, where you can enjoy Brazilian food and drinks, while enjoying a folkloric show. This show features an excellent presentation on local perspectives from capoeira, to samba, to ancient slave dances and even a sample of candomblé, a religious rite typical in this region.
Day 2
Today you will begin your journey through Salvador visiting the Pelourinho, the historical district of the city, followed by a delicious Bahian lunch. Then you will visit the Mercado Modelo in Cidade Baixa. The Mercado Modelo is a handcraft market that used to be the merchandise and slave-trading outpost of the city. Here you can buy many handicrafts and local products. Make sure you visit the dungeon below the market where the slaves were kept prior to sale. We suggest dinner at the Lambreta Grill, an award winning seafood café.
Day 3
On the last day of your trip you will check out of the hotel Catharina Paraguacu and be transported by a private vehicle to Praia do Forte. The journey takes roughly an hour and when you arrive you will check into the Pousada Farol das Tartarugas. We suggest having lunch at 'Bar do Souza'; try their delicious and famous 'bolinhos de peixe' (Bahian-style fish cakes) and/or a fish or shrimp moqueca (Bahian stew). After lunch we suggest you visit the TAMAR PROJECT (turtle NGO) Visitor Center and then on to Papa Gente's Natural Pools for snorkeling (times may vary due to the tide). It is now getting dark and you have worked up a hardy appetite so, we suggest having dinner at the Fata Morgana restaurant (Spanish food).
Day 4
Today you will be taking an 8-hour nature tour. Begin by exploring the region of Sauipe, where you will take a 4-Wheeler Tour (1 adult per 4-wheeler) through Atlantic forest vegetation and along rivers. During the ride, there will be a stop at the Sauípe River for a swim and to go down the rapids on inner tubes. The 4-Wheeler Tour will be followed by lunch at the fisherman village of Diogo. Then you will take a canoe trip down the pristine river of Imbassai surrounded by snow-white dunes. You will explore nature in this unspoiled part of the world. Back at Praia do Forte; we suggest you have dinner at Japa, an excellent Japanese Restaurant. Followed by a stroll around the main street of the village and visit the shops and cafes.
Day 5
Today you may choose between one of 3 tours: Horseback riding, Sauipe River Catamaran or Sauipe Adventure Expedition.
- 3.5-hour horseback ride will begin by taking you through a lake, then along sand dunes, followed by a trail through tropical forest to the Castelo Garcia D’Avila and finally winding down and along the beach back to the village.
2. 7 km Catamaran ride to the mouth of the River Sauipe, passing through beautiful areas of coastal rainforest vegetation and mangroves. A specialist guide will tell you about the various ecosystems and you will have the opportunity to swim and do a bit of bird watching.
- The Sauipe Expedition will take you on a hike through local wetland vegetation to the banks of the River Sauipe, where you will board native wooden canoes and row to the mouth of the river, with the help of a specialist guide. You will have a chance to enjoy a refreshing dip in the river or sea, before returning to your pousada in a 4x4 vehicle.
The afternoon is free to relax and enjoy Praia do Forte. You may want to take this opportunity to visit the Castelo Garcia D’Avila, the impressive ruins of a castle belonging to the first land-owning farmer in Brazil.
Day 6
After breakfast you will check out of the pousada Farol das Tartarugas and say goodbye to Praia do Forte. You will then be driven in a private, air-conditioned vehicle to the Salvador airport from where you will take a plane to Ilheus (40 min flight) (this flight is not included in this package). On arrival in Ilheus you will be driven by private air-conditioned vehicle to Itacare, (about one hour’s drive). After your journey you might want to relax and check out what your hotel has to offer before having dinner in the village. We suggest dinner at the Beco das Flores Pizzaria in the village.
Day 7
Today you will have a choice of 1 of 3 tours after breakfast.
Tours:
- Prainha Beach – this beach is considered one of the top 10 most beautiful beaches in Brazil. The one and a half hour walking trail takes you along the beaches of Resende, Tiririca, Costa and Ribeira and over Atlantic rainforest covered hills. You will pass waterfalls, where you will have an opportunity to cool off and incredible viewpoints to take photos. Prainha beach has numerous coconut palms to quench your thirst and provide shade from the sun. Total journey time is 6 hours.
- Usina and Jeribucacu Trail – this walking trail takes you through Atlantic rainforest to a beautiful waterfall situated next to the ruins of a power station dating back to 1942, when Itacare was at the height of its cocoa-growing era. The 25 meter high waterfall forms a natural swimming pool in the middle of the rainforest, where it is possible to bathe. The trail continues along the banks of the River Jeribucacu where you will observe the local diverse flora, including trees dating back hundreds of years, bromeliads and wild orchids. The trail ends at the mouth of the river where it enters the sea at Jeribucacu beach. Arruda beach is next to it, which has beautiful natural pools at low tide. Total journey time is 7.5 hours. (Bag lunch is included.)
- Rafting and Rappel – You will be taken in a 4-wheel drive vehicle to the village of Taboquinhas, 34 km outside of Itacare. There you will be given instructions and necessary equipment. The rafting is a one and a half hour descent through a Canyon, over rapids in the Rio de Contas. Rapids are level III and IV. Rappel is at the 15 meter high Nore Waterfall, where you will rappel down the middle of the waterfall.
As most of the tours in and around Itacare are to areas with very little or no infrastructure, you are required to take your own lunch (some tours include a bag lunch – see tour description above). On request, your hotel will prepare a pack-lunch-to-go. Please make sure to advise the hotel staff the night before. We advise you take the following on tours: a good pair of walking shoes, shorts, t-shirt, swimwear, towel, backpack, mosquito repellent and sunscreen.
Tonight we suggest dinner at Mae Josepha, in the Itacare Eco Resort.
Day 8
After breakfast today you will go on 1 of the 2 tours you didn’t do yesterday. You should confirm which tour you want with your guide the night before.
We suggest dinner at Casa Sapucaia in the village.
Day 9
On your last day in Itacare, we suggest you take the morning to relax by the pool or on the beach before checking out and being driven in a private, air-conditioned vehicle to the airport in Ilheus. We are certain that you will have enjoyed your trip and we look forward to seeing you again in Brazil.
