Itinerary

1. Day 1: Brazilian Heritage at its Richest

   • Our tour starts in Salvador.
   • Although many head to Bahia for its tropical coastline and tasty caipirinha drinks, the state’s most popular destination is undoubtedly its capital.
   • Salvador is home to Afro-Brazilian heritage at its richest:
     • deep-fried seafood
     • festive drum-pounding sounds
     • mystical religious ceremonies
     • dance
     • an artistic form of martial arts called capoeira.

2. Day 2: The North’s Hangout Hotspot

   • Today we make a day trip by boat from Salvador to Morro de São Paulo.
   • We explore this vibrant island by foot, visiting:
     • the fort
     • lighthouse
     • shops
     • beaches.
   • Free of cars, Morro de São Paulo is North Brazil’s hangout hotspot.
   • It has a vibe that puts everyone there in a good mood.

3. Day 3: Charming And Colorful Portuguese Architecture, Inviting Music And Authentic Cuisine

   • Before relocating by flight and then by land to the resort town of Porto de Galinhas, we explore Salvador some more.
   • This historic city is renowned for its crumbling yet nevertheless impressive Portuguese architecture.
   • Salvador serves as Brazil’s second most visited urban destination after Rio de Janeiro.
   • Today we are provided with a guided tour, exploring the sites and landmarks in depth.
   • UNESCO declared the old town a World Heritage Site in 1985.
   • Salvador is one of the oldest colonial cities in the Americas.
   • There is much to see and enjoy:
     • music blasting on the streets
     • authentic cuisine
     • charming squares
     • colorful buildings
     • and more.

4. Day 4: A Multicolored Sandbar, a Church Planted Right on the Beach, Snorkeling And Splitting the Ocean in 2

   • As a day trip from Porto de Galinhas, we head south along the coast.
   • The first stop is a beach called Pontal de Maracaipe, where we see a multicolored sandbar.
   • Next is the beach of Praia dos Carneiros, with its landmark being a historic church located in the middle of a long and sandy beach.
   • Next is the beach of Praia Barra Grande, where we walk along sand that splits the ocean in two.
   • Lastly, we visit a beach called Pontal do Maragogi, where we take a boat ride out to the sea to see the natural pools, with snorkeling gear provided.
   • Note that some of today’s attractions and activities may need to be removed from the tour should the sea tides not be low enough.

5. Day 5: Buggy Riding on the Sand, Sailing to Natural Pools And a Colonial City’s Ambiance

   • In Porto de Galinhas:
     • Before relocating by flight and then by land to the fishing village of Jericoacoara, we do a couple of fun activities in Porto de Galinhas.
     • We take a sailboat (a.k.a. jangada) to a nearby natural pool and go buggy-riding on the beach.
     • Porto de Galinhas has been voted ‘Best Brazilian Beach’ for the eighth time in a row by the readers of Voyage And Tourism magazine.
   • In Olinda:
     • Before heading to the airport in Recife, we also visit the colonial city of Olinda.
     • Characterized by bright white churches, pastel-colored buildings, historic fountains, cobblestone streets, and squares, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is spread across several small hills overlooking Recife.
     • Olinda is one of Brazil’s three best locations to celebrate the world-renowned Carnival, along with Salvador and Rio de Janeiro.
   • Regarding the option to extend the tour:
     • On a side note, there's an option to extend this 13-day tour by 3 days to visit the island of Fernando de Noronha.
     • There is a direct flight there from Recife.
     • Fernando de Noronha is more of a ‘special interest’ kind of destination, with a handful of attractions suited for families looking for relaxation and surfers.

6. Day 6: Lagoons, Beach Clubs, a Romantic Sunset And Nightlife

   • Today, as an excursion from Jericoacoara by buggy, we follow the 'east route' in this specific order:
     • Prea Beach
     • Lagun Beach Club
     • Lagoa Paraiso (a.k.a. Paradise Lagoon)
     • Lagoa do Amancio (a.k.a. Loving Lagoon).
   • Evening activities:
     • In the evening, we walk to the ‘Por-do-Sol’ dune to watch the sunset over the ocean.
     • Later, we check out the nightlife, which is quite authentic.

7. Day 7: Wild Dunes, Sea Horses And a Place Like Nowhere Else on Earth

   • Leaving Jericoacoara, we are not taken directly to the hotel located in the town of Parnaíba.
   • Instead, we make several fun stops en route:
     • Driving literally along the beach, firstly we are taken to a dock.
     • There we get on a boat and search for sea horses.
     • Next, we take a ferry crossing to reach an indescribable place called Mangue.
     • There we see bizarre mangrove formations, swings, hammocks, and visitors making crazy poses.
     • After observing people enjoying themselves, we engage in sandboarding and dune bashing.
     • Next, we check out a lagoon called Lagoa de Torta.
     • We later visit Tatajuba Beach (a.k.a. Desert Beach) and then Camocim Beach.
     • Before reaching Parnaíba, we ride on some more sand dunes and make another ferry crossing at Coreau River.

8. Day 8: A Delta Voyage And Plenty of Exotic Coastline

   • Before relocating from Parnaíba to the town of Barreirinhas, we go on a boat cruise.
   • Lunch is included on today’s tour.
   • Barreirinhas serves as the gateway to Lençóis Maranhenses.
   • This national park receives as many as 60,000 visitors a year.
   • It includes 70 kilometers (43 miles) of coastline and an interior composed of rolling sand dunes.
   • From May through September, the valleys among the dunes are filled with freshwater lagoons.

9. Day 9: A Pilot's View Over a Truly Unique Park And a Dawn to Dusk 4x4 Tour

   • Our morning starts with a flightseeing tour over sand dunes and lagoons. This just may be our most unforgettable adventure while at Lençóis Maranhenses National Park.
   • The day continues with an adventurous morning-to-sunset 4x4 tour, checking out sand dunes and lagoons.
   • We also have time for swimming.
   • The lagoons in the park are often interconnected with one another, as well as with the rivers which run through the area.

10. Day 10: Desert Viewpoints by Boat And What an Incredible River

    • Before relocating by land to the city of Sao Luis, we explore Lençóis Maranhenses National Park some more.
    • We spend the day doing a boat tour.
    • The highlights are the river itself and the desert viewpoints.
    • Few places on Earth can be compared to the unique physical features of this eco-friendly destination.

11. Day 11: Welcome to the Jungle!

    • We relocate by flight from Sao Luis to the city of Manaus and then take a drive to our ecolodge.
    • Lodging in a vast rainforest is in itself an experience, as are going on river cruises to see wildlife.
    • We have saved the best for last, meaning spending our final days of this grand tour exploring the Amazon.
    • Note that virtually all meals are included by the ecolodge during our stay.

12. Day 12: Being Approached by Pink Dolphins, Spotting Creatures And a Night Cruise

    • The Amazon is the world’s most renowned rainforest for a good reason.
    • The highlights for today include:
      • Interacting with pink dolphins in their natural habitat
      • Spotting a variety of creatures in the jungle.
    • In the dark of night, we take a boat cruise in search of caimans and other wildlife.

13. Day 13: Our Tour Ends Today After Exploring the Amazon Some More

    • Transportation will be arranged for you to reach the airport in Manaus.