Salvador, Brazil (3 days)

Meet your guide and driver for your private transfer to the airport for your journey to Salvador.

Considered an epicenter of Afro-Brazilian culture, Salvador was once a a large hub for the slave trade which heavily influenced Brazil’s culture and language. Now it boasts vibrant arts, music, dance and cuisine that are all heavily influenced by its African roots. The city itself has impressive Baroque architecture while its outskirts have some of the most beautiful beaches in Brazil like Praia do Forte and Costa do Sauipe.

Meet your guide just outside baggage claim (holding a sign with your name on it) for your private transfer to your hotel.

This morning you will visit the International Federation of Angolan Capoeira, or FICA. Here you'll meet with local capoeira group leaders to learn not only the history of this form of martial arts, but also to try your hands (and feet) in basic movements and traditional instruments used in this art. (the Portuguese translation for International Federation of Angolan Capoeira). Here you'll get to see many levels of expertise of capoeira to better understand the philosophical ideas and way of life behind becoming a master capoeirista. Please note that this will not be a private experience as the school has their own students that you will join in on.

After your capoeira workshop, you'll continue with your guide to Salvador’s Upper City, in the Pelourinho quarter, which has a deep colonial history. Starting from the town square, you'll head to the Afro-Brazilian museum for a deep dive into Salvador's history before continuing onto other city plazas and the Sao Francisco church. During your walking tour, you'll visit a well-known record store, a community project and recreation center for kids and the Museum of Bahian Cuisine.

After lunch, you'll visit the São Joaquim market where you can feel like a local and feast your eyes upon the local ingredients that likely played a role in the making of your lunch. You'll continue on to the Solar do Unhão where you'll visit the Bahian Modern Art Museum. Once a manor house and a sugar mill, it now houses a collection of drawings, sculptures, paintings and more from Brazilian artists throughout 8 exhibition rooms.

To cap off your tour of the city, you'll visit the Carlos Costa Museum (not open on Tuesday) which features a private collection of antique household items like silverware and furniture, as well as antique jewelry and crystals.

This morning your guide will meet you at the hotel lobby to take you to the studio of a famous Brazilian percussionist where you'll learn the rhythms of Bahia. Steeped strongly in African tradition, Bahia is said to be the percussive heart of Brazil.

Its prominence in Salvador has led to many groups of percussionists forming in the city, like the world famous group Olodum. Comprised exclusively of men, Olodum is the most famous of all the Bahian percussion groups, having performed in 35 countries around the world and annually at Carnaval. Groups like Oludum are important parts in the fight against anti-Black prejudice and discrimination by preserving and promoting the centrality of African influences in Brazilian culture.

After your percussion workshop, your guide will take you to the docks to board a sailboat to relax and enjoy the scenery of the All Saints Bay, the biggest bay in Brazil.

While sailing along the calm waters of All Saints Bay, you'll see the colonial architecture along the shore and aboard your ship you'll be treated to delicious Brazilian cuisine. The bay is composed of 56 islands, historic cities, and pristine beaches and is considered one of the most interesting nautical paradises on the planet.