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Salvador Guidebook

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Finally an easy way to plan your trip to Salvador, Brazil. 🎉⁣ ⁣ I started Salvador Guidebook by accident. I don't know if you knew that, but it's true. This book is a direct result of that accident.⁣ ⁣ When I arrived here in 2013, I fell in love with the city, but kept feeling like I was missing out because I didn't speak the language. I was (and still am) smitten by the city and the culture and wanted other visitors to have an easier time than I did. From that wish the blog was born.⁣ ⁣ The book, which is available in both eBook and print, is truly the book I wish had existed when I first started visiting.⁣ ⁣ You'll find everything you need to plan your trip (and more):⁣ ⁣ 🔹 Deciding when to come to where to stay to what to pack. Exactly what you'd expect from a big-name guidebook⁣ ⁣ 🔹 Five custom maps for the five recommended neighborhoods, complete with markers for safe and not-so-safe streets and points of interest. Yes, I did them myself⁣ ⁣ 🔹 Top 10 things to do and what you should prioritize in the perfect four-day trip⁣ ⁣ 🔹 A Carnaval supplement for the world's greatest street party.⁣ ⁣ 🔹 A walking tour of the Pelourinho -- the city's historic center (and UNESCO world heritage site)⁣ ⁣ 🔹 50+ color photos ⁣ ⁣ 🔹 A handful of stories that exemplify the very special culture and community that is here⁣ ⁣ And because everybody — and I mean EVERYBODY — keeps asking me about the cover art, my incredible friend @pamela_wilson created it for me. She wanted to do a different type of cover for a different type of travel book, and here we are!⁣ ⁣ 👉👉 Link in bio 👈👈⁣ ⁣ ⁣ #explorebrazil #salvadorbahia #igbahia #ig_brazil #visitbrazil #travelbrazil #braziltravel #discoversouthamerica #travelsouthamerica #traveldestinations #doyourtravel #amazingplacestovisit #touristmode #slowtravel #touristythings #authentictravel #smallgrouptravel #tripgoals #worldtravels #touristing #vacationgoals #visitsouthamerica #ilovebrazil #travelbook

Woulda, coulda, shoulda... 💫 Getting home from a trip and saying to yourself, "really wish I would have gotten something for me." 🎁 If that is you after a trip to Salvador, I've got your back. We have a store with handpicked, one-or-few-of-a-kind handicrafts from local Brazilian artists. Earrings, bracelets, necklaces, housewares, instruments, and more. I pick out each piece myself, and we work directly with the artisans. We pay full retail price and tell them exactly what we are doing. You can read more about our artisans and get a piece of Salvador for yourself on our site. 👉 Link in the bio --> @salvadorguidebook #artisanal #handmadejewelry #handcraftedjewelry #artisanjewelry #brazilianjewelry #oneofakindjewelry #uniquejewelry #artisanjewelry #jewelrygram #customjewelry #jewelryaddict #jewelrylover #salvadorbahia #salvadorba #handmadebracelet #handmadeearrings #handmadenecklace

Made the mistake today of opening up my Carnaval photos album. Down the 🐇 hole I went.⁣ ⁣ We're still waiting to see if Carnaval 2022 is going to be a thing or not (my hopes are quickly diminishing). 🤞⁣ ⁣ If you have been thinking "Salvador Carnaval 2022" then click the link in the bio and you'll the fate of 2022's Carnaval as soon as we do.⁣ ⁣ 📸: Carnaval 2020

"𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸. 𝘋𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘴𝘩𝘦'𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵?" I said to a friend as we were doing our obligatory souvenir lap around the Pelourinho.⁣ ⁣ We looked at each other, both thinking, "𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘖𝘒, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐'𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘸'𝘦𝘥." And then, in a low whisper, I said to her, "𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘰."⁣ ⁣ This happened in Salvador, but it happens. every. time. I. travel.⁣ ⁣ And it's not just me. I know you have the same problem. ⁣ 🔸 You know what you want but don't know where to find it. ⁣ ⁣ 🔸 You don't know what you want, but you don't want to spend a lot on each one as you need to buy souvenirs for everybody and their mother.⁣ ⁣ 🔸 You don't know what you want, but you want something special, unique, one-of-a-kind. Or can I say, enchanting? And you don't mind spending a bit more for that once-in-a-lifetime keepsake.⁣ ⁣ I got you.⁣ ⁣ I just got done putting together a souvenir guide for Salvador. It has:⁣ ✅ The top six things to buy and where to find them⁣ ✅ The best neighborhoods to shop for souvenirs⁣ ✅ Where to shop when you need "souvenirs for everyone"⁣ ✅ Where to shop for the precious keepsakes⁣ ✅ Negotiating for the best price⁣ ✅ And the tradition of "free gift with purchase"⁣ ⁣ And just like that, problem solved. ⁣ ⁣ Full post in bio -> @salvadorguidebook⁣ ⁣ ⁣ #explorebrazil #salvadorbahia #igbahia #ig_brazil #visitbrazil #travelbrazil #braziltravel #traveldestinations #doyourtravel #touristmode #slowtravel #touristythings #authentictravel #worldtravels #touristing #vacationgoals #artisanal #brazilianjewelry #handmadejewelry #oneofakindjewelry #handcraftedjewelry #artisanjewelry #uniquejewelry #artisanjewelry #jewelrygram #customjewelry #jewelryaddict #jewelrylover

Boipeba, Brazil — aka paradise — is a small island located 53 miles (85 km) south of Salvador, right across the Bay of All Saints on the Atlantic Ocean. ⁣ ⁣ It is known for its idyllic culture, slow, throwback way of life, natural baths, and tranquil white-sand beaches. ⁣ ⁣ For anybody in the know, it is a coveted vacation destination and is host to several of the best beaches in Brazil. Nature-rich, the region was designated by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage site, and even during peak tourist season, it’s not overrun.⁣ ⁣ If you are looking for a place to experience sossego or Brazilian ease, then Boipeba is just the place for you.⁣ ⁣ The idea behind Boipeba is to relax and unwind and fully sink into a slower, disconnected way of life. And for that, Boipeba pulls out all the stops.⁣ ⁣ If you are someone like me who has a limit to how long she can sit under a palm tree doing nothing on any of Boipebas seven perfect beaches, there are many nature-inspired day excursions:⁣ 🌴 Whale-watching⁣ 🌴 Canoeing in the mangroves⁣ 🌴 Stand-up paddle⁣ 🌴 Snorkeling⁣ 🌴 Diving⁣ 🌴 Relaxing in natural baths⁣ 🌴 Hiking through the tropical forest to Cova da Ouça⁣ 🌴 Speedboat trip around the island⁣ 🌴 Day trip to Morro de São Paulo⁣ ⁣ Want to know more about Boipeba? There isn't much in English about this paradise, so I've written an epic 1,800-word guide to help you plan your trip.⁣ ⁣ Tap the link in my bio for the full post -> @salvadorguidebook

Imbassaí, Brazil is the perfect beach village for a few days of quiet escape. ⁣ ⁣ It’s just big enough to have the amenities you need while being small enough to be friendly and super-walkable. And, it’s close enough to Salvador, Bahia to be quick and easy to get to — while not having that big-city vibe.⁣ ⁣ The number of reasons to love Imbassaí are much higher than five, but here are my top five.⁣ ⁣ 1️⃣ Imbassaí, Brazil is easy to get to from Salvador⁣ 2️⃣ Miles and miles of walking and biking trails⁣ 3️⃣ All of the beaches are public beaches⁣ 4️⃣ Dozens of adorable pousadas waiting to spoil you⁣ 5️⃣ Lots of nearby non-beach activities⁣ ⁣ And while the beach is the main draw, there is more to do if you get bored with the lounge chair:⁣ ☀ Take surf lessons⁣ ☀ Learn to ride a 🐴 (on the beach, of course)⁣ ☀ Walk on any of the miles and miles of trails⁣ ☀ Take a boat excursion⁣ ☀ Check out the 🏰 in Praia do Forte, a few miles down the road⁣ ☀ Go see Projeto Tamar, a 🐢 refuge, in Praia do Forte ⁣ ☀ Take a whale-watching excursion (July through October) 🐳⁣ ☀ Go on a kayak tour to the small village of Diogo, a few miles up the coast⁣ ☀ Visit Arembepe, a nearby hippie village that once hosted Mick Jagger and Janis Joplin⁣ ☀ Rent a 🚲 and pedal around the miles of trails⁣ ⁣ Ready to go? Tap the link in my bio for the full post -> @salvadorguidebook

Who's starting to think about their winter getaway? ❄️ According to my site analytics, there are a lot. If Salvador, Brazil is on the list, then you'll want to check out this post. In it, I break down the five neighborhoods that I consistently recommend to first-time visitors to Salvador. 👉 Post link in the bio @salvadorguidebook 👈 Why five and why these five: ✅ They have the most tourist-friendly amenities ✅ Have a good concentration of hostels or pousadas (like bed & breakfasts) ✅ Do the best job of catering to non-Portuguese speaking visitors ✅ Have that things that most people come to Salvador for Two of the five are Barra and the Pelourinho, but to get the other three, you'll need to click through.😀 #explorebrazil #salvadorbahia #igbahia #ig_brazil #visitbrazil #travelbrazil #braziltravel #discoversouthamerica #travelsouthamerica #traveldestinations #doyourtravel #amazingplacestovisit #touristmode #slowtravel #touristythings #authentictravel #smallgrouptravel #tripgoals #worldtravels #touristing #vacationgoals

A perfect beach village escape. 🏖⁣ ⁣ There is just something weird about living in a big city located on a beach. The problem is that the peace and tranquility that you, or at least I, typically associate with a beach isn't there. Beaching in Salvador means loud music and even louder conversation.⁣ ⁣ The hubby and I have only gotten out of the heart of Salvador once since the start of the pandemic and were both in desperate need of some peace and quiet. ⁣ ⁣ So a few weeks ago, we escaped an hour up the coast to the beach village of Imbassaí — which turned out to be literally picture-perfect.⁣ ⁣ What we found was a mid-sized village with everything you need for a restful week.⁣ ⁣ 💙Abundant food and drink options for day and nightBeach, beach, and more beach⁣ 💙Dozens of cute pousadas to choose from⁣ 💙Miles and miles of cobblestone streets and paved walking and biking trails makes getting around a breeze⁣ 💙A laid-back friendliness of the local residents⁣ 💙A healthy list of non-beach activities for when you get tired of sitting or manage to get sunburned and can't be on the beach. (𝘖𝘒, 𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘦.)⁣ ⁣ I've got more over on the blog (link in bio 👆🏼), including specific recommendations for where to eat and what to do in case you get tired of life in the lounge chair.⁣ ⁣ Tap the link in my bio for the full post -> @salvadorguidebook

The ribbon of miracles.⁣ ⁣ While now a ubiquitous tourist item sold by street vendors in Salvador, this humble ribbon has an origin in miracles. ⁣ ⁣ Printed on the ribbon is “Lembrança do Senor do Bomfim da Bahia”, which is “Souvenir of the church of Bomfim in Bahia”.⁣ ⁣ Bomfim in Salvador has a long history of creating miracles. In the right back corner of the church is an alcove filled with notes, photos, and even prosthetics, from the families and groups that went to the church in search of miracles. Some notes are thank-you notes, but others speak of the miraculous cure that occurred after the visit. Seeing it is an impactful experience.⁣ ⁣ The history of the ribbon dates back to 1809, whose predecessor was initially worn as a necklace, dyed gold or black, with small charms attached. The length of these original ribbons (known then as the "measurement of Bomfim") was 47 centimeters, the exact same length as the right arm of the statue of Christ that sits on the church's altar. These ribbons were blessed by the church's priests and were said to perform miracles for the wearers.⁣ ⁣ With time that tradition disappeared, and the ribbons were more or less forgotten. ⁣ ⁣ Then in the 1960s, the ribbons were revived, but this time as something for tourists. The way that it is now worn is around the wrist, and you have someone tie the ribbon on you — tying in three knots. As each knot is tied, you make a wish. ⁣ ⁣ You leave the bracelet on, and with time the bracelet will naturally fall off (my first fell off after three months, the second after three years). It is said that when the bracelet falls off that the wishes will be coming true. ⁣ ⁣ While it is also said to be a "tourist thing," I see Brazilians wearing them as well — and while they joke about the wishes, I also believe that they believe. ⁣ ⁣ I find it to be a lovely remembrance. Much like people do affirmations, set alarms, or wear jewelry to help create an intention, I believe this does much the same.⁣ ⁣ Link in bio for full post @salvadorguidebook

Passing by in your feed to wish you a good week and share tonight's pic. Because pretty pictures is why. 🌆 Walking -- camera (errr, phone) in pocket is probably the best therapy for me. And, with so much happening in the world right now, I need it. Five things that made today's walk soul-filling. 1️⃣ Spending an hour with my delightful husband — just wandering around. No agenda. 2️⃣ My happy, easeful place wandering about taking photos. 📸 3️⃣ Sunsets. Always sunsets. 4️⃣ Our favorite street food vendor was out, so we got beijus. If you have yet to encounter this delight, it's a cross between a crepe and a street taco, but with a shell made from tapioca. 5️⃣ Tambores & Cores (samba-reggae) band was out playing near the Farol (lighthouse). The bands have just started playing again -- in some small sign of normalcy. We didn't get the late spring/early summer break from the pandemic that much of North America did. How do you clear your head? #ease #selfcare #metime #worktolive #worktolivenotlivetowork #findingease #mindsetreset #reset #salvadordabahia #faroldabarra #portodabarra

Post-pandemic getaway planning

From world-class beaches to gorgeous colonial architecture to sultry dance rhythms, discover the 40 reasons why publications from The Guardian to the New York Times are saying that Salvador is a must-visit destination.

Your no-cost inspiration piece comes as a 16-page PDF -- great for printing and sharing with future traveling companions.

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About this site

This is the site I wish I would have had when I first started visiting Salvador. As a friend of mine says, “this is your love letter to Salvador.” It’s true.

This is an amazing place, filled with completely unique culture and warm, friendly people. But, it’s also somewhat inaccessible for non-Portuguese speakers. That’s where I come in.

I still remember what it was like to be new here, and am here to here to help you make the most of your time in Salvador. Learn about my Salvador Concierge service.

Seja bem-vindo/a a Salvador!

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