My account

Login

Username or email address *

Password *

Remember me

Lost your password?

Register

Email address *

A password will be sent to your email address.

Yes, please! I'd love to learn more about Salvador, its unique, fascinating culture, and get trip planning ideas. I know I can un-subscribe at any time.

Your personal data will be used to fulfill your order(s) and communicate with you about those orders, as well as for other purposes described in our privacy policy.

The latest from Instagram

The rugged landscape of Itacaré.⁣ ⁣ If surfing is your vibe, Itacaré is where you want to be.⁣ ⁣ About 6 hours by ferry/bus down the coast from Salvador, this sleeping surfing village nestled amongst in the rainforest is home to some of the best surf in the region as well as some of the best beaches in the country.⁣ ⁣ If beach, more beach, and yet more beach are your vacation goals, then Itacaré should be on your post-pandemic vacation list.⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ #salvadorlove 😍⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ #travelfromhome #ficaemcasa #explorebrazil #salvadorbahia #stayathome #igbahia #ig_brazil #brazilgram_ #visitbrazil #travelbrazil #braziltravel #ilovebrazil #discoversouthamerica #visitsouthamerica #travelsouthamerica #bahiabrazil #bahiabrasil #ig_bahia #salvador #surfing #beachlife #surfer #surfline #surfinglife

set in the Brazilian cocoa plantation era of early 20th century, this is a fun, highly-engaging look at life at that time. Complete with mistresses and western-style shootouts, it's a great, entertaining read.Are you familiar with Bahia's favorite son, Jorge Amado?⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ No? Then you're missing out.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ A prolific author, with dozens of titles that have since been translated into 49 languages in 56 countries, his fiction writing is focused on daily life in Bahia.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ If you are just getting to know his work, start with:⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 💙 Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon - set in the Brazilian cocoa plantation era of early 20th century, this is a fun, highly-engaging look at life at that time. Complete with mistresses and western-style shootouts, it's a great, entertaining read.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 💙 Dona Flora and her Two Husbands - set in Salvador, one reviewer describes this book far better than I can: “A hedonist's delight, 'Dona Flor' is a celebration of love, sex, food, music, gambling and everything else that can make a person happy.“⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 💙 Captains of the Sands - set in Salvador, this endearing book is about a group of orphans and runaways pulling off capers throughout the city. It is not only an engaging read, but also provides a realistic look at what life on the streets of Salvador is like for young boys.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Happy reading!⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ #salvadorlove 😍⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣

Mother Nature never disappoints.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Our beloved Farol (lighthouse) provides a stunning backdrop as she oversees the entrance to the Bay of All Saints.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ It's this large bay that makes Salvador a major shipping port and is why Salvador was the first capital of Brazil. (It is also why the majority of enslaved Africans that were brought to Brazil entered the country through Salvador to the nearby sugar and cocoa plantations).⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ #salvadorlove 😍⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ #travelfromhome #ficaemcasa #explorebrazil #salvadorbahia #stayathome #igbahia #ig_brazil #brazilgram_ #visitbrazil #travelbrazil #braziltravel #ilovebrazil #discoversouthamerica #visitsouthamerica #travelsouthamerica #bahiabrazil #bahiabrasil #faroldabarra #barra

I absolutely love the intricate details of fine craftsmanship. You could say I'm a sucker for the details. The intricate scrolls of the Portuguese colonial architecture, the precisely-laid cobblestone sidewalks, or in this case, the inlaid stone of the steps of the Museu da Misericordia. museudamisericordia Salvador is rich with these details, where much of it is preserved in the UNCESCO-designated world heritage site, the Pelourinho and its sister neighborhood Santo Antonio. #salvadorlove 😍⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ ⁣ #travelfromhome #ficaemcasa #explorebrazil #salvadorbahia #stayathome #igbahia #ig_brazil #brazilgram_ #visitbrazil #travelbrazil #braziltravel #ilovebrazil #discoversouthamerica #visitsouthamerica #travelsouthamerica #bahiabrazil #bahiabrasil #pelourinho #southamerica #salvador

This is how time feels to me these days, how about you?⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ A little ephemeral, with us all adrift waiting for the pandemic to pass. As we wait to see what life looks like "on the other side." ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ What we've known as "normal" for the past several years is gone -- our grandparents or great-grandparents lived through WWII and it changed them. This will change us.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ And as a mater of fact it already has. I've learned to make instruments (see my last post), my husband ia learning to record and mix music, conventional wisdom is being broken around what can and can't be done via the internet (dance and music classes).⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ How has this changed you?⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ #salvadorlove 😍⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ #travelfromhome #ficaemcasa #explorebrazil #salvadorbahia #stayathome #igbahia #ig_brazil #brazilgram_ #visitbrazil #travelbrazil #braziltravel #ilovebrazil #discoversouthamerica #visitsouthamerica #travelsouthamerica #bahiabrazil #bahiabrasil

Look what I learned to make!! ⁣⁣ (And thank you to @agbelas for the great class!)⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Called a xequere or agbe, this beaded gourd instrument is used in a lot of the musical styles of the northeast of Brazil, including candomblé rhythms, Maracatu, and much more.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Pop up to my story to see how I got from raw, dried gourd to the final product.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ I'm officially addicted now and have two more gourds (cabaças) here ready to go. Beading a row or two is a super-relaxing way to end the day and a nice break from the computer.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ What skill have you learned in the quarantine?⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ #salvadorlove 😍⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

Baianos (people from the state of Bahia) doing what baianos do best — relaxing on the beach with some beer and a soccer ball.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Many criticize the laid-back lifestyle, but as someone who comes from a work hard, work harder culture, the balance that living here has given me is unmistakable. Yes, I’m working wayyyy too much during the pandemic, but the perspective of “I have all I need” is one I cherish.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ They value work. BUT… they also value friends and family and relationships and community. And, that happens for them outside of work. Work to live, not live to work.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ (Photo circa 2019 for anyone wondering)⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ #salvadorlove 😍⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣

The pride people take in their appearance here is always something that has impressed me about Salvador. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Yes, it’s a major religious festival (Festa de Iemanjá on Feb 2), but it’s on the beach. The beach!⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ That they can wear white for hours — at the beach no less — is always impressive to me. I can’t make it out the door wearing white without something staining it. (Not that I leave the house much these days, but you get what I’m saying.)⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ My husband says he can always spot the tourists a mile away. They are the ones that look like they rolled right out of bed and out onto the street. The Brazilians, no. They have expertly-applied makeup, perfectly pressed clothes, and never, ever leave the house without earrings on if they have pierced ears. For many, they may not have many physical comforts and changes of clothes, but they rock what to do have.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Where do you, in a non-quarantine world, fit on the “fit and finish to leave the house” spectrum?⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ #salvadorlove 😍⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣

Is this what socially-distanced beach life is going to look like? ⛱⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ I’m super-curious to see what happens when the mayor re-opens the beaches. Here in Salvador we are all about cramming as many people as possible into as small of a space as possible. The beaches are always packed shoulder-to-shoulder — and if you have loud music playing, all the better.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ I’m definitely more on the “let me be in peace and quiet with my book” kind of beach person.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ How about you? What does your perfect beach day look like?⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ #salvadorlove 😍⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣

Another weekend goes by without the sounds of samba-reggae echoing off the cobblestone streets and buildings of the Pelourinho.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ I can’t even begin to tell how much I miss playing surdo with my band fam, @movimento.percussivo.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ I miss (and love)…⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 💙 How they welcomed me into the family — even as I had absolutely no idea what I was doing and kept tripping them up.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 💙 The giant free street parties that we used to host (and will again).⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 💙 How Mestre @gilmario_marques believes in every single person playing there.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 💙 That we have some of the best percussionists in Brazil playing with us. Professionals with more than 30 years experience playing alongside newcomers — all there to support each other and have a great time.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 💙 It’s a special place and I can’t wait to get back to it.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ #salvadorlove 😍⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ #travelfromhome #ficaemcasa #explorebrazil #salvadorbahia #stayathome #igbahia #ig_brazil #brazilgram_ #visitbrazil #travelbrazil #braziltravel #ilovebrazil #discoversouthamerica #visitsouthamerica #travelsouthamerica #bahiabrazil #bahiabrasil #sambareggae #pelourinho

Venture off the beaten path

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.

Get the Guide

Partner Sites

Crafted in Brazil – Bring the spirit of Brazil into your home, your heart, your life. Imported, hand crafted jewelry, instruments, and household goods.

Bira Santos – Internationally-known musician and percussion instructor, recognized for his deep knowledge of the rhythms of candomblé.

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.” And, 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. And that’s where I come in.

I still remember what it was like to be new here, and love helping to lift the curtain on all that Salvador has to offer.

Bem vindo a Salvador!

Articles
Privacy Policy
Shipping and Returns
Cart
About

Free Articles
Carnaval
- All Carnaval Articles
- Carnaval Concierge
Trip Planning
About
Wishlist
Shop
Login