- Tour code
BRAADV01
- Start
Salvador
- End
Rio de Janeiro
- Min. age
16 years old
- Group size
Max 6-16 travellers
- Trip style
Explorer
- Trip pace
Active
- Language
English
Brazil's two great coastal cities, eight days, and a lot of music. The trip starts in Salvador, the capital of Bahia and the heart of Afro-Brazilian culture, and finishes in Rio de Janeiro, between the beaches, the hills and the bars of Lapa.
The first four days are in Salvador. Walk the colonial lanes of Pelourinho, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a local guide who explains how African heritage shaped the city. Taste cachaça, cook moqueca in a family kitchen, learn Bahian drum rhythms and watch a folkloric dance show before a night out in Rio Vermelho.
Then continue to Rio. Evenings are for food and drink in Lapa and Santa Teresa, and for a samba class that leads straight into a night out. Days are for Ipanema, Christ the Redeemer and, if you like, Sugarloaf.
Expect a mix of guided time and free time, a small group of 6 to 16 travelers with your Soca Islands Host, and a farewell dinner to close it out.
Why This Journey
Rio gets the headlines, but much of what people love about Brazil, from samba's roots to the drumming and the food, comes from Bahia. Starting in Salvador and ending in Rio lets you hear that story in order: the African heritage of Pelourinho and the family kitchens of Bahia first, then the beaches and nightlife of Rio.
It suits travelers who travel for food, music and people, and who like to join in rather than watch: you'll cook, drum and dance as well as sightsee, with free afternoons for the beach.
Where You'll Stay
Salvador (4 nights): Vila Galé Salvador, on Ondina Beach with a seafront pool. Rio de Janeiro (3 nights): Hotel Arpoador, on the point between Ipanema and Copacabana. Proposed accommodation (or similar), subject to confirmation. Rooms are based on two people sharing a double room with two beds.
Getting There
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travelers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Fly into Salvador International Airport (SSA) and out of Rio de Janeiro, from Galeão International Airport (GIG) or Santos Dumont Airport (SDU); arrival and departure airport transfers are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
What you will see and do
Drums in Salvador, samba in Rio: live music and Afro-Brazilian culture
Take in Rio from Christ the Redeemer, then hit Ipanema and Copacabana
Eat and drink Brazil: moqueca, caipirinhas, cachaça and street food
What's included
All activities mentioned on the itinerary
Accommodations in double rooms
Experienced Soca Islands Host with you throughout the trip
One farewell group activity when possible
Group transportation
Arrival and departure airport transfers
Max 16 travellers per group
What's excluded
- International flights (travellers arrange their own)
- Travel insurance (required)
- Meals not listed as included
- Optional activities (such as Sugarloaf on the free afternoon)
- Single room supplement (single rooms on request, subject to availability)
- Extra hotel nights before or after the trip
Group itinerary
Arrive in Salvador, the capital of Bahia and the heart of Afro-Brazilian culture, and transfer to your seaside hotel. Once everyone has checked in, the group meets over a caipirinha.
Dinner tonight is a welcome feast of northeastern Brazilian cooking, known for its bold, rich flavors.
With a local guide, walk the colorful streets of Pelourinho, the UNESCO-listed old town, and learn how African traditions shaped Salvador's history, faith and food.
Lunch puts a modern spin on Bahian classics, followed by a cachaça tasting to try Brazil's sugarcane spirit.
The afternoon is free for craft shops, street snacks or a café with live music.
Spend the morning in the kitchen of a local family, learning to make moqueca, Bahia's famous seafood stew, and hearing about the influences behind it.
Sit down to eat what you've made, then head back to Salvador. The rest of the day is yours: beach, city or pool.
Take the morning slowly, by the pool or on the sand.
In the afternoon, pick up a drum and learn the rhythms that drive Bahian music, with instructors showing you the traditional instruments.
Tonight, watch a live show of Bahia's dance and folklore, then move on to Rio Vermelho for dinner, drinks and the buzz of the neighborhood.
Continue to Rio de Janeiro, settle into your hotel and take a breather.
In the evening, a food and drink tour takes you through Lapa and hillside Santa Teresa, tasting local bites as you go. When it ends, Rio's nightlife is yours to explore.
Spend the morning in Ipanema: swim, browse the shops or grab something cold from a beach vendor.
Later, meet up for a samba class, then carry the moves out into the city's nightlife.
Head up to Christ the Redeemer this morning for sweeping views over the bay, the beaches and the city.
The afternoon is free. Ride up Sugarloaf, explore a new neighborhood or return to the beach.
Tonight, the group gathers for a farewell dinner to celebrate the trip.
Say goodbye to the group and transfer to the airport for your flight home.
You'll head home with Bahian drums in your head and a few good reasons to come back.
Accommodations
Here's a glimpse of the hotels we selected for this adventure.
Vila Galé Salvador
An oceanfront hotel on Ondina Beach, between the Barra lighthouse and the restaurants and bars of Rio Vermelho. The historic Pelourinho is around 20 minutes away by road.
There is a pool with a cocktail bar facing the sunset, a restaurant serving regional and Portuguese dishes, and a daily breakfast buffet. Many rooms have sea views.
Hotel websiteHotel Arpoador
A small beachfront hotel at Arpoador, the rocky point between Ipanema and Copacabana, famous for its sunset views. Ipanema beach starts on the doorstep and Copacabana is a short walk the other way.
Its restaurant faces the sea, and the location makes the farewell evening in Ipanema an easy stroll.
Rooms
- Included
Shared double
Shared with the person you book with, or a fellow traveller of the same sex.
- Extra cost
Single room
A room to yourself, subject to availability.
You choose your room when you book.
Tour FAQS
Fly into Salvador International Airport (SSA) Fly out of Galeão International Airport (GIG) or Santos Dumont Airport (SDU).
Proposed accommodation (or similar), subject to confirmation: Vila Galé Salvador on Ondina Beach in Salvador (4 nights) and Hotel Arpoador in Rio de Janeiro (3 nights).
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travelers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
Yes. Arrival and departure airport transfers are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
The trip includes 7 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 3 dinners. Meals not listed as included are at your own cost.
Extra nights can be requested, subject to hotel availability; contact our Customer Experience team for a quote.
There are no scheduled activities on the final day, so feel free to book your departure at your own convenience.
We recommend arriving before 3 pm on Day 1 to make it in time for the welcome event. But don’t worry no matter when you land, we’ll have an airport transfer ready for you.
Please Refer to your government’s travel advice or consult your local consulate. Remember, passport and visa requirements can change, so make sure to stay updated.
Excluding alcohol, we suggest budgeting around USD $40.00 per day for extras.
While we’re not medical professionals, we want to help you prepare for a safe and healthy adventure. Here are some tips:
- Consult with a healthcare professional: Schedule an appointment with your travel nurse or doctor at least eight weeks before your adventure to get any necessary vaccines or medications.
- Up-to-date medical advice:
- US residents: Check the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
- UK residents: Visit the NHS Fit For Travel website.
- Australian residents: Refer to the Smart Traveler Health website.
3. Government travel advice:
- US residents: Consult the US Department of State Travel Advice.
- UK residents: Check the FCDO Travel Advice.
- Australian residents: Visit the Smart Traveler website.
4. Medication tips: If you take prescription medication, bring enough to last the entire trip, plus a few extra days in case of delays. Carry a copy of your prescription in case you need to visit a clinic abroad.
We hope this helps you prepare for a safe and enjoyable adventure.
Please keep in mind that our itinerary, activities, and hotels might change. These adjustments could happen with little notice due to factors like availability, weather conditions, seasonal shifts, or other circumstances beyond our control. Rest assured, we always aim to minimise any impact on your experience. Occasionally, we may tweak the itinerary to try out fresh ideas and keep the adventure exciting.
We believe solo travelers shouldn’t have to pay extra to explore the world. That’s why our group trips are designed around shared accommodation and do not include a single supplement. Solo travelers joining our group trips are paired in twin or multi-share rooms with another traveler of the same sex for the duration of the trip.
Some of our Independent trips are structured differently. For these itineraries, solo travelers will need to book at the single occupancy rate.
Tips are not included in the cost of this tour. Remember, tipping is entirely at your discretion and based on what you feel comfortable with.
Would you like to learn more or customise our The Brazil Trip trip?
Have questions about accommodations, accessibility, group preferences, or dietary needs? Complete the form below and our team will get back to you shortly.
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