Activities in The Northeast
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Easy Drop
For a structured weeklong surfing experience, including classes and accommodation, look into surf camp Easy Drop.
reviewed
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Nove Ilhas Tour
From the nearby village of Pontal da Barra, schooners leave at around 09:00 and 13:00 on the Nove Ilhas (Nine Islands) tour. The trip lasts four hours and, in addition to cruising the Lagoa Mundaú, you'll stop at the outlet of the lake into the ocean. Departures are from Pontal da Barra's lakefront restaurants, such as O Peixarão or Alípio. A five-person minimum is required, so call ahead.
reviewed
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Surfing
Surfboard rental and surf lessons are easily arranged. Zebra & Pepê offer board rentals. The coast south of Itacaré is characterized by rough surf (better for surfing than swimming).
There has been a rash of muggings at and around Itacaré's beaches, so take little money and nothing of value. Avoid the trails through the forests past late afternoon.
reviewed
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Jangadas
Jangadas sail out 2km at low tide to natural pools formed by the nearby reef. On a busy day, the pools fill up with people (clouding the water for those interested in snorkeling) and waiters run around serving drinks from floating bars. You can arrange trips with any boat captain - stop in early to find out when the boats are sailing. Embark at Praia de Pajuçara.
reviewed
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Brazil Trip Tour
The multilingual Brazil Trip Tour specializes in English-speaking surf lessons and ecological tours. It also arranges volunteer work in the community (English teachers are especially welcome) and 10- to 14-day ‘Cruz the Coast’ tours between Rio and Salvador.
reviewed
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Jeri Moon
This is a good agency which organizes trips. Apart from buggy day trips you can also take buggy or 4WD trips as far west as Parnaíba and the Lençóis Maranhenses – easier though more expensive than public transport.
reviewed
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Associação de Bugeiros
Dune-buggy excursions are offered by a host of would-be Ayrton Senna bugeiros (buggy drivers), mostly in Brazilian-built vehicles with brand names such as Bird, Baby, Praya or Malibuggy.
There are pirate bugeiros and accredited bugeiros; the latter are represented by the Associação de Bugeiros. You can arrange buggy trips through most pousadas, agencies or, if you speak some Portuguese, directly with drivers.
To the north are the dunes of Genipabu, which are the biggest around. You'll be asked if you want the trip com emoção (with emotion), and if you agree you'll be treated to thrills such as Wall of Death and Vertical Descent. It is possible to go as far as you like…
reviewed
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Hiking - Rio Lençóis
There are great hikes leaving from town that the adventurous can undertake without a guide. One is a 3km walk out of town, following the Rio Lençóis upstream through the Parque Municipal da Muritiba.
You first pass a series of rapids known as Cachoeira Serrano. Off to the right is the Salão de Coloridas Areias (Room of Colored Sands), where artisans gather material for bottled sand paintings, so its original 40 colors have been greatly diminished. You then pass Poço Halley (Swimming Hole), before seeing Cachoeirinha (Little Waterfall) on a tributary to your left. Continuing upriver, Cachoeira da Primavera (Spring Waterfall) is on another tributary on your left.
reviewed
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Micareta
Feira invented the now widespread concept of Micareta, an out-of-season Carnaval. In 1937 a flood caused the city's Carnaval to be celebrated late, a tradition the citizens decided to adopt and rename. In April or early May thousands of spectators fill the city to see Salvador's best trios elétricos parade for four days along with local samba schools and folklore groups. For those who missed out on Carnaval in Salvador, this could be the next best thing.
reviewed
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Nordeste Off Road
This agency offers longer-distance 4WD or beach-buggy tours, along Ceará’s glorious beaches wherever possible, as far afield as Jericoacoara or even Natal or the Lençóis Maranhenses. A three-day return trip to Jericoacoara costs around R$1700 to R$1950 for two people, with accommodations and outings from Jeri included; a four-day one-way jaunt to Natal is around R$2200 to R$4250 for two. These trips can be done in less time for less money.
reviewed
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Tours
Trips to a tree-sloth recuperation center, a chocolate factory and Primavera Fazenda, where you'll be taken through the process of cacao production, can all be arranged through local travel agencies. Tours are also given of Lagoa Encantada, a state-protected area of Atlantic rain forest with waterfalls and wildlife; Rio do Engenho, an estate with Bahia's first sugarcane mill; and the Capela de Santana (1537), Brazil's third-oldest church.
reviewed
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Snorkeling & River Trips
Travel agencies offer snorkeling day trips to nearby reefs and islands such as Parcel das Paredes, Sebastião Gomes and Coroa Vermelha. Since most tourists head for Abrolhos, these trips rarely meet the minimum number of people required (five) for departure. River trips up the Rio Caravelas or down the Rio Caribê to the next beach town to the south, Nova Viçosa, are also possible.
reviewed
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Boat Trips
A boat trip around the island, with stops at the Garapuá and Moreré offshore reefs and the villages of Boipeba and historical Cairu, is obligatory. You'll fly over waves in a 10-person speedboat past gorgeous beach and mangrove scenery, swim, snorkel and stop at a floating oyster restaurant outside Caravelas. These trips can be booked through the many local agencies.
reviewed
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Reserva da Sapiranga
A turn-off from the road to the Castelo do Garcia d'Ávila leads down a dirt track to the Reserva da Sapiranga, where local student guides take visitors along trails skirting through 600 hectares of secondary Atlantic rain forest. Hikes range from 30 minutes to five hours, with one of the more popular hikes leading down to the Rio Pojuca (bring your swimsuit).
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Candomblé Ceremonies
Cachoeira is one of Candomblé's strongest and perhaps purest spiritual and religious centers. The terreiros are in small homes and shacks in the hills, where long ceremonies are usually held on Friday and Saturday nights. You can try contacting the tourist office for Candomblé information; or get in touch with Luiz Magno, who takes visitors to ceremonies.
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Schooner Tours
Local agencies scattered along Av 22 de Abril offer schooner tours to Praia do Espelho as well as trips to Trancoso, Caraíva and the Parque Nacional Monte Pascoal. Trips are also offered to Recife de Fora and Coroa Alta offshore reefs, but we don't recommend it, as visitors are encouraged to walk over coral reefs in order to enter internal pools.
reviewed
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Excursions - V9
Many travel agencies and seemingly every hotel offer canoe trips upriver, rafting, mountain biking, rappelling and excursions on foot or horseback to local sights. The principal excursion is up the Peninsula de Maraú, with stops at Lagoa Azul and Praia Taipús de Fora. V9 is one of several reliable agencies offering these kinds of adventures.
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Schooner, Van & Catamaran Trips
Arco-Íris Turismo organizes schooner and van trips to Caraíva, Praias Espelho and Curuípe (both south of Trancoso), Trancoso and the offshore reefs Recife de Fora and Coroa Alta. It also occasionally runs three-day catamaran trips to the Parque Nacional Marinho de Abrolhos.
reviewed
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Portomar
A professional outfitter that handles hiking and bird-watching treks, canopy tours, kayaking and whale-watching (in season), and runs popular excursions at low tide to nearby piscinas naturais (natural pools), where you can snorkel or scuba dive around colorful coral reef.
reviewed
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Gamboa
At low tide, take a walk to Gamboa, the next village on the river side of the island. The coast between the villages is filled with nooks to hide in and rocks to climb on. To start, head down Rua Fonte Grande and head right at the crossroads. You can catch the ferry back.
reviewed
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Roots Brasil
Roots Brasil, just back from the beach, rents boards (R$20/60 per hour/day) and gives classes (R$50 per hour). It also rents sandboards (R$8 per hour). There are good waves for surfing (best from about March to May) right out in front of Jeri beach.
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Andrenalina
Many of the area's best-known sights are outside of the national park on private land. Given the lack of public transportation, the easiest way to visit them is by taking a tour through a local agency. Andrenalina specializes in adventure sports and treks.
reviewed
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Salvador da Bahia by Night
4 hours (Departs Salvador, Brazil)
by Viator
There is no better way to experience a city by night! See an authentic Afro-Brazilian culture show, enjoy a delicious dinner and be amazed at traditional forms …
Not LP reviewed
from USD$147.99 -
Dune-Buggy Trips
The town ends at the edge of an enormous expanse of tall white sand dunes, beyond which the wide flat sands of the Bahian coast stretch to the south. Guesthouses can arrange dune-buggy trips through the sand dunes.
reviewed
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Morro de Sao Paulo Day Trip from Salvador
11 hours (Departs Salvador, Brazil)
by Viator
Enjoy a day trip from Salvador to Morro de Sao Paulo, one of the most famous landscapes of Bahia. Known for its charming beauty and infrastructure, this village…
Not LP reviewed
from USD$151.99
