Am I missing something? Rio and Bahia...

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woots1980
woots1980

Hello everyone

I’ve been lucky enough to go to Brazil twice before and travel around a bit – but both trips were rather a long time ago – the first one was in 2002 so I think my knowledge might be a bit out of date…! Any more recent advice much appreciated!

I’m heading to Brazil for 2 and a bit weeks in mid March. Plan is: Rio (fly to) Salvador, Morro (transport ease and nightlife), Boipeba, Salvador (fly back to) Rio.

We fly in and out of Rio and cross over with two groups of friends at the start and end of the trip who are randomly on holiday there too. I want to go back to Bopeiba as I remember it as pretty much paradise (is it still like that?!) and I LOVED Salvador so want to revisit there (though not for carnival this time).

I’m trying to research if there is anywhere I am missing that I can (easily) add onto the trip. I want to spend at least 3 days at the start and 4 days at the end of the trip in Rio. But that leaves 11 days to play with for Salvador/ Boipeba. Are there any other places near to Salvador I should try and get to? Or near to Rio? I would rather avoid any more internal flights if possible as they are quite pricey at the moment and also want to avoid massive journey times. I’ve been to Lencois/Chapada twice before and loved it but would quite like to find somewhere new to explore. (My boyfriend has never been to Brazil so it’s all new to him! I’ve love to take him to Foz (which blew my mind) but the flights are too expensive for us this time – same for Manaus)

Love: Great food, nightlife, beaches, cities, peace and quiet, jungle, culture, off the beaten track, nature, caipirinhas, history
(I have been to: Rio, Salvador, Lencois. Trancoso, Jericoacoara, Fortaleza, Natal, Recife, Moro, Porto Seguro, Boipeba, Illheus, Arrial d’Ajuda, Caraiva, Cuiaba, Pantanal, Foz)

All advice gratefully appreciated.

Thanks masses

Becky x

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andrewk81
andrewk81

Near Rio, Ilha Grande springs to mind. But you might have had your share of tropical beach paradise. Could head to Petropolis if you like hiking. It's a pretty historic city (Dom Pedro's summer resort), and is up in a very beautiful mountain range.

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NeuzaoNovo
NeuzaoNovo

You could add some time moving a bit south from Boipeba onto the Marau peninsula, to Barra Grande. As Morro and Boipeba have gotten more popular and built up, Barra Grande has been "discovered" and a bit easier to get to, but still a little more off the grid.
To the north of Salvador, you could try Guarajuba (quiet, but a taxi ride to Praia do a Forte), or Diogo. Usually I'd also recommend Jacuipe, fairly close to Salvador, where the river enters the sea, but I heard they'd had some storm damage. If you want to go further, Mangue Seco, a quiet village on the border with Sergipe state, is very nice, with big dunes to buggy ride on and a long, wide beach. No car access, and all sand streets, so you go into Sergipe and cross back over the river with motorized canoe.
If you're up for non-beach time, look at the Colonial towns in the mountains of Minas Gerais.
Have a great trip.

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anonymous
anonymous

I'd suggest an overnighter from Salvador to Cachoeira and São Félix. Lovely spot, delightful place to sit by the river of an evening, drink in hand. The Recôncavo is quite different to the places you have already seen and relatively speaking, not troubled by too many tourists.

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woots1980
woots1980

Thanks so much. Really helpful.

I've actually been to Petropolis - but only for a day so could revisit. And the tips for Barra Grande is a great advice - I'll look into those places and see what's possible. Thanks again!

x

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philmar
philmar

Was in Brasil last December and had a similar dilemma. I chose Moro Sao paolo as an excursion from Salvador due to the ease of transportation. Barra Grande was my preferred choice but as time was tight I decided the extra transit time was not worth the trouble. I doubt I would have chosen both. Perhaps someone who has made it to both Morro and Barra Grande can chime in as to whether it is best to visit both places or just stay put and enjoy one of them to the max.

I too hadn't been back to Brazil since 2002. You will be amazed at how much improved the security situation is in Salvador - both Barra and Pelourinho are substantially safer and better policed. In fact Barra turns in to a wonderful pedestrian street in the evening.
Here's a link to a few of the photos I took around Salvador and Morro Sao Paolo.
https://flic.kr/s/aHskrXHbCr
Have a great trip!!

Passionate traveler and photographer. Here is a gallery of my travels in the last decade : My Flickr - click here!! You will NOT be disappointed!
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Ivan.Bahia.Guide
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