Nordestina

Day Trips

Begin your day with an early flight arrival in Salvador and check into a cozy pousada near the historic center. Sample a traditional acarajé at a street stall while soaking in the vibrant atmosphere. Stroll along colorful colonial facades as locals set up shops for the day.

Dive into the heart of Pelourinho, exploring its UNESCO-listed cobblestone streets and baroque churches. Visit the São Francisco Church and marvel at its gilded woodwork and intricate azulejo tiles. Stop by a local café to taste a refreshing cup of Bahian coffee.

Attend a live capoeira performance in a sunlit square where dancers showcase acrobatic moves to traditional berimbau rhythms. Savor a Bahian moqueca dinner at a churrascaria with ocean views. End the night with caipirinha cocktails at a rooftop bar overlooking the bay.

Board a traditional escuna for a scenic cruise across the shimmering waters of All Saints Bay. Feel the sea breeze as you glide past verdant islands and hidden coves. Capture panoramic views of Salvador’s pastel-colored skyline from the deck.

Drop anchor near Ilha dos Frades for a beachside lunch featuring freshly grilled fish and coconut-infused rice. Swim in crystal-clear waters teeming with colorful fish and gently swaying algae. Relax on the sun-warmed sand listening to the distant calls of seabirds.

Return to the city just in time to watch a fiery sunset over the bay. Enjoy a seafood risotto paired with a chilled white wine at a waterfront restaurant. Wander along the lighthouse promenade to admire the illuminated Fort of São Marcelo.

Journey by boat and jeep to the remote village of Mangue Seco, crossing the Vaza-Barris River. Feel the thrill of traversing shifting sand dunes as you approach the Atlantic shore. Pause to watch fishermen haul in their nets against a backdrop of rust-red dunes.

Climb the tallest dunes for an adrenaline-pumping sandboarding session down the steep slopes. Cool off in the fresh water lagoons hidden between the dunes, surrounded by sparse vegetation and tranquil silence. Share a picnic of regional cheeses and tropical fruits while taking in the sweeping coastal vistas.

Unwind at a beachside bungalow watching torchlight dot the shore as night falls. Dine on freshly caught shrimp grilled over an open flame and paired with local cachaça cocktails. Fall asleep to the sound of gentle waves lapping at the sand beneath a star-filled sky.

Catch a catamaran from Salvador to Morro de São Paulo at first light to avoid the midday heat. Arrive on the car-free island and settle into a seaside pousada nestled among coconut palms. Enjoy breakfast with tropical smoothies on a barefoot terrace overlooking the turquoise bay.

Spend the afternoon exploring the island’s four famous beaches by foot or bicycle, stopping for a fresh coconut water at each cove. Swim in calm, crystal-clear waters and snorkel over vibrant coral reefs teeming with tropical fish. Treat yourself to a beachside massage as the sun warms your skin.

As dusk settles, head to a sandside restaurant for a fusion dinner blending Bahian and international flavors. Join a samba circle on the beach or dance to reggae beats at a laid-back bar under swaying palm fronds. Toast to your island escape with a passion fruit caipiroska as the waves shimmer in the moonlight.

Begin with a panoramic viewpoint at Alto da Sé, taking in the mosaic rooftops of Recife Antigo and the meeting of two rivers. Walk across the red iron Capibaribe Bridge and observe bustling river traffic. Grab a pastel de nata at a local bakery for a sweet start.

Explore the interactive exhibits at the Oficina Francisco Brennand sculpture garden in a lush park setting. Continue to the modern art galleries and street murals of the Rua da Aurora corridor. Stop for lunch at a riverside café serving fresh tapioca crepes.

Stroll along the revitalized waterfront of Recife Antigo as the city lights reflect on the river. Sample regional dishes like caldeirada de peixe in a historic courtyard restaurant. Join a frevo or maracatu performance for an authentic carnival vibe at sunset.

Take a short trip to neighboring Olinda and start your visit at the towering São Bento Monastery. Wander through colorful plazas lined with artisanal shops selling lacework and ceramics. Sip on spicy cajuína as you admire baroque architecture.

Visit the Alto da Sé square and capture views of Recife’s skyline in the distance. Explore art studios tucked into colonial houses and chat with local painters about capoeira-inspired motifs. Enjoy a lunch of tapioca pancakes filled with local cheese and sweet guava paste.

Attend a live orchestration of frevo music echoing through Olinda’s winding alleys. Dine at a rooftop eatery overlooking tiled rooftops and the Atlantic horizon. Sample a dessert of cocada branca while watching sunset hues paint the city in gold.

Depart early for Porto de Galinhas and arrive before the crowds to enjoy the tide pools at Mulungu Beach. Wade among colorful fish in clear shallows protected by natural coral reefs. Snap dreamy photos of glowing tidepools reflecting the morning sun.

Rent a jangada to visit natural pools further offshore, snorkeling among tropical fish and starfish. Indulge in a fresh seafood lunch at a beachfront palapa, savoring lime-marinated prawns and cold beer. Lounge under umbrellas on white sands bordered by coconut groves.

Explore Porto’s bustling village square filled with shops and handicraft stalls. Enjoy a live forró band at a local bar where visitors dance barefoot on the sand. Savor brigadeiro and caipirinha as the evening breeze rolls in from the sea.

Catch an early flight to Fernando de Noronha and check into an ecolodge overlooking Baía do Sueste. After a brief orientation, snorkel in crystal-clear waters to spot turtles and reefs teeming with fish. Relax on the beach platform while sea turtles glide beneath the surface.

Join a guided boat tour around the archipelago, stopping to swim with spinner dolphins in the warm open sea. Explore hidden caves and arches carved by centuries of waves. Enjoy a picnic lunch on a secluded sandbank dotted with seashells.

Return at sunset to witness the sky ablaze in fiery hues from Mirante dos Dois Irmãos. Dine at a local pousada, tasting capixaba-style moqueca with coconut milk and dendê oil. End the night with star-gazing by the shore, listening to the echo of waves.

Travel to Natal and head to Genipabu for an exhilarating dune buggy ride across towering sand dunes. Feel the wind rush past as you ascend steep slopes and descend into oases hidden among sands. Pause to admire the panoramic view of the coastline from a dune crest.

Sandboard down gentle slopes into freshwater lagoons where you can cool off with a quick swim. Relish a beachfront buffet featuring regional barbecue and caipirinha cocktails. Capture the luminous turquoise lagoons framed by golden sands.

Return to Natal’s historic center for a sunset stroll along Ponta Negra Beach. Dine on traditional camarão ao alho e óleo while waves lap the shoreline. Join locals for forró dancing beneath colorful market lights at a lively seaside square.

Fly or drive to São Luís in Maranhão and begin your exploration with a walk through the colonial center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Admire the ornate Portuguese azulejo tiles adorning pastel façades. Sample a local tapioca pancake stuffed with savory crab.

Visit the Maranhão Art Museum housed in an elegant 18th-century mansion. Continue to the Largo do Carmo Plaza to watch artisans weaving traditional Vinhaça dolls. Enjoy a regional lunch of arroz de cuxá, flavored with native herbs and dried shrimp.

Attend a Bumba Meu Boi folk show at a historic theater, marveling at colorful costumes and rhythmic dances. For dinner, try juicy bisteca de porco paired with a cold Maranhão craft beer. Cap off your journey with a moonlit walk along the waterfront promenade, reflecting on ten days of Nordeste magic.