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For travelers to South America, the past and present influence of religious life is evident everywhere, particularly in architecture and culture. One of the highlights of a visit to Arequipa is Santa Catalina Monastery, which was founded in 1540 and received countless women throughout the colonial period. In fact, it was tradition for upper-class families to send their second-born daughters into religious service. To enter the convent a dowry of 2,400 silver coins was required, today equivalent to the astounding sum of $150,000.
The cloistered community grew to such a size that it became a walled city within the city and covered approximately 65,616 ft2 (20,000 m2) of land, including gardens, streets, alleys, stairways, a central square, and a church. Nuns comprised only about a third of the convent’s population; also residing within the citadel were wealthy widows who sought to isolate themselves from society, small children that were to be educated by the nuns, and numerous servants, usually poor indigenous women, who cleaned, cooked, and attended the nuns.
A street inside the walls of Santa Catalina Monastery, offering a glimpse into the past of this richly historical city.
In 2000, Arequipa’s historic center (including Santa Catalina) was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its beautiful architectural monuments, crafted from Spanish designs by creole and indigenous masons. Many of the city’s buildings, including houses, churches, and government buildings were constructed of sillar, a volcanic stone that is soft and light and whose pearl color has given Arequipa is other name: “The White City.”
Arequipa’s Cathedral in the Plaza de Armas is a typical example of the style of architecture known as mestizo barroco. Photo Credit: Matthew Barker, Latin America For Less.
Apart from its historic treasures, Arequipa features a distinctive geography that creates exciting options for adventure travelers. The nearby El Misti Volcano rises to 19,101 feet (5,822 meters) above sea level and forms a looming presence that has understandably marked the local psyche. In the celebrated phrasing of author Jorge Polar Vargas and in reference to the fiery temperament of Arequipeños, “No se nace en vano al pie de un volcán;” roughly translated: “Not for nothing is one born at the foot of a volcano.” Today, travelers interested in climbing the volcano and camping along its steep sandy slopes can take one of two routes, Pastores or Aguada Blanca.
El Misti Volcano is a looming presence in the Arequipa skyline. Photo Credit: Matthew Barker, Latin America For Less.
Arequipa is also the access point for visits to Colca Canyon, one of Peru’s top destinations located approximately 100 miles (160 km) northeast of the city. This canyon drops down to 13,650 feet (4,160 meters) – twice as deep as the Grand Canyon.
Travelers come here to see the agricultural terraces and ancient villages such as Chivay that have been inhabited since pre-Inca times, to embark on single or multi-day treks through the canyon, and to admire magnificent Andean condors as they glide gracefully on warm air currents. Another option for trekking is Cotahuasi Canyon, the deepest canyon in the world reaching a maximum depth of 3535 meters, 335 more than Colca Canyon.
A condor gliding on a thermal current in the Colca Canyon.
To learn more about travel to Arequipa, visit the Peru For Less website or contact one of our expert travel advisors.
Category: Destination Highlight, Peru
Visit our NEW Brazil For Less website!
We are pleased to announce the launch of our new Brazil For Less website! Our content and web development team has been working diligently to re-design the site and we hope that you will love it as much as we do.
Here are some of changes we’ve made:
Tab navigation. Each of our tour pages has detailed information about itinerary, prices, hotels, and additional services – all organized into tabs for easier browsing. Now you can see all the tour information without having to navigate back and forth between different pages. See how this works by visiting our Rio de Janeiro tour page.
Detailed destination pages. If you’re seeking to customize your Brazil vacation package, we’ve made it easier to learn more about all our main Brazil destinations. Each destination page features an overview, what do to there, when to visit, testimonials from past clients, and a selection of great value hotels. For added convenience, we also link to all our tours and packages that include that destination.
New content. All our tours have been rewritten for clarity and accuracy in an easy-to-read bullet point format. Our tour descriptions are detailed and comprehensive – we tell you exactly what you’ll do on your tour; no surprises!
Tours and Packages
Visit our Brazil Tour Packages page to see how we’ve put together best value travel packages to the most important destinations in Brazil. Our Discover Brazil special, for example, is a comprehensive travel package that covers the best of Brazil’s highlights, including Rio de Janeiro, Buzios, Iguazu Falls, Salvador de Bahia, and the Amazon. If you’re interested in seeing the best of South America, our World Wonders package allows travelers to embark on a tour through 3 amazing Latin American countries, from Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, Iguazu, Buenos Aires in Argentina, to Cusco and Machu Picchu in Peru.
Whether you’re seeking sun-soaked relaxation on the tropical beaches in a place like Buzios, jungle and river exploration in the Amazon with a base in Manaus, culture and history-infused urban adventures in Salvador de Bahia, or a combination of any of the above, our travel experts at Brazil For Less are here to help make your dream vacation come true.
Our tours are tailored to suit your needs and preferences and if you want to add a visit to other South American countries, including Peru, Ecuador, Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, and Chile, you can do that as well.
We are very proud of the website but, more importantly, we want to know what YOU think. Feel free to share your feedback with us by commenting on this blog post or posting a comment on our Facebook Page. Our websites are for YOU, so let us know what you like, what you don’t like, and what you want to see more of.
Category: Brazil
Waking up in the vast Amazon basin is a once in a life time experience, surrounded by the sounds of the thousands of species that call this jungle home. The Amazon jungle is the world’s largest rainforest, and covers close to half of the entire country of Brazil. This vast and mysterious place is home to over 2.5 million different types of insects; 40,000 different types of plants; 3,000 species of fish; 428 amphibians; and 427 mammal types, and many are yet to be discovered.
The magnificent coastline of Manaus, Brazil
Manaus located in the northern region of Brazil, in the heart of the lush Amazon Jungle is a city within one of nature’s most spectacular environments. Manaus is mostly used as a starting point for Amazon Jungle tours. Within the city many different options are available for accommodations; however it is outside of the city in the jungle where some of the most spectacular Jungle retreats can be found.
The spectacular treetop hotel, Ariau Amazon Towers
Located two hours outside of the city of Manaus, by boat, you will find one of the most spectacular hotels in the entire Amazon. The Ariau Amazon Towers puts guests up in the air, literally, as it is the largest treetop hotel in the world. With 268 rooms connected by a system of walkways of approximately five miles in total, this extensive treetop maze is set 30 feet above the ground putting guests eye-level with monkeys, macaws, and other jungle inhabitants. Apart from the up close and personal views and interactions with wildlife guests also have views of the Rio Negro and Rio Amazonas, truly creating an ‘at one with nature’ experience.
There a wide variety of rooms offered at the Ariau Amazon Towers, from the standard room to the private tree houses, accommodations include air conditioning, hot water, mini bars, and private bathrooms. Suites and Private Tree houses provide private balconies, and more spacious accommodations. The hotel also has four bars, two open-air restaurants serving Brazilian cuisine, two treetop swimming pools, and a gym. The Ariau Amazon Towers is the perfect location for jungle activities, and will ensure you have the ultimate Amazon experience.
The luxurious Anavilhanas Lodge
Nestled far into the Amazon, 112 miles outside of the city of Manaus, the Anavilhanas Jungle lodge, sits across from the Anavilhanas National Park, and provides a retreat amidst the wonders of the forest. Described by National Geographic as one of the most authentic and unique hotels in Brazil, and for good reason, Anavilhanas provides 20 luxurious suites all equipped with the top amenities and decorated to perfection. The 16 two-room cottages are all equipped with air conditioning, hot showers, mini bars, and a private balcony with hammock. The four exclusive bungalows provide privacy as well as luxury, creating the ultimate jungle oasis. Equipped with LCD TV, work desk, air-conditioning, hot shower, mini bar, roof fan, and a private balcony with two hammocks, it provides the perfect place to escape.
The hotel also provides a library, game room, swimming pool, restaurant, and jungle activities such as dolphin feeding, piranha fishing, and various jungle hikes.
The Amazon Ecopark located on the Taruma Riverbank
Only a thirty minute boat ride outside of Manaus travelers will find a jungle retreat located on the Taruma Riverbank. With 20 rustic bungalows divided into 64 apartments, the Amazon Ecopark provides absolute comfort, an oasis on the white-sand beaches of the Rio Negro. Each room comes with the modern amenities of air conditioning and hot water and are decorated with rustic décor, including thatched roofs, wide screened windows, and private porches.
Guests can explore the Amazon with the many jungle adventures provided by the hotel, such as hikes, canoeing, and wild life activities.
Get up close and personal with nature, on your Amazon Jungle vacation, by choosing one of these top class retreats for your Amazon accommodations. Let your Brazil vacation lead you to discover the mysteries of the Amazon Jungle.
Start planning your fully customized Amazon tour by contacting one of our expert travel advisors at Brazil For Less.
Category: Amazon, Brazil, Destination Highlight
Sofia is a member of our Operations team, charged with ensuring that our clients’ travels proceed as smoothly as possible. Before coming to LAFL, she had the opportunity to work in Mendoza, Argentina, as a wine tour guide for Bodega Familia Zuccardi, maker of the Zuccardi, Santa Julia, and Fuzion labels. Sofia had a blast – she loved the city, learned a lot about wine making, and has happily agreed to share her knowledge and experiences with us.
In your position at Familia Zuccardi, what were your responsibilities?
My position as an intern was in the wine production and wine tasting part of the bodega as it relates to tourism. I led wine tours for English speaking groups, which included welcoming them to the cava [cellar], and giving them a briefing about our different wines and the history of the bodega and the Zuccardi family.
The second part of the tour was doing a walk-through of the wine making areas to include the entire process, from the grape-picking, transportation of the grapes to the plant, the different fermentation tank rooms, to the aging room where the barricas [tanks] filled with wine are stored.
Lastly, at the wine tasting we offered three of the “varietales” wines: a white, usually Torrontes or Chardonnay; a red, usually Malbec or Cabernet Sauvignon; and a late harvest, usually Chenin Dulce, all part of the Santa Julia label.
The beautiful cava at Familia Zuccardi.
What did you enjoy most about your work?
Hands down the work team at Zuccardi was the most enjoyable. Everyone was exceptionally welcoming from the beginning. We [the interns] were even treated to a magnificent lunch at their 5-star restaurant, Casa del Visitante, hosted by Julia Zuccardi on our first day.
Before we could start to perform our duties we had to receive a training program with oenologist and sommeliers working in our area, and they were all very knowledgeable and thoroughly enjoyed their work, which made it easy for me to follow their steps and I felt challenged to do my best! It was very pleasant to walk around the different areas of the bodega and always find a friendly smile.
Explaining wines at Bodega Familia Zuccardi.
What can travelers expect on a Mendoza wine tour?
There are different ways to visit the many bodegas in the Mendoza region. For the adventurous spirits there are bike rentals available all over including the Maipu and Lujan areas, where you can follow a certain route and choose the bodegas to visit, such as the more traditional ones like Zuccardi, Rutini, Catena Zapata, Navarro Correas, Luigi Bosca, Lagarde, or boutique bodegas such as Vistandes.
There are also private tours for all budgets depending on the specific bodegas you’d like to visit and how many. These tours include transportation, wine tours, and wine tastings at the wineries of your choice. There are also bodegas that offer lunch as an option. For example, Zuccardi has their restaurant, Casa del Visitante, offering a traditional menu as well as a delicious gourmet 5-course meal.
What did you like most about Mendoza?
The wine culture that’s perceived in the region and how warm and welcoming everyone is everywhere you go. Their detail-oriented tours and fine cuisine make for a wonderful place to visit, and there’s a wide range of activities whether you’re a wine connoisseur (or amateur!) or an adventure junkie.
Sofia was quite impressed with Argentine hospitality.
Your favorite wine?
I was fortunate to be able to taste all of the wines from the 3 labels at the bodega as part of the day-to-day at Zuccardi, whether it was at work during sparkling time as a welcome treat for the tourists, the wine tastings, or even the wines brought to us at Casa Cinco, the house shared by international interns at Zuccardi.
My personal favorite has to be the iconic wine of Zuccardi, the famous Zuccardi Zeta, a blend of Tempranillo (34%) and Malbec (66%), aged 24 months in a first use French oak barrica, full bodied and with rich taste, exquisite taste; a perfect pairing for an Argentine parrilla [barbeque].
Sofia particularly loved the many possibilities for outdoor adventures in Mendoza. She adds this note:
There are other great activities to do while in Mendoza such as whitewater rafting in the Mendoza river, paragliding from the Andes, high mountain tours which include visiting the base of Aconcagua, and my personal favorite, sunset horseback riding lead by a gaucho which ends with an authentic Argentine parrilla [barbeque] – served, of course, with great wine.
Sofia says about Vendimia, ”Talk about a show! It was pretty spectacular and quite inexpensive – a must do if you're in town for it!”
Mendoza just celebrated Vendimia, the National Grape Harvest Festival which occurs annually during the first weekend in March.
Start planning your fully customized Mendoza tour by contacting one of our expert travel advisors at Argentina For Less. The possibilities are endless, including excursions to Argentina’s north, Patagonia, or a hop across the Andes Mountains to continue your Argentina wine tour in Chile.
Category: Argentina, Interview, Travel Tales
For many the “end of the world” may be a scary or mysterious phrase, but don’t be thrown, trips depart daily to Ushuaia, “The Southernmost City in the World.” Situated in southern Patagonia with a breathtaking backdrop Ushuaia is a destination you don’t want to skip on your Argentina vacation.
The landscape of snow-capped mountains set along the shores of the beautiful blue water of the Beagle channel, provides travelers the perfect escape. With an interesting history, Ushuaia provides plenty of historical attractions along-side its more famous outdoor adventures.
Mountains of Ushuaia, Argentina
Declared a city in 1893 Ushuaia has served many purposes. Housing a prison up until the late 1940’s the city is now sustained on lumber, sheep farming, fishing, and tourism. The tourism industry is based mainly off Patagonia tours that explore the Tierra del Fuego National Park. Also Ushuaia serves as the departure point for Antarctica cruises.
Exploring the “End of the World”
Sunset in Ushuaia, Argentina
Ushuaia offers travelers a plethora of historical attractions and nature excursions.
For history buffs, the historical center of the city has been preserved with mansions, museums, monuments, and churches in their original layout. For a ride through history, take the End of the World Train which takes passengers from the outskirts of the city and follows the Pipo River through the magnificent Patagonian landscapes. The train originally served to transport prisoners to the nearby labor camp, and traces can still be seen of where the prisoners would cut down trees to supply the community with wood.
The End of the World Museum displays the figurehead from the English ship, Duchess of Albany. This 800 kg or 1,760 lbs piece was salvaged from the ship’s wreck in 1893. Many other opportunities exist for museum explorations, however most Ushuaia travel experiences are based on the wonders of nature that can be found at the infamous Tierra del Fuego National Park.
The Tierra del Fuego National Park provides travelers with wonderful endless scenery and options for exploration. A day tour of the park allows visitors to explore the wild Patagonian forest and the Lapataia and Ensenada bays, which are home to many species of birds and a rare otter named chungungo.
Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse in Ushuaia, Argentina
Another exciting activity in Ushuaia is an expedition on the Beagle Channel, venturing on to the waters. Boat rides often display the most picturesque backdrops for the Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, a perfect opportunity for a photo.
Many other outdoor activities are available to those wishing to explore more of Ushuaia. Options such as skiing, mountain-biking, trekking, horse-riding, and sport-fishing are amongst the many offerings.
Only a mere, 4.5 km outside of Ushuaia, the Martial Glacier stands, which provides drinking water for the city and also many outdoor activities for travelers. Take the chair lift to the summit to enjoy spectacular views of Ushuaia. In the summer you can take off on one of the many paths that cover the glacier. During the winter months this point provides access to many ski runs.
How to travel to Ushuaia?
With a small airport in town, Ushuaia is easily accessible from Buenos Aires and Santiago. Flights are conducted mainly by LAN Chile and Aerolineas Argentinas both of which offer non-stop flights averaging between 3 and4 hours. Although Ushuaia is accessible by bus, trips are often lengthy, taking away valuable time from your Patagonia trip.
You can learn more about Ushuaia tours or Argentina vacations on our website. For more information about traveling to Argentina, contact one of our expert travel advisors
Category: Argentina, Destination Highlight
Anabel, LAFL travel expert, shares a 200 year-old tale from one of history’s most intrepid travelers, Charles Darwin, as recorded in his book The Voyage of the Beagle.
From 1832 to 1834, the HMS Beagle embarked on a hydrographic survey of South America’s southern coasts. Captain Robert Fitz Roy was in charge of the expedition, and a young 22-year Charles Darwin was on board as a naturalist. While Fitz Roy mapped coasts and measured tides and currents, Darwin went on land to collect fossils, bones, and samples of flora and fauna. Once completed, the expedition brought renown to both men, and its findings, in particular the later publication of Darwin’s On the Origin of Species, decisively impacted the course of scientific thinking on human evolution.
Chile and Argentina share the southern territory of Patagonia.
The names of some of Patagonia’s most iconic features remain as testaments to this historic expedition. Mount Fitz Roy, with its elegant rock spires and sheer granite faces, attracts mountain climbers and trekkers to its base, which is located next to the small town of El Chalten. The Beagle Channel in Ushuaia separates Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego from smaller islands to the south, and is a popular route for cruise ships. Finally, Mount Darwin is the highest point in the Tierra del Fuego National Park at 8,640 feet (2,580 meters) and is part of the Cordillera Darwin, the southernmost extension of the Andes Mountains.
Like Darwin, modern adventurers on Patagonia trip will find much to marvel at, and the expedition’s route provides a rough guide to some of the most spectacular destinations in this region, which include mountains, glaciers, lakes, and iceberg-studded water ways.
El Chalten, with the peaks of Mount Fitz Roy (also known as Cerro Chalten) rising above.
On one land expedition, Darwin and Fitz Roy attempted to find the headwaters of the Santa Cruz River, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean. Equipped with two smaller vessels, they battled upstream for several days, at some points dragging the boats alongside the river banks. With the Andes in view, but still at a far distance, Fitz Roy decided to turn back, and the expedition members never reached their goal. Had they continued, they would have found the origin of the river at Lake Argentino, surrounded by the magnificent peaks of Mount Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre. In the present day, the towns of El Calafate and El Chalten have become launch points for visitors interested in trekking, mountain climbing, horseback riding, or visiting the nearby Perito Moreno Glacier.
Faro Les Eclaireurs in the Beagle Channel, Argentina.
The Beagle continued south to Tierra del Fuego and the surrounding archipelago. In the 1830s, this southernmost territory was inhabited by Yahgan aborigines, a nomadic hunter-gatherer people who had devised methods to survive in the harsh conditions of this extreme environment. Today, the modern-day city of Ushuaia serves as a launching point for travelers seeking outdoor adventures at the “end of the world,” be it trekking in the Tierra del Fuego National Park, skiing the slopes of Cerro Castor, or boarding cruises to Antarctica.
A Patagonia cruise is the best way to explore the Beagle Channel and the Tierra del Fuego archipelago. Following the path of the HMS Beagle, cruises depart from Ushuaia and arrive in Punta Arena in Chile, but the route can also be done in reverse. Highlights of the voyage include Cape Horn, Wulaia Bay (where Yahgan communities still live), Glacier Alley, and the fabulous Marinelli Glacier. Cruises include frequent stops so that passengers can go on land and trek through pristine wilderness.
View of Perito Moreno Glacier in Patagonia.
Contact one of our travel experts at Latin America For Less who can help you organize a fully customized Argentina vacation package.
Category: Argentina, Chile, Travel Tales
For many a traveler, visiting Antarctica is a life-long dream that very few actually see come true. This remote continent remains mostly untouched and its beauty is truly beyond words.
Difficult to access, Antarctica is a destination for adventure travelers who wish to feel like explorers discovering a new land. As the coldest, driest, and most elevated continent on earth, Antarctica is considered a desert, albeit one of ice. Largely neglected because of its harsh environment, the continent also offers unique opportunities to get away from all kind of civilization and appreciate the majesty of nature.
With only about 1,000 to 1,500 year-long residents living in research stations scattered across the region, it’s unlikely you’ll meet anyone on your Antarctica trip. The only owners –and inhabitants– of the continent are penguins, seals, whales, and various bird species that you may encounter during your travels.
How to travel to Antarctica?
The only way to visit Antarctica is through a cruise. Only a few ships are equipped to sail through the inhospitable icy waters of the continent. These are mostly research-oriented ships that offer basic accommodation but are still comfortable; most of them have been refurbished in recent years to accommodate modern needs.
Antarctica cruises can last from 1 to 3 weeks depending on the time (and money) you have at hand. Most of them depart from Ushuaia, Argentina, commonly referred to as the “city at the end of the world”. From Ushuaia, boats sail through the Drake Passage, which is a 500-mile large channel separating South America and the Antarctic Continent.
After reaching the Antarctic Peninsula, and depending on your itinerary, your cruise will take you to some of the highlights of this magical continent. These may include the South Shetland Islands, Falkland Islands, and South Georgia. In each destination, always depending on weather conditions, you’ll be able to disembark from the ship and go on land excursions across beaches of ice, kayak next to awe-inspiring glaciers, observe colonies of penguins from up close, and climb icy inclines.
If you don’t have much time or are not a seasoned sailor, you can opt for a short 1-week Antarctica cruise that will include a flight to King George Island –part of Shetland Islands– followed by a 3 or 4-day cruise. You’ll also get the chance to visit some of the island’s research stations and discover the amazing work and living conditions of the few dedicated scientists who live in Antarctica.
Cruises to Antarctica are generally pretty expensive – at least $4,500 for a 10-day itinerary in a semi-private cabin– so you’ll probably have to break the piggy bank for this one, but the experience is without any doubt worth every single penny. A trip to Antarctica is truly “the trip of a lifetime”. Nowhere else will you experience such pristine scenery and isolation, sailing through ice fields expanding into the horizon and passing giant glaciers and icebergs.
What are Antarctica cruise ships like?
There is a variety of ships traveling throughout the Antarctic continent from which travelers can choose. Adventure ships offer unique intimate exploration of the area. They are highly maneuverable and therefore able to sail through the most difficult waters. The Akademik Sergey Vavilov, built by the Russian Academy of Science in the 1980’s and recently refurbished is an excellent option with great amenities aboard including a dining room, lounge/bar, gym, and even sauna.
Expedition ships are believed to be a bit more comfortable with more modern amenities and spacious, fully-equipped cabins. Among the best ships, you’ll find the Sea Spirit, Clipper Adventurer, or Ocean Nova, all 3 extremely well appointed.
You can learn more about Antarctica cruise ships and their characteristics on our website. For more information about traveling to Antarctica, contact one of our expert travel advisors.
Category: Antarctica, Argentina, Destination Highlight
Food, music, dance, architecture, and history – culture-loving travelers will find all these things in abundance on a Salvador de Bahia tour. In this city, African, European, and modern international influences weave together into a rich tapestry that is resplendently Brazilian.
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In addition to its cultural offerings, Salvador de Bahia also features 50 kilometers of fabulous beaches.
Salvador de Bahia has always had an important place in Brazilian history. The first Portuguese sailors and settlers to colonize the coast in the early 16th century made this town into the capital of colonial Brazil. Salvador served as a sea port and as the center of the sugar industry and the African slave trade for the Portuguese Empire. The capital was moved to Rio de Janeiro in 1763, but at the time of the American Revolution, Salvador was one of the largest cities in the New World.
Visitors to Salvador de Bahia today will find a vibrant city, one of the wealthiest and most populous in Brazil. The city’s history as a center of political and economic power, as well as its role in the slave trade, still give shape to Salvador’s present. The African influence in particular is visible everywhere – in food, music, religion, and celebrations – to the extent that the city is indisputably considered the epicenter of Afro-Brazilian culture.
Pelourinho in Salvador de Bahia was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
Visitors to Pelourinho, the historical center of Salvador, will find examples of colonial architectural jewels that act as reminders that, after Lisbon, this was once the most important city in the Portuguese Empire. The square and surrounding cobblestoned streets are filled with former administrative palaces, restored mansions, and gold-ornamented churches. The district was named after the numerous pillories, or wooden posts, that were erected in the public square and where escaped slaves and other criminals were tied to receive public lashings.
Elevador Lacerda, built in 1873, connects the lower and upper sectors of the city. The port and the Mercado Modelo are in the background. Travelers can visit the market’s underground tunnels, which are said to be haunted by slaves who were held in chains during the slave trade.
Carnival in Salvador de Bahia is one of the best in Brazil, almost rivaling the world-famous Rio de Janeiro carnival. Salvador’s celebration distinguishes itself for its emphasis on music and the scale of its street festivals. Trucks known as “trio elétricos,” measuring over 60-feet in length trucks, are equipped with booming sound systems and carry dancers, musicians, and singers through circuits that traverse 15.5 miles (25 kilometers) through Salvador’s neighborhoods. Artists perform samba, but also afoxé, a folkloric music and dance that reflect the region’s African traditions in rhythm and dress.
The Bahian Carnival surges through Salvador’s streets in a mass celebration.
Salvador’s West African roots are also visible in various other cultural practices. Capoeira, a martial art with roots in the 16th century that combines music and dance, is practiced in public spaces all over Brazil, but Salvador boasts some of the original modern schools.
Candomblé is a religion with roots in present-day Nigeria. Faced with forcible conversion to Catholicism, enslaved Africans maintained their religious practices by adapting them to Catholic ones. Worship of native deities, known as orixás, continued under the guise of devotion to Catholic saints.
Finally, Bahian cuisine also features a heavy African influence. For example, many dishes use azeite-de-dende, or palm tree oil, as a base ingredient particularly with seafood.
Brazil will host the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games, both of which will have venues in Salvador de Bahia. Find more excuses to visit this and other Brazil destinations by visiting our Brazil For Less page.
Category: Brazil, Destination Highlight
