Why Go?Africa meets South America in the staggeringly beautiful northeastern state of Bahia. The heady blend of two seem-ingly disparate cultures – classic Portuguese architecture and African drum beats, Catholic churches and Candomblé (Afro-Brazilian religion) – is unique, and for most travelers, truly intoxicating. Bahia’s centerpiece is Salvador, a jewel-box colonial city with gilded churches, cobblestone streets, lively festivals, powerful percussion reverberating off old stone walls and capoeiristas (practioners of capoeira) bat-tling against the backdrops of 16th-century buildings. But there’s more to Bahia than its capital – with more than 900km of coastline, the state contains World Heritage list-ed sites, deserted beaches and paradisaical islands. In the south, idyllic coastal villages and a world-class underwater park attract sunbathers and divers, while inland, the Parque Nacional da Chapada Diamantina features waterfalls and quiet hiking paths waiting to be explored.Best Places to
Eat¨¨ Maria Mata Mouro (p412)
¨¨ Portinha (p448)
¨¨ Caranguejo de Sergipe (p413)
¨¨ Cozinha Aberta (p457)
¨¨ Souza Bar (p426)
Best Beaches¨¨ Trancoso (p447)
¨¨ Boipeba (p431)
¨¨ Caraíva (p448)
¨¨ Praia do Espelho (p448)
When to Go
Dec–Mar packed pousadas (guest-houses) and crowds in Salva-dor for February’s Carnaval.
Apr–Sep Lovely warm weather, occasional rainy days.
Oct & Nov minimal crowds and summery weather.
F DNOSAJJMAMJ
Salvador°C/°F Temp
0/32
10/50
20/68
30/86
40/104
Rainfall inches/mm
0
4/100
8/200
12/300
16/400
20/500
Salvador .................... 395recôncavo ................. 418Cachoeira & São Félix .................... 418praia do Forte ............ 422Itacaré .......................433Ilhéus .........................436porto Seguro ............. 441Lençóis ...................... 452parque Nacional da Chapada Diamantina ................458
BahiaPOP 13.5 MILLION
©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd
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HistoryPrior to the Portuguese arrival, the region known today as Bahia had a wide variety of ethnic groups scattered inland and along
the coast, speaking dozens of languages. Many of the tribes were wiped out by the Portuguese, though some – like the Pataxó – are still around today. The indigenous tribes
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SALVADOR
Ilhéus
Itacaré
Diamantina
Parque NacionalMarinho de Abrolhos
Parque Nacionalda Chapada
0 200 km0 100 miles
1 Following the sounds of the famous olodum drum corps in Salvador (p395), Latin America’s inspiring Afro-Brazilian capital.
2 hiking across dramatic plateaus and swimming in fresh waterfalls in the magnificent Parque Nacional da Chapada Diamantina (p458).
3 Zooming around the island villages of gorgeous Morro de São Paulo (p428) and traditional
Boipeba (p431) on a classic speedboat tour.
4 Catching a wave or taking a capoeira lesson on the sand in surfer-happy Itacaré (p433).
5 Lingering over al fresco meals, taking coastal strolls and joining lively beach parties in Arraial d’Ajuda (p444).
6 Watching tiny sea turtles hatch outside the TAmAr station in Praia do Forte (p422).
7 Getting away from it all in the laid-back fishing village of Barra Grande (p432) on the peninsula de maraú.
8 Tracing the footsteps of Brazil’s literary great, Jorge Amado, in Ilhéus (p436).
9Diving beneath the deep to get face-to-face with tropical fish in the remote Parque Nacional Marinho de Abrolhos (p451).
Bahia Highlights