Real Life in Brazil's Nordeste

Your driver welcomes you at Salvador Airport and takes you to the hotel.



Bem-vindos a Salvador, where the city is a melting pot of cultures and religious syncretism. Known for its mixed population, Salvador is the beating heart of Afro-Brazilian culture. This harmonious coexistence of diverse cultural influences is reflected in the city's colorful architecture, infectious music, and rich and varied cuisine. Candomblé, in particular, an Afro-Brazilian religion that blends elements of Catholicism with traditional African beliefs, plays a central role in Salvador's social and cultural life. This vibrant expression of faith and resistance permeates the city's atmosphere.

So we set out to explore it, starting with the Bonfim Church where you can admire an impressive collection of ex-votos in the "miracle room", attesting to the popular devotion to Senhor do Bonfim. The church's architecture blends neo-classical and rococo styles, and it has become a symbol of Bahia's religious syncretism, where Catholic traditions mingle with Afro-Brazilian beliefs of Candomblé.

Next, we stroll through the cobbled streets of the Pelourinho and Santo Antonio neighborhoods, the colorful heart of the historic center, where every corner reveals a piece of Brazil's colonial history. You'll hear the African rhythms resonating against the pastel facades of colonial houses, witnesses to the fusion of cultures that defines Salvador.

⛵ At the end of the day, qe embark on Marcelo's sailboat. We sail along the coast of Salvador, in the Bay of Todos os Santo. The brightly colored houses and beaches pass by us. We become actors in our own adventure, helping to maneuver the sails under the expert guidance of our captain. It's a unique experience where we learn the basics of sailing while enjoying the magnificent sunset over the bay.

The Bahian gastronomy is a true reflection of the culture and miscegenation of the region. It is mainly influenced by African, European, and indigenous culinary traditions. Our guide and chef Moema then offers us an initiation into local cuisine.

We head towards the historic Sao Joaquim market. It is particularly popular among the local population for its affordable products. One can find a wide variety of items there, including crafts, religious artifacts, live animals (often related to the Candomblé religion), but also a rich range of food products.

With the purchases made for lunch preparation, we then head to a Bahian artist: Maria Adair (born in 1938), painter, draftsman, muralist... Maria, who is our guide's mother, opens the doors of her house-studio-art gallery, where we settle in for our cooking class.

We'll prepare and taste local specialities... Let's not say more - we'll keep the menu a surprise!

Domestic flight from Salvador (SSA) to São Luís (SLZ) (flight schedule and number to be specified).

Your driver will welcome you at São Luis airport and take you to the hotel.

You will set off with your Portuguese-speaking driver for a drive of around 4h30 towards Barreirinhas.

On arrival in Barreirinhas, you will have the opportunity to have lunch on the port before the rest of the journey.

We embark by boat on the Rio Preguiças with our Portuguese-speaking pilot.

The first sand dunes and lagoons come into view, and little monkeys emerge from between the mangrove trees to greet us. We enter the ‘pequenos Lençóis’ (the little desert of the Lençóis). We make a short stop at the Mandacaru lighthouse for a first view of the region.

We cross a number of mangrove swamps before arriving at Caburé, a sandbank between the river and the sea, before continuing on to the village of Atins, a small corner of the world.

The journey takes around 2 hours.

We depart from the small village of Atins on a private boat to reach Caburé.



We switch from the boat to the 4x4 vehicle to reach the town of Tutoia.

🌿 Upon our arrival at the port of Tutoia, we meet our guide, a true local expert, ready to immerse us in the culture, fauna, and flora of the Parnaíba Delta.

This delta hosts a great variety of ecosystems, including some of the largest and best-preserved mangroves in Brazil. These play a crucial role in protecting the coasts from erosion and are home to a wide variety of marine and terrestrial species. The Parnaíba Delta is also an important stopover point for many migratory bird species. Each year, thousands of birds from North America and Europe make a stop in the region.

So we set off by boat to observe and listen to the richness of these places.

🌟 At noon, we head to a small village on the riverbank, where a fisherman's family welcomes us into their home for a local (and delicious!) lunch. We discover the traditional "ribeirinha" cuisine and share, for the duration of a meal, the daily life of this family. After lunch, a "cafezinho" and a moment of relaxation in the hammock are a must. Let's not break the northeastern tradition!

At sunset, on the Rio Preguiças, a magical spectacle awaits us... the arrival of the "guarás" (red ibises).

n the early morning, we resume our navigation and head along the river to observe the local fauna. Our small canoe winds its way through the dense vegetation, weaving through the mangrove.

Then we reach Porto dos Tatus.

🛺 We take our seats aboard our buggy. On the agenda, the road of emotions, in the northeast of Brazil, along the beaches. Our guide, the expedition leader, starts by giving us a little briefing on driving. Just the essentials, because some situations can only be learned through experience, it seems.

After a few trials and hesitations, we're off! We quickly find ourselves on the beach, heading south.

The buggy is everything that a beetle is, its engine, its mechanics... and a carbon impact much lower than a 4x4!

Without doors and close to the ground, the buggy brings us closer to the world in a way that only a bicycle could match. It's an invitation to adventure, a promise of freedom and discoveries. Setting off on a buggy expedition is to embrace the spirit of exploration and the joy of the unexpected.

We pass through Bitupitá, for lunch with fish in a small local restaurant, then arrive at the end of the day in the small fishing village of Curimãs. We dive into the rhythm of the fishermen, in this so preserved place, out of time, in the middle of wild nature, by the ocean.

We resume our expedition heading south. We pass by small villages, encounter boats, and meet fishermen busy preparing their nets. There is a distinct way of life here, dictated by the tides. They also dictate our journey. Our days depend on them. We have to traverse the beaches at the right times to avoid being blocked by the high tide. Our expedition leader ensures this every day.

We travel through a raw, wild environment that is also warm, thanks to its inhabitants and their way of life. We are in another space-time. We are beginning to grasp the essence of the northeastern coast and its people.