South America · SALVADOR TOURS
The good salvador tours fill first, and the cheap ones are not always the weak ones. Below: 15 of them, what each costs and how they differ.
Spend about four hours cooking with Karla in Salvador’s Stella Maris area. You’ll make caipirinhas, pão de queijo, queijo coalho with pineapple-pepper jelly, shrimp tapioca, brigadeiro, moqueca, rice, pirão, and farofa, with local food tips along the way.
“Very interactive and informative about recipes. Got to meet other people. Lovely course meal? Something l do in Salvador!”
Leave Salvador at 7:30 am for a schooner trip across Todos os Santos Bay. You get about two hours on Ilha dos Frades, then three hours at Itaparica for swimming and lunch. Fruit and a guide are included, while island entry, port tax, lunch, drinks, and transfers cost extra. English support is not guaranteed.
“Once I found the window inside the terminal building it was all smooth sailing. The boat was spacious and clean. The staff was friendly and helpful. Once we got underway and the drinks started coming and the band started playing i was able to relax and enjoy the bay.”
Spend eight hours sailing from Salvador’s Nautical Terminal across Baía de Todos os Santos to Ilha dos Frades and Itaparica. Swim in calm water, enjoy a fruit round and live music, eat at a beachfront buffet restaurant, and watch the sunset on the return. Portuguese, English, French, Spanish, and Italian guides are available.
Spend about eight hours traveling from Salvador to Praia do Forte and Guarajuba with a guide and air-conditioned transport. You’ll have three hours for the TAMAR sea turtle project and Praia do Forte village, then three hours for swimming and lunch at Guarajuba. Guides such as Fito, Pavarotti, Jody, and Paulo have received strong praise.
“Excelente para observar peixinhos na maré baixa, visitar o Projeto Tamar e curtir a praia em Guarajuba. Gostei muito do passeio, atendeu às expectativas.”
Spend six private hours exploring Salvador with guides such as Wilson, Mônia, Vagner, or Ronaldo. Visit Yemayá’s altar, Dique do Tororó, São Joaquim Market, a Candomblé temple, and a seaside favela. Your private car, guide, lunch, acarajé tasting, and donation are included. Expect thoughtful cultural context, local food, and communities beyond the usual tourist route.
“Fantastic tour, my guide was not only very friendly but also very knowledgeable”
Hike the Vale do Pati over three days with Lençóis guide Tuty, crossing Gerais do Vieira, Morro do Castelo, Funis Waterfall, and Cachoeirão do Pati. Expect long mountain walks, cave passages, home-cooked meals, and overnight stays with local families. The route suits fit hikers who want Chapada scenery and a more personal experience.
“Our trek through the Pati Valley was an incredible adventure. Tuty was communicative and attentive, making sure that all of our needs were met. We couldn't be happier with our trek, and we highly recommend Tuty!”
Meet Alltour at Salvador Airport after collecting your bags, then ride in an air-conditioned shared van, minibus, or bus to your Salvador hotel. The service follows your registered flight schedule, requires at least two passengers, and takes about one to two hours. No guide or sightseeing stops are included.
“Pessoal super educado, já estavam aguardando quando cheguei, motorista super educado, nota 10 o serviço !!”
Arrive at Salvador Airport and meet your driver or receptionist in the landing area for a private transfer to Iberostar Selection or Iberostar Waves Go and Go. The roughly 1-hour-20-minute ride includes airport reception, tolls, parking, and a children’s seat. Vehicles are licensed, and only your group rides.
“After confirming via email, the company never showed up and left us alone at the airport. A hole family with kids and babies.”
Spend about eight hours sailing from Salvador to Ilha dos Frades, a quiet island known for warm, clear water and a beautiful beach. The tour includes a guide and fruit round, but not transport to the terminal, lunch, island admission, or the R$20 port tax. Optional snorkeling and lunch are available.
“Não recomendo nada o passeio. A empresa vende o passeio de outra empresa. Se você for diretamente ao terminal marítimo e comprar com a Empesa Apolônio, sairá muito mais em conta. A única coisa que fizeram foi intermediar a compra. Paguei quase 200 no passeio mais 42 de taxas de embarque e de preservação. Tampouco recomendo o almoço no restaurante indicado, que é um dos primeiros da ilha. É caríssimo e não serve tanto. Em relação a praia da ilha, ela é fantástica! Não é lotada, a água é quente e quase não tem ondas. Parece uma piscina natural. Só fique de olho nos preços, tudo é inflacionado. Na volta,…”
Spend about three and a half hours in a Salvador home cooking dishes such as moqueca and farofa with a bilingual host such as Karla or Rebeca. You get ingredients, utensils, an apron, a full meal, unlimited drinks, candid photos, digital recipes, and a Salvador food guide. Groups are limited to six in class.
“This was an excellent day!!! From touring the Mercedo and trying new fruits to Carla taking us into her home and teaching us how to make the various local dishes. The caipirinhas were tasty but the Moqueca and the Brigadeiro were amazing. Great to meet new people and learn how to make new dishses. Thank you!!”
Drive a Honda 420cc quad through Atlantic Forest trails in Sapiranga Reserve, with a swim stop at the Pojuca River. Guides such as Denis, Junior, Thiago, and Vitor are praised for calm instruction. A Garcia D’Ávila Castle visit is possible Wednesday to Sunday at 3pm, with admission extra.
“Ich war schonmal 2013 in Praia do Forte und hatte damals die Whalewatching Tour mitgemacht.”
Spend four days exploring Chapada Diamantina from Lençóis with Zentur. Swim at Pratinha, Mucugezinho, Roncador, and Cachoeira do Mosquito, visit colorful caves, cruise the Marimbus wetlands, and hike around Lençóis. Guides such as Dairone and Romilson are praised for their care, English, humor, and strong local knowledge. Expect small groups of up to 14 and moderate hiking.
“Honestly it was a mess to book this first, because the initial offer I saw at another website was not the current one and it was all very spontaneously on my side. But I'm glad it all worked out. ZenTur put in lots of effort to make it happen. I am happy I had the best guide of Chapada, Dairone. Trust me, he will male sure, you enjoy your trip and have great pictures. Loved my time there. 10/10”
See Salvador with a private vehicle, hotel pickup, and a flexible route through Farol da Barra, Bonfim, Sister Dulce’s memorial, Elevador Lacerda, Pelourinho, and São Francisco Church. Guides such as Samuel, Monica, and Edeilton are named in guest feedback. The tour is conducted only in Portuguese and lasts about four to six hours.
“Ótimo atendimento do guia turistico Samuel. Very attentive and helpful, who promptly explained to us about the places we visited Forte Santo Antônio da Barra, from the local museum. He indicated us the House of Sister Dulce, an exciting exRead moreAuto-translated”
Spend two full days exploring Chapada Diamantina from Lençóis. Day one covers Mucugezinho, Gruta da Fumacinha, Pratinha, and sunset at Morro do Pai Inácio by minibus. Day two is a guided walk to Serrano pools, Hall of Sands, Cachoeirinha, and Primavera Waterfall. Guide Mira has led this route.
“We thoroughly enjoyed this two day tour. The first day used a mini bus to take us to four locations: a natural pool, some impressive caves (where we enjoyed a local lunch); a tourist centre aound a lake for swimming and lastly the most stunning views of the valley at sunset from the top of Morro do Pai Inácio. The second day consisted of a walk around the trails close to Lencois. The first day includes many hours of driving, about 140km, so was pretty tiring. However, the area is very large, so it is necessary! We enjoyed most of the tour, the caves are very special and the views…”
Walk from Praça Castro Alves through Salvador’s historic center and Pelourinho with a guide in English, Spanish, or Portuguese. See Rio Branco Palace, the Lacerda Elevator, Cruz Caída Square, colonial mansions, and São Francisco Church. Guides including Maria, Eduardo, Lara, and Aldison tailor the walk to your interests.
“Maria è una guida molto brava e professionale, ha tarato il tour sui miei interessi e curiosità. Bellissima esperienza ! Grazie”
Pick a coastline, an altitude or a kitchen.
