Northeast (Nordeste)

★★★ Salvador — The African Heart of Brazil

Salvador da Bahia is the cultural soul of Brazil — the city where the Afro-Brazilian identity pulses most strongly. As Brazil's first capital (1549–1763) and the largest slave port in the New World, Salvador has a unique heritage: Capoeira, Candomblé, Axé music, Acarajé, and a joie de vivre that even outshines Rio.

80% of Salvador's inhabitants are of Afro-Brazilian descent — the city feels culturally closer to Lagos or Luanda than to São Paulo. This is reflected in the cuisine (West African influences with coconut milk, palm oil, and okra), the music (Axé, Olodum drums, Samba de Roda), and the religion (Candomblé, a syncretic religion with African Orixás and Catholic saints).

★★★ Pelourinho (Centro Histórico)

The UNESCO World Heritage Pelourinho is a colorful labyrinth of colonial buildings from the 17th–19th centuries: pastel façades, baroque churches, cobblestone streets, and squares where Capoeira circles and drum groups dominate the street scene. The name "Pelourinho" (pillory) recalls the dark history: This is where slaves were publicly punished.

• Igreja e Convento de São Francisco: The "Golden Church" — completely covered in gold leaf inside. One of the most magnificent baroque buildings in the Americas. Entrance 8 BRL.
• Fundação Casa de Jorge Amado: Museum about Bahia's most famous writer, whose novels (Gabriela, Dona Flor) made Salvador's culture known worldwide.
• Tuesday Night (Terça da Bênção): Every Tuesday, a huge street party with live music, Olodum drums, and Samba takes place in Pelourinho. Don't miss it!

★★ Elevador Lacerda

The iconic elevator (1873) connects the upper and lower city over 72 meters of height. The ride takes 30 seconds, costs almost nothing (0.15 BRL!), and offers a spectacular view over the All Saints Bay (Baía de Todos os Santos). In the lower city lies the Mercado Modelo — a touristy but worth-seeing market in a former customs house.

Experience Capoeira

Capoeira — the dance-like martial art developed by enslaved Africans in the 16th century in Bahia — is ubiquitous in Salvador. In Pelourinho, Rodas (circles) take place daily, where masters and students fight/dance to the rhythm of the Berimbau. Introductory courses for tourists are available at many academies (from 50 BRL/hour).

★★★ Lençóis Maranhenses — The Desert That Isn't

The Lençóis Maranhenses are one of the most surreal landscapes on Earth: Thousands of snow-white sand dunes, up to 40 meters high, stretch over 155,000 hectares — and between them lie hundreds of crystal-clear, turquoise freshwater lagoons. It looks like the Sahara flooded with Caribbean water.

The lagoons fill with rainwater during the rainy season (Jan–Jun). The best time to visit is June to September: The lagoons are full, the sun shines, and the dunes glow dazzling white. From October, the lagoons slowly dry up.

The Main Lagoons

• Lagoa Azul: The "Blue Lagoon" — the most famous and easiest to reach. Deep blue, framed by white dunes. Accessible by 4×4 jeep from Barreirinhas (1h).
• Lagoa Bonita: The "Beautiful Lagoon" — a bit further, less visited, larger. Swim in warm freshwater with a dune panorama.
• Lagoa Tropical: Remote, accessible by trekking. Bathtub-warm water, almost no other visitors.

Practical Information

Barreirinhas is the gateway to the Lençóis: A small town on the Rio Preguiças with hotels, pousadas, and tour agencies. Arrival by flight to São Luís (capital of Maranhão), then bus or transfer (4h). All tours start here — 4×4 jeeps, boats, and trekking tours can be booked through local agencies.

Atins: A tiny fishing and hippie village at the mouth of the Rio Preguiças, accessible by boat from Barreirinhas. Sand streets, kitesurfing, tranquility, and secluded lagoons — the anti-tourism program. For adventurers and digital nomads.

Parque Nacional dos Lençóis Maranhenses. No entrance fee. Best time: Jun–Sep. Tours from Barreirinhas: Half-day 100–150 BRL (17–25€), full-day 200–300 BRL. Be sure to bring sunscreen, plenty of water, and closed sandals!

★★★ Jericoacoara — Brazil's Hippie Paradise

"Jeri", as everyone calls it, is a small fishing village on the northeast coast that has developed into Brazil's kitesurfing and backpacker mecca — without losing its charm. The streets are made of sand (no paving!), the dunes reach the sea, and the sunset from the "Duna do Pôr do Sol" is among the most beautiful in the world.

• Duna do Pôr do Sol: Every evening, everyone pilgrimages to this dune to cheer the sunset over the sea. Afterwards, Caipirinha in the beach bars.
• Pedra Furada: The pierced rock in the sea — Jeri's landmark. Accessible on foot at low tide (30 min walk along the beach).
• Kitesurfing: Jeri is one of the best kitesurfing spots in the world (July–December, strong trade winds). Courses from 300 BRL (50€) for beginners.
• Lagoa do Paraíso: A huge freshwater lagoon 20 km east with hammocks in the water, reggae music, and Caipirinhas. Accessible by buggy tour.

Arrival: Flight to Fortaleza (300 km), then bus or shuttle (5–6h) or by Jardineira (open all-terrain vehicle, 1.5h from Jijoca de Jericoacoara). The last 20 km lead over dunes and beach — only accessible by 4×4 or buggy. That's part of the adventure!

★★★ Fernando de Noronha — Brazil's Ultimate Island Paradise

Fernando de Noronha is a UNESCO World Heritage archipelago of 21 volcanic islands, located 354 km off the northeast coast — and the most beautiful place in Brazil. Crystal-clear water with 30–50 meters visibility, schools of dolphins in the bay, sea turtles on every beach, and some of the best diving and snorkeling spots in the Atlantic.

Noronha is strictly protected: Only the main island is inhabited (about 3,000 residents), the number of visitors is limited to 460 people per day, and an environmental preservation fee (Taxa de Preservação Ambiental) is charged, which increases with each day (starting at about 90 BRL/day).

The Most Beautiful Beaches

• Baía do Sancho: Regularly voted the most beautiful beach in the world. Access via a steep ladder through a rock crevice. Turquoise water, golden sand, cliffs, dolphins. Snorkeling directly from the beach.
• Praia do Leão: Sea turtle nesting site (Dec–Jun). Wilder, less visited, spectacular rock formations.
• Baía dos Porcos: Small bay with two iconic rocks (Dois Irmãos). Postcard view. Accessible only at low tide.
• Praia do Atalaia: Tidal pool with a natural aquarium. Only 100 visitors per day, snorkeling among tropical fish in a shallow pool. Reserve in advance!

Diving & Snorkeling

Noronha offers the best visibility for diving in the Atlantic: 30–50 meters visibility, water temperature 26–28°C, turtles, sharks (reef sharks, nurse sharks), rays, moray eels, and schools of tropical fish. Over 20 dive sites, also for beginners. A PADI diving course costs from 600 BRL (100€) for the Discovery Dive.

Flights from Recife (REC, 1h) or Natal (NAT, 1h) with Azul or GOL. Prices: 400–1,200 BRL (65–200€) one-way. Environmental fee: from 90 BRL/day (progressively increases). Accommodations: Pousadas from 400 BRL/night (65€). Noronha is EXPENSIVE — plan for 150–300€/day.

★★ Recife & Olinda

Recife, the capital of Pernambuco, is a vibrant metropolis often overlooked in favor of Salvador — unjustly so. The Recife Antigo (Old Town) on an island in the river boasts beautiful colonial buildings, lively squares, and the famous "Marco Zero" (Zero Point), where the carnival celebration takes place. Recife's carnival is the largest street carnival in the world (unlike Rio's Sambódromo): Millions of people dance Frevo in the streets.

Olinda, just 6 km north, is the UNESCO World Heritage jewel of the northeast: A colonial town on hills overlooking the sea, with pastel-colored churches, studios, live music, and a famous carnival with giant puppets (Bonecos Gigantes) dancing through the streets. Olinda is quieter, more charming, and more artistic than Recife — many travelers stay here and visit Recife as a day trip.

★★★ Chapada Diamantina

In the hinterland of Bahia, 400 km west of Salvador, lies the Chapada Diamantina — one of the most spectacular hiking areas in Brazil. Table mountains, deep canyons, waterfalls, caves with blue water, and breathtaking vegetation reminiscent of the American Southwest.

• Cachoeira da Fumaça: At 340 meters, the second-highest waterfall in Brazil. The hike to the upper viewpoint (6 km, 2h) offers a spectacular view into the depths.
• Gruta da Pratinha & Gruta Azul: Caves with crystal-clear, deep blue water. In Pratinha, you can snorkel through the cave — surreal beauty.
• Vale do Paty: Multi-day trekking tour (3–5 days) through a remote valley with overnight stays with local families. Brazil's best multi-day trek.
• Poço Encantado & Poço Azul: Underground lakes where sunbeams fall through rock crevices, making the water glow magically blue (Apr–Sep).

Lençóis (not to be confused with the Lençóis Maranhenses!) is the gateway to the Chapada. Bus from Salvador (6h, 80–120 BRL). Accommodations: Pousadas in Lençóis from 100 BRL/night. Tours and guides: essential for remote trails, from 150 BRL/day.