Bahia, Brazil vacation for family?

Question

I am planning a vacation for me and my daughter this spring.

The main places I am looking at are Brazil and Australia.

I'm going to focus on Brazil here though. :)

1.) How is Bahia?

2.) What is the culture like?

3.) What kind of food do they have?

4.) What is there to do? For a mom and a teenage girl?

5.) What should we bring with us?

6.) Is it safe?

7.) Can you surf there? What are the most popular surf spots there?

Answer 1

Hey, the previous answers are really good so I will only add some things, since I am a Brazilian and I had lived in Salvador (capital of Bahia) for 2  years:

1) Bahia is the most warm state from Brazil. Not only because of the wheather but also because of the people. They are the most friendly people from my country.

2) Brazil is result of a large mixture of cultures but in Bahia the african culture had a strong influence in they local culture.

3) The food is really spicy so if you ask any local food (Vatapa, acaraje, moqueca, bobó) ask them to not put extra spice (we say "pimenta" in portuguese). Vatapa and acaraje are not the kind of food you will eat in the lunch (it is kind of appetizer) but Moqueca de peixe (made with fish), moqueca de camarão (made with swrimp) and bobó de camarão are. The 3 of them are the most knwon food in Bahia and the are really good!

4) A lot of places can be visited in Salvador (as someone had described before). If you really like beautiful beaches, Salvador is not the best place in Bahia but Trancoso, Itacare (really good for surf), Ilha de Itaparica or Morro de São Paulo.

5) You should bring with you their amazing happeness (although this  is a poor state and people are used to live with short money). FOr gifts you can visit Mercado Modelo in Salvador. They have a lot of small shops that sell souvineirs from Bahia. Ah... do not forget to get a FITA DO SENHOR DO BONFIM, this is a strap to put in your wrist or ankle. You put it with 3 nodes and you have to make 3 wishes. you cannot remove the strap since the wishes will come true after the strap is removed from your wrist naturally (what can take months!).

6) All places where the tourism is the principal thing in Brazil are not safe if you are not careful. Avoid purses and walk with too much money or expensive items (watches, jewls, ipods) and always request a taxi through the hotel.

7) The best place to surf in Salvador is a beach called Stella Maris. It is the next beach after the famous beach Itapuã.

Answer 2

Bahia is one of the poorest states in Brasil, The climate is hot and humid.

Culture wise the African culture is by far the most dominant, voodoo (candoble'), medium stuff will be all over,

The food you will find beans and rice, all other Brasilian staples in addition various sea food dishes and fried stuff such as ACARAJE" (no good)

Be very careful, petty teft is a common nuisiance, you won't be able to take pics, nor carry cash, trombadinhas (boy gangs) will steal it from you.

Skin inly anything else will be stolen

It wasn't safe for me a man, can you imagine a mom with a teen

IDK about surf spots sorry.

Go to Natal instead.  I hope it helped.

Answer 3

I spent two years in Bahia, and I loved it.  The people are absolutely amazing, wonderful and friendly.  There are a lot of beautiful beaches strung up and down the coast, and there's quite a lot to do around there.

the culture is REALLY African.  It's awesome.  Bahia has probably the most interesting culture of any of the Brazilian states because of how much it developed from out of the African slave culture.

Some of the African/slave things that are really cool are: Capoeira (dancing martial art style-really cool looking), a bit of a Rastafarian flair all over Bahia, and the specialty foods.

As far as the food goes, Bahia is the one place in Brazil that ESPECIALLY likes their spices.  Most things are pretty spicy (or have the option to be).  Anywhere you go, there's something comparable to Tabasco sauce you can put on the beans and rice and stuff.  

If you've eaten at a Rodizio place somewhere, note that Bahia generally doesn't eat that way (although I love it), although they still do Barbecue.

Feel free to experiment a little bit. There are some 'slave foods' that are still very popular, such as Acaraje with Vatapa (it'll taste weird the first couple of times you try it, but once you're hooked, holy crud!!!).

However, this doesn't BEGIN to hit on the best culinary thing about Bahia:  the fruit.

OK, so Fruit is good, but I don't often crave fruits.  But there in Bahia, every lanchonette you visit will offer juices.  Oh my gosh, the stuff is amazing and even ordering just orange juice makes you want to slap anyone in the US that gives you orange juice from concentrate.  It's AMAZING!!  Then there's papaya, ...  you know what?  there's just too much.

there are coconuts you can buy off the street and drink the water, and it's so good on a hot day.

but the number one thing you must get if you go to Bahia: Are you listening?  Are you ready?  You have to get this or you will hate yourself:  Acai na tigela. Acai is a fruit that grows in the Amazons, and tigela is just a bowl, but Acai in a bowl or Acai na tigela is FRIKKIN amazing, and it's not even something you have to get used to, it's amazing from taste 1.  

Anyway, as far as what there is to do, I honestly don't know that much about that since I was a missionary and didn't go many places just for fun.  they have a huge carnaval (largest in the world), but that can be a little dangerous depending on where you go.

As far as what you should bring, basically anything LIGHT!  In two years I think I got cold 5 times.  At night.  That's it.  BAHIA is warm.  Obviously a camera, but the best way to get the most of the culture is to simply follow the idea of 'when in Rome,...' .  Brazil is hard to live in if you expect it to the US, but if you try and do things the way Brazil does, you'll LOVE it.

AS far as safety:  I think it can be really dangerous depending on where you go.  the best thing you can do is try and fit in, and plan your trip a little carefully, maybe with the help of a travel agent.

Surfing is something you;d have to ask a travel agent or search online for it (I never went, we couldn't go to the beaches).

Brazil is one amazing place, especially Bahia, and it would be such a interesting culture to wrap yourself in.  I would definitely consider making that trip.  Course, not many people speak English, but I'm sure a travel agent would know how you could make arrangements and all.  Anyway, the NICE hotels do speak English, so that'd be all right.

By the way, make sure you follow some guide rules for staying safe:

http://wikitravel.org/en/Salvador

that's an excellent site to give you an idea of what you can look forward to

Answer 4

There are already some good answers but I had a few things to add that I didn't see.  I am american but I have spent a lot of time in Bahia.  Somewhere around 26 months.  I love that place.  The last time I went My wife and I did volunteer work during the week and traveled on the weekends.  

There is a ton to do in Bahia and where you should go depends on what you like to do.  You mentioned surfing and like a previous answer said Itacare is great from what I hear.  

You should definitely spend some time in Salvador.  If you're interested I know a guy that does tours in Salvador and speaks perfect english.  I could get you his contact info if you email me.  The Pelorinho is very interesting.  There is a lot of history there.  Tuesday nights they have drummers perform down there and a lot of nightlife.  Tuesday nights are probably the best nights.  

In the Pelorinho there are a lot of good restaurants.  maria mata mouro, and some others I can't think of right now.  There is a show called the Baile Folklórico It's amazing!  It's at the Teatro Migel Santana in the Pelorinho.  Definitely a must see.  

If you like outdoor activities like hiking, rock climbing, beautiful waterfalls and caves, I would recommend Lencois.  First of all they have some amazing restaurants but there is so much to do.  I spent 3 days there and I loved it.  You can get there by overnight bus from Salvador.

If you like beaches, Morro de Sao Paulo is awesome.  Also some of my favorite resturants there.  Porto Seguro is nice too and pretty cheap.  They have a lot of hotels there so we got a really nice place for really cheap (Terra Brasil was the hotel).  From there you can get a tours to some amazing beaches.  

I could go on forever.  If you want reccomendations for Places to go, Places to Stay and Places to eat, email me.  You can check out my blog of my last trip and www.scottnmegan.blogspot.com

As far as safety goes, you have to be careful.  Stay in places where there are a lot of people.  Don't wear watches or much jewlery.  I never got robbed but I know someone who did.  Be careful and you will be fine.

Have fun!  Brazil is amazing!

Answer 5

what can I say but Bahia: is the best place in Brazil, because I live there since I came for a visit and here I am for 15 years

all the answers are : YES !

Answer 6

I think that you have to believe in a person that go there all the years!

This person it's me! Let's answer:

1) Well! Bahia is a cool place! By the way, it's really wonderful! It's a place where there are many mixes in the dance, religion, culture etc...

2) How I said in the first question it's mixed! The Baian culture has a mix of Portuguese, Indian and mainly African culture! The main religion is Catholic. Main musical style: Axé Music. We can see in the Baian culture a big force of the African culture in: religion (Candomblé and Umbanda), food, dances...

3)Like the other places of Brazil, Bahia has many kinds of food. The main Baian foods are: Acarajé, Vatapá and Caruru. By the way, you can find these foods in each corner of Salvador! hahaha

4) A family travel, isn't it? Well! You can visit these touristic points: Barra's Lighthouse, Pelourinho or Pelô (call how you want), Saint Francisco Church (Gold Church), Lacerda Elevator, Model Market, Todos os Santos Bay, Saint Marcelo Fort, Bonfim's Lord Church (Senhor do Bonfim) etc...

You can go to the beach. You can go to the Malls: Salvador Shopping, Shopping Iguatemi, Shopping Barra, Shopping Piedade, Shopping Lapa etc...

You can experiment a good and big ice-cream at Ribeira District etc...

You can go to Itaparica Island, Morro de São Paulo (Cairu), Recôncavo Baiano, Ilhéus, Porto Seguro (where the Portugueses arrive for the first time in Brazil) etc...

5) To Bahia? Well! What you want! Go with everything that's necessary in a travel. But when you are in Bahia (when you're visiting) go with money (necessary money to go out for this day), don't go with purses (go with the money in the pockets), and buy a map of the city in the airport (it can be useful and it can help you).

6) I have to say the reality! No place of Brazil is safe too much! You have to be careful. Try don't walk in places that there aren't many people. And if the place is far take a taxi - but first make a route from the place you are until the place you want to go (because some taxers like to pretend the tourists, going for distances places to pay more expensive). And don't forget: Go with your map and and be natural.

7) Well! Bahia is not a BIG place to surf! But there's a place in the Flamengo Beach or Jardim de Alá (Alá's Garden) that there are very surfers!

I wish you a good travel. I wait that you and your mom go to Bahia and have fun! And don't worry about the violence, after all the violence is in all the places of the world (unfortunately!)!

XOXO and WELCOME to Brazil!

Answer 7

all things said here can be related to bahia. just stay safe.

http://wikitravel.org/en/Rio#Stay_safe

lemme just summarize this quick....laid back people, we respect other people, we expect it back, FUTEBOL (soccer), like i said, check that link, yes you can surf, try and visit a futebol game there, youll be hooked for life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksBxy8f26...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nNGMDM1D...

Answer 8

Bahia's a hot place, with beautiful beaches and people very welcoming.

The culture has a strong African influence.

Bahia has varied diet, with strong seasonings that can cause strong emotions in those not accustomed and exotic fruits.

There're beautiful resorts in Bahia, with local and international cuisine and many activities.

The streets aren't safe, never carry a lot of money, jewellery, cameras and camcorders.

Here are the sites of resorts:

http://www.costadosauipe.com.br/br/

http://www.arraialresort.com.br/Resort.a...

http://www.praiadoforteecoresort.com.br/...