|
The oldest and most historic city in Brazil, Salvador was the capital of Brazil for over two centuries, before relinquishing the title to Rio in 1763. The bay on which the city was built afforded a superb natural anchorage, while the surrounding lands of Bahia state were ideal country for sugar-cane and tobacco plantations. In the seventeeth century, Salvador became the centre of the Reconcavo , the richest plantation zone in Brazil before the coming of coffee the following century. Within striking distance of the city are a string of colonial towns, including Santo Amaro and Cachoeira . The countryside changes to the south of Salvador, with mangrove swamps and fast-developing island resorts around the town of Valenca , before reverting to a spectacular coastline typical of the Northeast. Ilheus is a thriving beach resort, as is Porto Seguro , the oldest town in Brazil and site of the first Portuguese landings in 1500. Inland , the Bahian sertao is massive, a desert-like land which supports some fascinating frontier towns - the mining bases of Jacobina and Lencois and the river terminus of Ibotirama are just three.
Your Tip for Bahia
Help other backpackers! Write your own guides and backpacking tips to Bahia - they will appear instantly on this page - Please only write a tip/guide to Bahia - visit the main Bahia forum to ask a question!
Please do not post links to your site here (they won't work) - please use the Bahia webguide section below! Thanks.
| 
