Savour this new and exciting destination by relaxing on tropical white sand beaches, watching amazing displays of the martial art capoeira in the cobbled-streets of Salvador or join in on one of the most exciting Carnaval celebrations in Brazil... the Northeast has a lot to offer.

Good time to visit: all year round

Sights

Set in the magnificent All Saints Bay, Salvador in the state of Bahía, has an electric ambience you feel from the moment you arrive. Brazil’s first capital (from 1549 to 1763), it is full of beautifully preserved colonial buildings and has a vibrant cultural and artistic scene. The city is a tantalising mix of what you expect from Brazil and a vibrancy that is unmistakably African. The martial art of capoeira is a sight to behold as it is practiced everywhere from city streets and squares to the beachfront and all along the palm-fringed coastline.

Eating out is one of the many pleasures the Northeast has to offer, and the fresh local cuisine comida baiana is deservedly famous. To the north lie spectacular white sand beaches around Fortaleza and the historic colonial city of Olinda that merges every year with neighbouring Recife for one of the most exciting Carnaval celebrations on the continent. Meanwhile, off the coast lie the remote and spectacular islands of Fernando de Noronha. Once visited by Charles Darwin, it is a haven for a wealth of marine life and the islands are deservedly considered to be one of the great diving locations on the planet. This exotic, sun-kissed area of Brazil offers yet another side to this dynamic and exciting country.