Steal my Itinerary: Rio de Janeiro and Salvador Brazil
Rio offers you major postcard views, whereas Salvador gives you that Afro-Brazilian soul you must experience. Both cities offer something deeply soulful that I swear you will be booking a flight back on the flight home.
So here’s everything I did in Brazil! Take it, tweak it as you see fit, and thank me later.
Rio de Janeiro
Here is everything you need to know about Cidade Maravilhosa:
Where to Stay
I spent my time in two quite different places, and to be honest, both of them work depending on one's mood.
Hotel Nacional is the one that stands out in terms of style; it has that mid-century, retro-glamour atmosphere with all its curves and palm trees. It’s located in Sao Cornado, about 15-20 minutes from Copabana and Ipanema, and has a gorgeous pool. Rates range from around $170-280 a night.
The Sheraton Grand Rio I actually stayed at because my friend got a great deal through Marriott (so for my points and miles people, this property is for you!) The hotel is located in Leblon, 10-15 minutes from popular tourist hot spots. Rates range from $180-250 per night.
Things to Do
If you’re going to be a tourist- there’s no better city than Rio.
Christ the Redeemer
Go early to avoid both the crowds and the clouds. You don’t have to buy tickets in advance (but you can here), there is a little ticket kiosk where you can purchase your tickets. Stick with the tram up and down. Warning - there are quite a few steps, but elevators and escalators are available at the top.
Cost: around $25 for tram ticket
Sugar Loaf Mountain
An absolutely unskippable touristy activity in Rio. If you can’t bear the lines, buy the VIP fast track tickets online before you go, especially if it’s an evening with the DJ set. Your first stop on the cable car will be Morro de Urca, which has lots of shops and restaurants. You’ll then take another cable car up to Sugarloaf Mountain. Check this website to see when there will be a DJ set at the top- this was the highlight of my trip.
Alexa Pro tip: Go watch sunset at Classico Beach Club on Morro de Urca. STUNNING VIEWS.
Cost: starting from $40
Let's go to the beach beach!
You haven’t lived until you’ve had queijo on the beach in Brazil. I’ve traveled many places, but no one is topping their beach culture. Rio’s beaches aren’t known exactly for swimming (harsh waves and such), but it’s absolutely worth a wade and a vibe.
My favorites: Ipanema, Copacabana, and Praia Vermilho.
But if you’re going strictly for sunset- Arpaodar Rock, it’s located near Copabana beach and gives you the most killer views.
Baile Charme
They are line dancing at another level in Brazil! Baile Charme is essentially a dance party that takes place under a bridge in Rio. I know… that’s a little sketchy to some. But imagine soul, funk, and R&B coming out of the speakers placed under the Viaduto de Madureira, with hundreds of people two-stepping in perfect unison as if they had rehearsed it. Just have faith and go.
You can get updates on the event on Instagram here.
The Little Africa Walking Tour
This walking tour covers the history of the African diaspora in Rio, and highlights the Little Africa neighborhood. If you’re not visiting Salvador, I highly recommend you add this tour to your itinerary for a glimpse into the life, tradition, and history of Afro-Brazilians. This tour is hosted by Etinas Tourismo.
Remember to put on some comfortable shoes since you'll be doing a good bit of walking. Don't hesitate to ask questions, because the guides are incredibly knowledgeable.
Do a Carnaval Workshop
I had the joy of visiting Rio and Salvador during Carnaval season, but if you’re not, I mean even if you're going to do this behind-the-scenes Carnaval Workshop. First, the tour supports one of the biggest samba schools in Rio, so we love that part. But you actually get to see floats being made, costumes being developed, as you learn deeply about the importance of Samba and Carnaval in Rio. Book it here.
Go Market Parousing
Who doesn’t love a good market? Here’s a list of a few you should visit. My favorite by far was the Hippie Market (Feira Hippie de Ipanema) which is open every Sunday in Ipanema.
Botanical Garden of Rio de Janeiro
It’s never on anyone’s itinerary, but it really should be! The Botanical Garden of Rio de Janeiro cost 80 reais to enter (around $15) and has an incredible Orchid exhibit. If you want a place to walk around and take in greenery, go here. It’s massive!
Where to Eat
If I had to choose a favorite restaurant in Rio, it would probably be this. Yaya is led by Top Chef’s Brazil Andresa Cabral, and she’s elevating Afro-Brazilian flavors to a level beyond comprehension. I ate here twice- well worth it. Try to make a reservation if you’re visiting during a busy tourist time like Carnaval.
This restaurant requires a bit of a journey to get there because it’s located on the water in Barra de Tijuca. You’ll have to take a boat from one of these points:
Barra Point Shopping Mall (Av. Armando Lombardi, 350)
Metrô Jardim Oceanico (Exit A- Lagoa)
Ilha de Pescadores (Estrada da Barra da Tijuca, 793)
I recommend taking an uber. All of these points have a pier where you can take a boat. You’ll negotiate a price with the captain, the price varies between R$5 and R$10 per person, per way. You’ll let them know you’re going to Ocya Ilha!
It’s a bit of a journey, but the food makes it more than worth it. Order the octopus!
This Michelin guide restaurant is located in the hills of Santa Teresa with panoramic views of the entire city. I recommend grabbing a reservation beforehand, especially for sunset!
This black-owned spot in Rio is located quite far from all the touristy spots, but absolutely worth a visit. They are serving up Afro-Brazilian cuisine, and food from around the black diaspora. There’s actually a few really nice shops within the restaurant and they often host events and parties.
Salvador
Getting from Rio to Salvador
Flying is the easiest option. Direct flights connect Rio with Salvador and take roughly two hours. I would spend three nights in Rio, fly to Salvador on day four, and give myself another three nights there.
Where to stay
Monte Pascoal Praia Hotel in Barra was my favorite stay—a beachfront hotel with ocean-view balconies and a pool overlooking the water, just a short walk from the Barra lighthouse. Budget around $210–$235 USD per night, depending on your dates and room type.
Things to do
Anthropology tour with Your Tour Brasil
I highly suggest doing this early in your trip as it introduces Salvador through its history, heritage, food and Afro-Brazilian culture, with stops including places such as São Joaquim Market and Casa do Benin. My favorite stop on this tour though was for acaraje from Norma's. Acaraje is a fried black-eyed pea fritter stuffed with things like shrimp and okra. It's delicious! Book it here.
Cooking class and market tour
The Your Tour Brasil cooking experience starts with a market visit before moving into the kitchen. If you can, please ask for Wilson to be your guide. He's incredible! We learned how to cook moqueca and a few side dishes. It was honestly some of the best food I've had in a long time.
Capoeira class
This is the one thing I wish I did onThis is the one thing I wish I had done on my trip!my trip! There are a ton of options on Airbnb , where you learn the basics of this combination of movement, music, and martial art.
Schooner trip to Ilha dos Frades
This was easily our best day in Salvador, because it involved beach hopping of course. This was a schooner day trip that leaves from the port in Savlador and takes you to Ilha Dos Frades. There's drinks and music on the boat, and absolutely 0 english speakers... so be warned lol.
Book it here.
Porto da Barra and other Beaches
If you want a proper Salvador beach day, start at Porto da Barra. The water is relatively calm, and the beach is popular with locals, so it can get busy, particularly on weekends. The sunset here is wonderful! Other beaches we enjoyed were Flamengo Beach and Itapuã Beach.
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