Salvador Anthropological City Tour: A Deep Dive into Brazil's Cultural History
5.0
11 Ratings
Salvador

Embark on an anthropological journey through Salvador da Bahia to gain some insight into Brazil’s cultural past. You’ll explore locations rich in African history and peruse a bazaar established by Africans in bondage. Lunch is provided.
Experience a local tour to touch and savour the genuine spirit of Afro-Bahian inhabitants.

Duration: 6 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Pelourinho - Walking tour around the old city, the complex of 5 squares of colonial building and explore the manly historic part of Brazil in cobbled stone streets and feel the magic of our history accompanied by our tour guide with a special explanation of it.
  • Sao Joaquim market - Stop to visit São Joaquim Fair that is the largest free fair in the city of Salvador. It houses innumerable informal workers descended from the enslaved Africans, being the main distributor of clay handicrafts, couscous, pots produced in the Bahia recôncavo and sale of products for rituals of candomblé.
  • Casa do Benin - Visit the Afro Museum of casa do Benin which narrates the history of enslaved Africans in Brazil through important elements, representative of these cultures, or museum presents contents that facilitate the understanding of the historical, artistic and ethnic aspects that identify African societies and use a reflection on the importance of this matrix.
  • Casa de Iemanja - We will visit the queen of the sea house, located by the beach Rio vermelho, at a fishermen community that built an altar in reverence to that african divinity from the sea, the orixá iemanjá.
  • Vodun Zo - Walkthrough the terreiro to see the religious and cultural development that originated from the maroon community, a historical haven for African slaves practicing the Candomblé religion.
  • Recanto das Tias Celia & Leda - Stop for lunch in a local family’s restaurant with typical food.
  • Dique de Tororo - stop at the lake of tororo, to see and admire the sculperts on the water of the African Gods Orixas.
What's Included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Driver/guide
  • Lunch
What's Not Included
  • Drinks
  • Gratuities
Additional Information
  • Vegetarian option is available; please advise at time of booking if required
  • Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
  • Minimum of 2 adults per booking
Location
Pelourinho
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(11 Ratings)
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965liliy
Jul 10, 2023
A MUST do tour if you want to explore and learn about the rich African History in Salvador, Bahia - Our tour guide, Vagner, was amazing! He spoke English well. This tour was definitely my favorite, or at the very least, second favorite tour of our one-week Brazil trip. We visited different museums and Vagner helped explain the history and culture behind many of what we saw. (If you use google translate and the camera option in this app, you can also translate Portuguese words/menus/descriptions in museums from Portuguese to your language). I highly do NOT recommend keeping your phone in your hand or holding it up, and was thankful Vagner explained things so well with so much knowledge. I felt like we saw the entire city with this tour. We went into favela-like areas, went into a vodun worship area, met the doctor, who invited us for lunch. We went to all the tourist hot spots. We went to the large market, saw livestock being sold, meat being butchered, spices, voodoo dolls, and so much more. This tour is definitely a MUST if you want to explore the deep culture of Salvador in a safe way with a knowledgeable tour guide and driver.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jessicara8690sw
Aug 26, 2022
Worth Every Penny - Where do I start? This tour changed my life and the trajectory of my coaching business. By learning about the history and the beginning of Salvador and walking through paths that were once slave auction spaces, I feel I am forever changed by the honesty, opennessndor, and generosity of Marcos. He even went out of his way to ensure I had vegan options. This tour covers many spaces in Salvador, but Marcos gives the true history and the background of how this history affects Bahia today. Not one to miss!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sunshine456980
Aug 20, 2022
Great tour - Great tour. Very knowledgeable guide who took the time to explain the intricate details of the Afro influence in the early days in Portuguese occupation.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Danielfp1414ne
Jul 14, 2021
Cultural awakening - We actually went on the Salvador: African Heritage & Acarajé Tasting 4-Hour Tour This Tour and History lesson was extremely fulfilling. I learned soooo much about who I am as an African descendant. Marcos was informative helpful and just a great host. Our group of 3 got exactly what we were seeking; an education on the our African Heritage. Obrigado... Este passeio foi fantastico !
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marissah935
Aug 7, 2019
Anthropological tour - We booked a last minute tour with Vagner and Junior(driver). What a great experience! And that’s exactly what it was- an experience of Brazilian lifestyle and history! We are returning to Salvador in a few months with friends and we are definitely going to book a tour so our friends can really experience the essence of Salvador. Thank you!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
David
Aug 13, 2017
Josuel Olafemi Tours was excellent... - <p>Josuel Olafemi Tours was excellent. Deeply knowledgeable, flexible, warm, friendly, and enthusiastic about Salvador was the best guide anyone could hope for. Josuel picked us up at our hotel and began the tour by taking us to a site by the shore dedicate to Yemaja. From there, to the lake and the Orixa statutes, an extensive tour of Pelourinho, and Sao Joaquim market. He took us also to a terreiro and we had an amazing improptu chat 30 minutes! with a candomble priest who has given several lectures at top US universities! We finished the tour at a local family restaurant eating feijoada and pichichanga. This is the tour to take if you want not only an inside look into the culture of Salvador, but also have a guide that will accommodate you and answer your every question.</p>
Review provided by Viator
Katharine
Nov 21, 2015
This was an outstanding tour....a great... - <p>This was an outstanding tour....a great introduction to the Afro-Brazilian culture of Salvador. Our Guide, Marcos, was excellent. I could not have asked for a better tour. During our eight hours with Marcos, we visited many areas of the town. Had a delicious lunch at a family home. Highly recommend this tour.</p>
Review provided by Viator
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May 2024
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