Salvador de Bahia has a culture and beauty unique in Brazil and, indeed, the rest of the world.  Descendants of African slaves have preserved their cultural roots better in Bahia than anywhere else in the New World, resulting in an intoxicating mix of music, dancing, food, religion, and energy that you just have to be there to experience.  Plus, of course, there’s the beach.

Backpacking through Bahia you can’t help but get caught up in the unique culture and great energy of the place.  Luckily, there are plenty of opportunities for travelers to learn a bit and get themselves involved.  Prepare yourself to hit the clubs by taking some cheap, pay-as-you-go Afro-Brazilian dance classes at one of the many schools in town.  Or, to look truly awesome, take some classes in caipoeira, the hypnotizing martial art/dance.

The main historic and tourist center of Bahia is called the Pelourhino, and this is where most of the activity takes place at any time of year.  Its cobblestone streets are lined with colonial palaces, churches, and bright plazas.  Adding even more flavor to the mix are the caipoeira circles and samba drum corps practicing their respective crafts in the streets.  Every Tuesday night the neighborhood erupts in a street fair called Terca da Bencao, or Blessed Tuesday.

Once you’ve seen some of the city, spend the rest of your time at the beach, Praia do Farol da Barra.  Get there early if you want to beat the crowds.  Rent a chair and lie out sipping from a coconut, or get on your board and enjoy the beach break.  For serious surfers, smaller crowds and cleaner waters are located less than an hour from the city center.  Have a drink on the pier as the sun goes down to enjoy a magnificent Bahian sunset.

The Pelourhino and Barra both offer ample nightlife options, and be sure to catch some live music while you’re in town.  Salvador is the heart of Brazil’s music scene, and the mix of cultures has produced amazing drumming which can be heard all over the city.  There are also plenty of open air bars to enjoy the scenery and the outdoors.  Beach bars are called barracas, and are happening at night and all weekend long.

Salvadorenos are very religious people, dedicated to their church, callers terreiro in Afro-Brazilian religions.  Taking the time to see an evening Candomble ceremony is a truly unique experience that could just be a highlight of your trip.

The pinnacle of Bahian culture comes in its festivals, the hottest of which is of course Carnaval.  All festivals here show the same mix of influences that can be seen throughout the city – Brazilian and African, sacred and profane, Candomble and Catholicism.  Though nothing beats Carnaval, with 2 million partiers hitting the streets to take part in all forms of debauchery, there are many other fantastic festivals to take part in during your travels in Salvador.  The second Thursday in January brings the Lavagem do Bonfim, with rituals during the day followed by a giant all-night street party.  Shortly after on the 2 of February comes the Festa de Iemanja, one of Candomble’s most important festivals, when devotees to the goddess of sea and fertility flock to Praia Rio Vermelho to make offerings.   

Bahia has many hostels providing clean, safe, cheap, and fun accommodation alternatives to staying in a hotel.  Though quite inexpensive, prices are much higher during Carnaval, so if you’re really on a budget and looking for the lowest prices possible, that might be a party you have to skip.  Many hostels arrange cultural activities in-house, and nearly all have bars enabling you to meet other backpackers to have a drink and enjoy your vacation with.  Bahia is certainly a can’t-miss stop during your travels through Brazil and beautiful Latin America.