Salvador - The Route

Salvador sits on a spit of land sticking into the Atlantic Ocean. Once Brazil's capital city, Salvador held the Portuguese Crown in the Americas until 1763 when Rio de Janeiro took its place. Still considered the cultural capital of Brazil, its people are a mix of Native Americans, Portuguese and Africans.

It is a unique ethnic and cultural diversity that stands out for its harmonious and democratic coexistence, rarely found in the world today. The original music, dance and other artistic and cultural expressions of each of the ethnic groups that form Salvador's population contributes to the rich tapestry of life in the city.

Walking through the streets of the historical district of Salvador you can feel as though you are stepping back in time, following in the footsteps of the great Portuguese explorers who first discovered Brazil in 1500. The city was built on two levels and remains divided into upper and lower cities to this day, the Elevador Lacerca transporting thousands of people every day between the two sections of the city.

The Clipper fleet will be berthed at CENAB (Centro Nautico de Bahia) in the lower part of the city, close to the heart of Salvador along the quays of the port in the Bay of All Saints. It is close to the famous tourist sites, including the Mercado Modelo which houses more than 300 stalls selling local Bahian arts and crafts.

The Pelourinho district boasts some of the greatest colonial architecture in Latin America and is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The district's steep streets, pavements and squares now serve as a permanent stage for musical presentations and dance demonstrations all year round. Capoeira, once a way for enslaved Africans to practise martial arts without arousing suspicion, is now a form of dance and cultural expression demonstrated by capoeristas throughout the city and taught by 'Mestres', or masters, who pass on the tradition from generation to generation.

Salvador is also the ideal location for a relaxing beach holiday and for taking part in a myriad of water sports. All Saints Bay, Baia de Todos os Santos, is recognised as one of the most beautiful in the whole world, with its white sand beaches and warm tropical waters that are a kaleidoscopic mix of blue, turquoise and green. Salvador's extensive shoreline and the city's tropical climate enhanced by a steady, gentle breeze blowing in from the Atlantic, plus an almost constant year-round temperature of 25°C (77°F) combine in an irresistible invitation to outdoor leisure pursuits.