Active Brazil: Remote Bahia and Fernando de Noronha

When's the best time to visit Salvador and Chapada Diamantina?

Salvador is an all-year destination, hot and humid with most rain falling from Mar to Jul. The Chapada Diamantina is also hot (27-32°C) all year round with most rain Nov to Mar. Dec-Feb and Jul are local holiday times, and will be busy in Salvador and on the beaches.

What is the official language of Salvador and Chapada Diamantina?

Brazilian Portuguese, a more languid and musical version of Portugal’s mother tongue.

What's the local currency in Salvador and Chapada Diamantina?

Notes can be withdrawn from the many ATMs of Banco do Brasil, Bradesco and HSBC using a UK credit or debit card. There are international ATMs in the Pelourinho, the beach at Barra and at the airport. There are ATMs in Lençóis. Limits may be lower than your UK bank allows. ATMs close at 10pm.

What's the time difference between Salvador, Chapada Diamantina and UK?

GMT -3 hours. There is daylight saving from Oct to the end of Feb (approx) when clocks are put forward one hour.  

What places combine well with Salvador and Chapada Diamantina?

The up-and-coming, chic beach resort at Trancoso, close to the port of Porto Seguro (1 hour 10mins flight south from Salvador); Recife and Olinda (675 km, 1 hour by air).

Getting there

There are flights from UK to Salvador with a change of ‘plane in Portugal. You can also get to Salvador with a change of ‘plane in the USA. Average flight time is 12 hours 40mins. It’s a 2 hour flight from Rio de Janeiro.

Key events

When's the best time to visit the beaches of northeast Brazil?

It’s hot with plenty of sunshine all rear round, but most rain falls between Mar and Jul, so the Brazilian summer is relatively dry. Beaches can be busy in the local holiday months of late Dec to Feb.

What's the official language of the beaches of northeast Brazil?

Brazilian Portuguese, a more languid and musical version of Portugal’s mother tongue.

What's the time difference between the beaches of NE Brazil and UK?

GMT -3 hours. There is daylight saving from Oct to the end of Feb (approx) when clocks are put forward one hour.  

What places combine well with beaches of NE Brazil?

Salvador da Bahia, Brazil’s most exotic city (1.5 hours by air from Natal, 1hour 20mins from Recife); Lençóis in the Chapada Diamantina, via Salvador and a 6 hour drive.

How do I get to beaches of NE Brazil?

Flight time to Recife 12 hours, to Natal via Lisbon is 13 hours 40mins.

What are the festivals, cultural and sporting events at beaches of NE Brazil?

How do I get local currency at beaches of NE Brazil?

Brazilian Real. Notes can be withdrawn from the many ATMs of Banco do Brasil, Bradesco and HSBC in Recife and Natal using a UK credit or debit card. Limits may be lower than your UK bank allows. ATMs close at 10pm.

When's the best time to visit Recife, Olinda, Fernando de Noronha?

It’s hot with plenty of sunshine all rear round, but most rain falls between Mar-Jul, so the Brazilian summer is relatively dry. 

Note that the time difference with the UK is GMT -2 hours in Fernando de Noronha and -3 hours on the mainland (Recife). There is daylight saving Oct- end Feb (approx) when clocks are put forward one hour.

What's the official language of Recife, Olinda, Fernando de Noronha?

Brazilian Portuguese, a more languid and musical version of Portugal’s mother tongue.

How do I get local currency in Recife, Olinda, Fernando de Noronha?

The easiest way to get local currency (reais) is to use a debit card in one of the many ATMs. You can also change US dollars in monet exchange offices - pounds sterling or euros are often not accepted as there is no rate available. 

What places combine well with Recife, Olinda, Fernnado de Noronha?

The towns and beaches of Brazil’s northeast: Natal, Pipa, Salvador da Bahia: Brazil’s most exotic city (1.5 hours by air from Natal, 1 hour 20mins from Recife); Lençóis in the Chapada Diamantina, via Salvador and a 6 hour drive.

How do I get to Recife, Olinda, Fernando de Noronha?