Join us as we journey to The most African city in the world - Bahia for a celebration of culture 

Combined with Rio De Janeiro- perhaps the most beautiful city in the world! This cultural trip is rich in history and Carnival fun!!!

We are taking you to the places that aren't represented in the travel brochures and mainstream media.  Salvador is the most representative city of Africa  home to the largest population of the diaspora outside of the continent. Deeply rooted and proudly connected to its West African history- Salvador symbolizes the revival of the “Yoruba” culture, an ethnolinguistic group hailing from Western Africa which arrived in Brazil on board the slave-ships of imperial times.

With over 80% of the population from African background we will explore the most Afro-based population in the world outside of Africa. In Brazil we  immerse in culture, cuisine, religion, music, dance, and art- derived straight from the Continent!

What makes this experience EPIC!!!

Our trip is highlighted around the most festive time of the year- CARNIVAL! We invite you to

connect to your ancestry, enjoy the beautiful beaches of Rio, get mesmerized by the rhythms of the drums. This will be a trip of a lifetime!

Our 8 day, 7 night trip is packed full of adventure and culture. This trip is powered by Black Travelers the premier Afro Brazil Experts curated with a emphasis on the African diaspora, customs, music and ceremonies of local communities and beyond.

We look forward to hosting your trip to Brazil!!!

Trip highlights:

• Tours of Bahia & Rio

• Welcome event

• African Heritage tour

• Lavagem do Bonfim festival 

• Yoruban roots and Afrobrazilian traditions 

• Brazilian Cooking or Capreoria Class

• Quilombo ( Maroon Community of escaped slaves) 

• A Day of Service

• Carnival Party

• Rio monuments -Sugar Loaf & Selaron 

• Visit the World Wonder Christ the Redeemer

• Carnival Samba Class

• Farewell 

Any many more surprises!!

Merging cultural experiences with important histories and carnival festivities. Our Brazil experience brings you to a part of that's seldom explored.

Trip Type: Cultural 

Take part in colorful festivals and lively traditions, explore bustling markets, and sample the local cuisine. Our culture trips include destination highlights, local experiences, featuring exploration designed around cultural immersion & ancestry, access, and I-can’t-believe-we-did-that moments -all at a great price.

Trip Size: Small Group
This is a small group experience; Max 20, Avg 10. This means you'll be traveling with people from all over the world- laughter and friendships always guaranteed.

Physical Rating:  Light Moderate
There will be some Light walking and hiking suitable for most fitness levels. Nothing too challenging. This is a moving trip. Daily activities may include walking tours, visits to sites, dancing and easy hikes.

We will be commuting via van, boats, airplane and walking.
 

Age requirement: 18+
All travelers must be 18+ or accompanied by an adult.

Per person rate and registration applies. 

Traveler Type: Good attitude 

Due to some of the regions that we visit, travel can be unpredictable. Roads can be bumpy, technology can be intermittent  or  the itinerary may call for a change of plan. We are exploring area where tourism isn't large and our Western standards aren't in place. Please pack patience, understanding and willingness to learn from it's people first hand. Most importantly, have fun it Carnival Season!

If you have any questions about our trip offerings, please feel free to reach out to us via phone or email us.

Phone:  800 966-2021

Email: Info@greenbooktravel.com

Welcome to Brazil!

We will meet you at the Airport upon your arrival. Our team will help get you checked in at your accommodations. Settle in, relax and feed your eyes to the new environment.   

At nightfall, we will host a Welcome Dinner. You'll have an opportunity to indulge in authentic  cuisine while getting to know your fellow travelers.   

Welcome to the real Brazil!

After breakfast at our hotel, we join the local population in celebrating an important part of their cultural heritage Lavagem do Bonfim.

(Lavagem - ritual washing of a church that symbolizes purification and blessings into the New Year which culminates into a party) 

Celebrated on the second Thursday of the year, Salvador’s biggest festival outside of Carnival honors the saint with Bahia's largest following for the traditional washing of the Bonfim stairs.

The procession is led by Bahians "Baianas"(women dressed as Bahian ‘aunts’) 

with traditional costumes - turbans, starched skirts, bracelets and necklaces - carrying pots with perfumed water and  flowers to do Bonfim. Behind them comes the famous Carnival group Filhos de Gandhy-Gandhi Sons and a crowd of faithfuls. Everyone dressed in white to honour the God Yoruba 

You could call Lavagem do Bonfim a road party – however, that would scarcely do it equity.  This 8-kilometer parade through the lower portion of Salvador, is a genuinely otherworldly occasion that epitomizes the very heart of Brazil in each sense, mixing both the sacrosanct and the mainstream. Everyone is full of energy! There's religious rituals, drumming, chanting and the alcohol  plentiful.

The celebration begins in front of the Church of the Conception of the Beach. The square in front of Bonfim is full of people, drink and food stalls invites you to experience the typical Bahian acarajé (local streetfood of Bahia). You can also buy traditional ribbons, which has exactly the same image that is arm's length within the Church. It is believed that by tying it on the wrist you must make three wishes to be performed when the little ribbon falls off (by itself !)

Explore more about the cultural significance of Lavagem here:

https://dtruth.wordpress.com/2006/05/31/lavagem-do-bonfim/

Today we set out to explore the oasis of culture in Salvador. The city was the 1st capital of Brazil and remained so for over 200 years. We will explore Catholic churches & the cultural district of Pelourinho. This city has the MOST African influence in the world outside of the Continent of Africa. Today we will be immersing in Afro Brazilian flavor. This evening we will offer a Capoeira or cooking class.

Capoeira, developed by African slaves in Brazil. combines elements of dance and martial arts. 

It's  Friday night and you have the opportunity to explore at your leisure!

Quilombos are communities formed by black people - fugitive slaved - during the slavery time. Quilombos had formed in all over Brazil, many of them were powerful, at a side they had to fight against colonizers but

otherside they could preserve the black culture, religion, food, music, expression and knowledge. Situated in the rural areas, it is not easy to reach out one for visiting, so this is an unforgatable chance to get to know the

history & giving back, through activities will be prepared with kids of the community. At nightfall we will gather with locals and visitors to enjoy a pré carnival party! Time to DANCE!

Our time in Salvador is ending, but fortunately we have more time in Brazil! It's time to venture to southeast of Brazil to beautiful Rio de Janeiro. Sunday is officially dayoff in Brazil. Locals enjoy the most they can in outdoors activities, we should do the same!!

Caphrianas and copacabana beach is always a great vibe so we are taking our party there for a EPIC beach meetup! Pack your swimwear and sunscreen as we kickoff RIO right!

Today after Breakfast we explore famous sights in Rio de Janeiro from  Sugar Loaf and Corcovado Mountains, to  the impressive World Wonder - Christ the Redeemer who stands guard overlooking the city.
 

We will visit the famous colorful Selaron Steps. Decorated with more than 2,000 brightly colored tiles in the colors of the Brazilian flag, the Selarón Staircase (Escadaria Selarón) is one of Rio de Janeiro's most vibrant and striking landmarks, marking the boundary between the Lapa and Santa Teresa neighborhoods. 
 

Brazilians of African origin comprise nearly 60 percent of the total population of Brazil. It is estimated that nearly 4 million Africans were shipped to Brazil. Today we get to explore the Black History of Brazil by a walking tour in the Port Zone, the area was the main entrace for the millions that were enslaved from the Motherland. Get to go deep into the history that has never showed on travel guides.
 

By the eighteenth century, the majority of Rio's inhabitants were indigenous Africans. As a result, virtually nothing in Rio remained untouched by African customs, beliefs and behavior – a state of affairs that clearly influences today's city too, with its mixture of Afro-Brazilian music, spiritualist cults and cuisine. Brazil’s colonizers, unlike colonizers in the United States, allowed indigenous Africans to continue to use their drums.  Thus began the rhythm of the saints, the samba, and it explains why Brazilian "batucadas" (drumming rhythm and dance) reign unequaled today. We will close the trip at a Carnival Samba School and get the opportunity to learn the famous carnival samba and take part of the Pre carnival festivities. 

Today is our farewell as our trip comes to an end.  Airport Transportation is provided.