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.  Rio de Janeiro is best known for its beaches. Caphrianas and fun is the sun is always a good vibe! Grab your sunscreen and bikinis as we head to the sunny shores.

Lunch is included

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 entrance 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 some of their traditions. Today we explore the legacy of the Continent.

Our time in Rio is coming to an end, but fortunately we have more time in Brazil! 

In Brazil, locals enjoy the most they can in outdoors activities, we should do the same!!  You can't pass up relaxing and people-watching along the shores of Copacabana or Ipanema beach. Today is a free day but don't spend all of your time at the shore; the Marvelous City has more spectacular natural beauty to offer with sites like Tijuca National Park and charming neighborhoods like Santa Teresa and Lapa, to get a real taste of what it means to be a Cariocas (native Brazilians born in Rio de Janeiro).  

Today we fly to Bahia 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.  This city has the MOST African influence in the world outside of the Continent of Africa. Today we celebrate!

After breakfast at our hotel, we will be immersing in Afro Brazilian flavor. The center of Salvador de Bahia in Brazil is known as the Pelourinho (Portuguese for "Pillory") or Pelo, is a historic neighborhood in western Salvador, Bahia. Recognized in photos or the infamous Micheal Jackson video "They Don't Care About Us." This old city boast of colorful colonial buildings, cobble stoned streets, and a sense of history and has a place on the national historic register and named a world cultural century by UNESCO.

It was the city's center during the Portuguese colonial period and was named for the whipping post in its central plaza where enslaved people from Africa were publicly beaten as punishment for alleged infractions and served as the old slave auction location in the days when slavery was common.   This colonial architecture and colors of building cover the pain of salves in pass period of Brazil history. Every stone in the floor has the energy of this people and guard the blood and work of this place. For us it is more than old town , it's a sacred place. 

Today we will explore cultural district of Pelourinho including churches, cafes, restaurants with local food which is a mix of Brazilian and African cuisines, shops and the pastel-hued buildings.  The Historic Center is extremely rich in historical monuments dating from the 17th through the 19th centuries.

At your leisure be sure to check out this area at night.  Pelourinho by night is lively and magical. With many live concerts, people dancing everywhere and various bands strolling the narrow streets–this is Brazil’s party heart.  

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 other side 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 unforgettable chance to get to know the history & bring you closer to the memory and culture.

When some enslaved black Brazilians earned enough to free themselves, many moved to communities of free Africans where they practiced their religion, giving birth to some of Brazil’s first African religion centers. Their religious sessions, backed by drums, gave way to the birth of samba. We will explore the heritage, history an rhythm of the land.   

Today we get experience Afropunk Brazil. A day to celebrate and promote, always, the genius of the artistic expressions of peoples born in the African diaspora and our brothers and sisters from the sacred place we call Brazil today.

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