Salvador, Brazil

Head to Loro Beach Club and let yourself be swept up in a day of pure relaxation: a golden beach that seems to go on forever, the blue sea that calls out to you, and palm trees creating the perfect frame around your peaceful corner. Enjoy the services offered by the resort, with the comfort, tranquility and that slow pace that only Bahia can offer. An invitation to stop, breathe and finally feel like you're on vacation.

• Loro Beach Club
• Beach
• Use of the resort's facilities 

• We will leave the port and head to our destination: the Loro Beach Club, situated on Flamengo beach, an ideal place to spend a relaxing day.
• The Club overlooks one of the most beautiful beaches in Salvador de Bahia, with its long stretch of golden sand and the blue of the sea that meets the green of the palm trees.

• Space is limited, so be sure to book early.

Lose yourself in the colorful, bustling streets of Pelourinho, stop off at the lively Praça Terreiro de Jesus and discover Salvador's most iconic churches. Then, breathe in the Atlantic air from the majestic Farol da Barra and treat yourself to a tasty break with colonial tea and some Bahian specialties: history, culture and flavors come together, in an irresistible combination to be savored until the very last bite!

• Pelourinho
• Terreiro de Jesus
• Cathedral
• Conceição da Praia Church
• Porto da Barra
• Tasting of colonial tea and Bahian cuisine specialities

• We leave the port behind us and head towards the city centre. We stroll around the streets of the Pelourinho neighbourhood, admire the lively Terreiro de Jesus square, the Cathedral and the Conceição da Praia Church .
• We then move towards Porto da Barra, symbol of the founding of the city of Salvador. Before going back to the ship, we stop to enjoy a lovely colonial tea tasting session as well as many traditional Bahian cuisine specialities.

• We recommend that you book early because only a limited number of places are available.
• The excursion involves long periods of walking, it is therefore recommended to wear comfortable shoes. 
• This excursion is not recommended for guests with mobility problems.

Be enchanted by Salvador de Bahia and its UNESCO monuments. Step into Pelourinho and *et yourself be seduced by its colonial streets: cross Terreiro de Jesus square, and arrive at Praça da Sé with the monument to Zumbi, then admire the Elevador Lacerda. Drop down to the Ribeira district for a break by the calm sea, then head to the Igreja do Bonfim, where colorful ribbons speak straight to the heart. Visit the Sister Dulce Memorial and finish up at the Mercado Modelo, surrounded by artisans and stories that will stay with you.

• Pelourinho district
• Terreiro del Jesus Square
• Ribeira District
• Igreja de Nosso Senhor do Bonfim
• Mercado Modelo
• Sister Dulce Memorial (internal visit)
  

• We leave the port in the direction of the upper town, where we start a pleasant stroll through the Pelourinho district, a lively historic area with many bars and monuments, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• We can appreciate the beauty of the facades of its majestic churches and the gorgeous colonial streets, passing through bustling Terreiro de Jesus square, overlooked by the Cathedral, and then again the beautiful Praça da Sé, embellished by the monument to Zumbi, the leader of a slave revolt, and the Elevador Lacerda, the lift that connects the lower city with the Pelourinho district.
• We then return to the coach and head to the lower town to take some photos in Ribeira, which lies along a peninsula bordered by beaches, one of the few residential areas not contaminated by giant skyscrapers.
• We then head to the Igreja de Nosso Senhor do Bonfim, an object of deep devotion for the Bahian people, whether Roman Catholics or followers of Afro-Brazilian religious syncretism. Here we take a few photos before resuming the tour.
• Our last stop is at the Mercado Modelo, the city's main craft centre, where we have some free time to browse through the many local shops before returning to the port.

• The excursion includes walking, so it is best to wear comfortable shoes.
• There is limited availability of English-language guides; if these are not available the local guide's commentary will be translated by a local interpreter.
  

Launch yourself into the most authentic side of Salvador: cross the city starting from the bottom, and let yourself to be amazed by the Igreja dos Mares with its Gothic soul and the Sister Dulce Memorial. Step inside the Igreja do Bonfim, then brush past the Dique do Tororó lagoon with its statues of the Orixás towering over it. Here, there's no shortage of faith. As you zoom along, get ready to photograph the Farol da Barra, pass through Porto da Barra and Praça da Sé, then dive into the energy of Terreiro de Jesus and Pelourinho. Finish up at the Mercado Modelo**, surrounded by colors and crafts, with the feeling of having walked through history.

• Igreja do Bonfim (internal visit)
• Dique do Tororó and statues of the Orixas (panoramic by bus)
• Farol da Barra
• Porto da Barra 
• Praça da Sé
• Terreiro de Jesus and Pelourinho
• Mercado Modelo

• We will begin our excursion with a sightseeing tour of the lower town, during which we will pass in front the fascinating church Igreja dos Mares the only Gothic one in Salvador de Bahia and the Memorial of Sister Dulce, the first Brazilian born Saint and well known throughout the country. Next we will stop for a visit to the Igreja do Bonfim, an object of deep devotion for the Bahian people.
• We will then head to the upper town, passing through Dique do Tororó, a beautiful and interesting lagoon where we can admire the imposing statues of the Orixas, a syncretic Christian-African religious divinity.
• We enter the Barra district, on our way to Farol da Barra, the city's lighthouse, on a fortified promontory. Here we have a short break to take some souvenir photos.
• We then go through the Porto da Barra and the Vitória district, arriving at Campo Grandesquare, with its statue commemorating 2 July.
• Nearby, we see the Castro Alves Theatre, after which we will go down Avenida Sete de Setembro and come to the beautiful Praça da Sé, situated beside the cathedral, in the centre of which is a monument to Zumbi, the leader of a slave revolt.
• Passing through the bustling Terreiro de Jesus square we continue on foot to the old city centre with its wide range of very beautiful monuments and churches: Igreja de São Francisco, the Ordem Terceira de São Francisco church, the Cathedral and finally the Pelourinho, a lively historic district home to many bars and monuments and under the protection of UNESCO as a World Heritage site.
• We then return to the lower town for a stop-off at the Mercado Modelo, the city's main craft centre, where we can devote some free time to shopping before returning to the port.

• Spaceis limited, so please reserve early.
• There is limited availability of English-language guides; if these are not available the local guide's commentary will be translated by a local interpreter.
  

Salvador de Bahia is ready to show its true colors, and take you by surprise. Set off from the lower town and discover Salvador's only Gothic church, the Igreja dos Mares. Then head to Igreja do Bonfim, with its famous woven ribbons that are said to hold wishes, and then stop at the iconic Itapagipe ice cream parlor: more than 100 fruit flavors and tropical desserts to try. Experience the colorful chaos of the Feira de São Joaquim, meet the Orishas as they come out of * the Dique do Tororó and walk through modern Iguatemi. From Farol da Barra to the Mercado Modelo**, every stop is brimming with history, color and magic. Salvador gets under your skin and stays there.

• Igreja do Bonfim (internal visit)
• Iguatemi
• Farol da Barra
• Avenida Sete de Setembro
• Campo Grande
• Avenida Contorno
• Mercado Modelo

• We start our tour with the lower city and move to Igreja dos Mares, the only Gothic-style church in Salvador de Bahia.
• Next, Igreja do Bonfim, object of deep devotion for the Bahian people. Here we find the famous Senhor do Bonfim ribbons which, according to popular legend, help get your prayers answered.
• The excursion continues with the Feira de São Joaquim, a large market including fruit, vegetables, arts and crafts. After going through the Américo Simas gallery connecting the lower and upper parts of the city, we pass by Dique do Tororó, a lovely lake where we can see the 3 metre high Orisha statues, divinities belonging to the Candomblé cult.
• We walk along Avenida Bonocô towards Iguatemi, the most modern part of Salvador where we admire the most innovative architecture in Brazil.
• We continue to Farol da Barra and its fort of Santo Antonio, dating back to 1580 and representing the border between Baia de Todos os Santos* and the Atlantic Ocean.
• Avenida Sete de Setembro takes us into Campo Grande square, where we admire the statue commemorating 2nd July, the copper-coloured Caboclo monument (i.e. a person of mixed race) symbol of Salvador da Bahia independence, the Castro Alves theatre and Avenida Contorno.
• On our way back to the lower part of the city, we stop at Mercado Modelo, the main crafts centre of the city, where we have some free time to do some shopping before heading back to the ship.

• The excursion does not include a tour of the historic city centre (Pelourinho), but only a sightseeing tour of the lower part of the city.
• There is limited availability of English-language guides; if these are not available the local guide's commentary will be translated by a local interpreter.

Set off along Avenida Contorno and discover the hidden sides of Salvador. Start in the Barra neighborhood with a stop in front of the Farol. Then, cross Porto da Barra and Vitória to Campo Grande, where the statue of July 2 will remind you of Bahian grit and determination. Arrive at Praça da Sé, with its monument to Zumbi. Then immerse yourself in Terreiro de Jesus, step inside the Conceição da Praia Church, the Cathedral and the beating heart of Pelourinho. Finish up at the Mercado Modelo**, with Salvador still vibrating in your heart.

• Avenida Contorno
• Porto da Barra
• Praça da Sé
• Terreiro de Jesus
• Conceição da Praia Church  (internal visit)
• Cathedral (internal visit)
• Largo do Pelourinho
• Praça Municipal
• Palácio da Assembléia
• Prefeitura Municipal
• Elevador Lacerda
• Shopping at Mercado Modelo

• We leave the port behind us and head towards the city crossing Avenida Contorno as far as the Barra neighbourhood, where we take a break.
• We cross the Barra harbour, the Vitória district until we reach Campo Grande square, where we can admire the statue commemorating 2nd July. We then visit the nearby Castro Alves theatre and walk along Avenida Sete de Setembro to the beautiful Praça da Sé with its monument to Zumbi, leader of a slave revolt.
• Passing by the lively Terreiro de Jesus square, we continue on foot through the historic city centre, boasting a myriad of beautiful monuments and churches. We visit Conceição da Praia Church , the Cathedral and Largo do Pelourinho, a lively historic neighbourhood with many bars and monuments and a Unesco World Heritage Site.
• We head back to Praça Municipal, where both the Palácio da Assembléia and Prefeitura Municipal are located, and admire Elevador Lacerda, the lift connecting the lower part of the city to the Pelourinho neighbourhood.
• Finally, after returning to the lower part of the city, we stop at Mercado Modelo, the main crafts centre of the city, where we have some free time to do some shopping before heading back to the ship.

• The excursion involves long periods of walking, it is therefore recommended to wear comfortable shoes.
• There is limited availability of English-language guides; if these are not available the local guide's commentary will be translated by a local interpreter.

Excursion Details<-strong><-p>

Your journey begins with a scenic drive from the port to the Farol da Barra, one of Salvador¿s most emblematic waterfront monuments, where you will have 30 minutes to admire extraordinary views of the Bay of All Saints and capture remarkable photographs. Next, immerse yourself in 2.5 hours of rich cultural discovery in Pelourinho¿s Historic Center, exploring its cobblestone streets, opulent baroque façades, and lively squares that reveal the city¿s renowned artistic and historic legacy. Conclude with a 1-hour visit to Mercado Modelo, one of Brazil¿s most iconic artisanal markets, offering refined crafts, authentic souvenirs, and local culinary specialties that reflect Bahia¿s vibrant culture.<-p>

Important Information:<-strong>

this excursion is available for MSC Yacht Club Guests only. This excursion includes walking on uneven surfaces and cobblestones and is not suitable for visitors with reduced mobility, wheelchair users, or those with strollers. We recommend wearing comfortable clothing. The itinerary and places visited during this excursion may change during the Brazilian Carnival, so please check with the Excursions Office upon boarding. On Sundays, the Modelo Market closes at 1 p.m. Space is limited, so we recommend booking in advance. Transfer times, free time, and duration of stay at each stop are approximate and may change without notice. It is only available in Portuguese. The number of guides in languages other than Portuguese is limited. If unavailable, the tour will be offered in Portuguese only. This excursion will not be cancelled due to weather (rain). Food and beverages are not included- we recommend bringing local currency or a Visa-Mastercard credit card.<-p>