From Rio to Bahia

Arrive in Rio de Janeiro and transfer to Santa Teresa Hotel RJ – MGallery, a characterful retreat tucked into the leafy hills above the city. Settle in and spend the remainder of the day easing into the neighbourhood’s creative atmosphere, perhaps lingering beside the rooftop pool while the city unfolds below. This relaxed opening provides time to recharge before exploring Rio’s landmarks, architecture and Atlantic coastline over the coming days.

Ride the historic cog railway through Atlantic Forest to Christ the Redeemer, arriving early to enjoy sweeping views across Guanabara Bay, Sugarloaf Mountain and Rio’s coastline. Descend for a privately guided exploration of the historic centre, where colonial façades sit beside grand civic architecture and contemporary cultural institutions. Your route can be shaped around personal interests, with possibilities including Praça XV, Cinelândia, the Museum of Tomorrow and Museu de Arte do Rio.

Travel west to Sítio Roberto Burle Marx, the former home and creative laboratory of one of Brazil’s most influential landscape architects. The UNESCO-listed cultural landscape brings together Modernist design, architecture and thousands of tropical and subtropical plant species. Afterwards, continue to Rio’s quieter western shoreline, pausing around Macumba, Prainha and Grumari for wide Atlantic views, swimming and time away from the city’s busier beaches.

Leave Rio behind and journey inland into the landscapes of Minas Gerais, arriving at Clara Arte Resort near Instituto Inhotim. Set beside lakes and greenery, the resort provides a tranquil base for exploring one of Brazil’s most distinctive cultural destinations. Spend the afternoon settling into the property and embracing the slower pace, surrounded by a landscape positioned between the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes.

Dedicate the day to Instituto Inhotim, an extraordinary open-air museum where monumental contemporary works and gallery spaces are woven through extensive botanical gardens. Move between installations at your own pace, allowing the surrounding landscape to become part of the artistic experience. Back at Clara Arte, the day can continue with resort programming such as creative workshops, archery, tastings or evening entertainment, depending on the schedule during your stay.

Continue north to Salvador, Brazil’s former colonial capital and one of the country’s great cultural centres. Settle into Fera Palace Hotel, an Art Deco landmark on historic Rua Chile, ideally positioned close to the Lacerda Elevator and waterfront. Keep the evening relaxed, perhaps heading to the rooftop as sunset colours Baía de Todos os Santos ahead of tomorrow’s deeper exploration of Salvador’s heritage.

Explore Salvador privately, beginning around Barra before moving through the Upper City and into UNESCO-listed Pelourinho. Salvador served as Brazil’s first capital, and its historic centre reflects centuries of African, Indigenous and Portuguese influence through its architecture, religion, music and cuisine. Pause for a traditional moqueca, then continue to landmarks including the Cathedral Basilica before enjoying time to wander the colourful streets independently.

Fly south to Porto Seguro and continue along the Bahian coast to Trancoso, where the final chapter of the journey unfolds beside the Atlantic. Check into Pousada Tutabel, positioned directly on Itapororoca Beach, and spend the afternoon entirely at leisure. Step straight from the gardens onto the sand, relax beside the pool or simply enjoy the shift from cultural exploration to the unhurried pace of coastal Bahia.

Travel by 4×4 through southern Bahia before crossing by traditional boat into Caraíva, a peaceful village where sandy lanes replace roads and colourful houses sit between river and ocean. Spend time wandering through the village, visiting its church square and enjoying the surrounding beaches. An optional extension can take you deeper into the region’s Indigenous heritage with a visit to Pataxó territory for cultural exchange centred on traditions, cuisine and local knowledge.

Enjoy a final full day with no fixed agenda. Swim in the warm Atlantic or explore the natural pools that appear around the reef at low tide, while more active options include paddleboarding, kayaking and snorkelling. You may instead follow trails through the surrounding reserve, retreat to the spa or simply linger over lunch overlooking the ocean. It is a deliberately slow conclusion to a journey rich in art, history and culture.

Enjoy a final morning surrounded by the palm-lined coastline of Trancoso before meeting your private transfer to Porto Seguro Airport for your onward flight. Your Brazilian journey concludes after connecting three distinct expressions of the country: Rio’s celebrated architecture and landscapes, the fusion of art and nature at Inhotim, and Bahia’s layered heritage and relaxed Atlantic shoreline.