Brazil - the Nordeste

Salvador and Natal

The north-east of Brazil, known as the nordeste, covers around 20% of the country’s land area and is home to nearly 30% of its population. The climate is hot and dry, and the region offers a wide range of attractions including outstanding beaches, national parks, historical cities and the fascinating Afro-Brazilian culture. Two contrasting highlights of the Northeast are the city of Salvador and the coastline of Natal.

Dubbed "Africa in exile", Salvador da Bahia sits on the vast Todos os Santos Bay, and was one of the first Portuguese settlements in the New World. Building the successful export of sugar and tobacco, the city soon developed into colonial Brazil’s economic heartland and the second city (after Lisbon) in the Portuguese Empire. But it was the discovery of gold and diamonds in the Chapada Diamantina that brought unprecedented wealth and prosperity to Salvador, reflected today in the beautifully restored Centro Historico - the Pelourinho. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site for its astounding 17th century baroque architecture and countless ornate, gold-filled churches, the delightful cobbled streets are today lined with pastel-coloured colonial mansions, filled with galleries, museums, bars and boutiques.

The Pelourinho was once a place of torture and slave auctions. Despite suffering in the plantations, the slaves still managed to maintain their African traditions within the developing colonial society. Much of the music, dance, religion and cuisine of present-day Salvador find their roots in Africa, such as the cult/religion of Candomblé - the syncretic worship of African deities of nature mixed with Catholicism. In sharp contrast to the religious practices of Bahia is the profanity of the city’s many, colourful festivals and pageants. Carnival in Salvador is huge, with over 1.5 million people dancing in the streets to the rhythms of Afro-Blocos, drum troupes of up to 200 drummers that accompany live bands and blaring sound systems.

Located on the eastern curve of the continent, almost a thousand kilometres north of Salvador, is the city of Natal. Founded on Christmas day in 1599, Natal is situated on a peninsula between the Rio Potengi and the Atlantic Ocean, and is an attractive city steeped in history. Natal is famous throughout Brazil, not for colonial heritage, but for its fantastic coastal scenery and the outdoor life. There are expansive beaches, towering sand dunes and palm groves that reach to the water’s edge. Separating the city from the beaches of the Via Costeira is the Parque das Dunas, a stunning protected area of gigantic sand dunes. All along the coast the deserted beaches and dunes offer the perfect destination for exploring by dune buggy. Some of the more exposed beaches are popular with surfers while others boast calm clear waters that are ideal for swimming.

Further afield, the Northeast coast is dotted with countless tiny fishing villages, each using the picturesque jangadas for fishing. Despite the laid-back way of life, the year-round tropical climate, warm, clear waters and fantastic seafood, Natal is still surprisingly undiscovered by foreign tourism ".