WEDNESDAY, June 18

Depart Chicago for Miami to Brasil via American Airlines.

 THURSDAY, June 19

Arrive at Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG) Rio de Janeiro.

Welcome to Rio de Janeiro, The former capital of Brasil sits in one of the world’s most magnificent harbors and it is considered, by many, to be the world’s most beautiful city,   Rio de Janeiro

Private transfer and check into the four-star Hotel located on Copacabana Beach. Welcome Lunch and Orientation.

FRIDAY, June 20

Tour of Sugar Loaf Mountain with 360° views of stunning Guanabara Bay, we will Cable car up the famous Pao de Cucar, or Sugarloaf Mountain to take in the blush green vistas of the City Rio de Janeiro. 

Evening: Optional Dinner and Samba Show (cost not included). (B)

SATURDAY, June 21

Bus tour of downtown Old Rio, where the aura of the city’s 17th century splendor lives on. Take the 2.3-mile train ride up Concorvado Mountain to see its famous, 100 ft. statue Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) in the Cosme Velho neighborhood. Take a cable-car ride

 over the famous Arcos da Lapa for lunch at Colombo Confeitaria, one of Rio’s best traditional restaurants

Afternoon TBA: Possible additions here, tour of a favela, museum visit or other local sites (B, L)

SUNDAY, June 22

Rio de Janeiro

Spend the afternoon visiting the Sunday-only “Hippie Market, near the hotel, a lively, open- air gathering place for artists, craftsmen and food stalls, music and street performers. Good for bargains on art and handmade souvenirs. Enjoy Ipanema and Copacabana beaches.

(B)

MONDAY, June 23

Rio de Janeiro/Afternoon

Check out and after breakfast, transfer by bus to airport for late morning flight to Salvador da Bahia, the cultural heartland of Brasil. Two hours later, we arrive in

Salvador’s Luis Eduardo Magalhaes International Airport. Transfer to the Hotel in the Rio Vermelho section of Salvador. After settling in, we’ll have an early evening dinner and orientation in the historic Pelhourino. Those who wish can stay to enjoy the area’s nightlife. (B, D)

TUESDAY, June 24

AFROCENTRIC CITY TOUR SALVADOR DA BAHIA

After breakfast we will take a 4-hour tour of the city. This is a good orientation to the city and to highlight contributions by Africans to its development. We start in the lively beachfront area of Barra at the mouth of the Bay of All Saints (Baia de Todos), with its famous lighthouse and make our way from there to the Upper City, the old historical section of the town. On the way we will drive by sites of important revolts from the past. After arriving at the old center of Salvador, we start from the Lacerda Elevator walking through plazas and narrow streets. We visit the church of St Francisco (known as the golden church), the Afro Brazilian Museum (which provides an excellent summary of the movements of enslaved Africans into northeastern Brasil and the diverse heritage of each group) and the Church of Rosário dos Pretos – a black order established in the XVIII Century. We will end in the Pelourinho area with the largest and best-preserved complex of colonial architecture in the Americas.

Return to the hotel. (B)

Afternoon: Optional Art Studio Tour, (fee not included see descriptions)

 WEDNESDAY, June 25

-CACHOEIRA TOUR-

After breakfast we depart from Salvador to Cachoeira, 66 miles away. This is an all-day tour and an opportunity to see the countryside of Bahia and have an insight into rural life in Brazil. We leave the city behind and drive through the oldest farmland in the country. This is the land of sugar cane and tobacco plantations, peaceful colonial towns and busy country markets. Passing by the beautiful town of Santo Amaro da Purificação we visit their market to get a glimpse of the agricultural production of this area. We stop at the farm now occupied by Movimento Sem Terra (land reform group) and learn about their struggle and actions to promote land reform in the country, visit their home, etc.

We continue to Cachoeira, a National heritage Site, and important colonial town on the banks of the Paraguaçú River. Most important harbor after Salvador during the colonial days, Cachoeira and the surrounding towns of the Recôncavo has kept a wealth of African traditions. Here we visit the Sisterhood of Boa Morte (Good Death) - oldest organization of Black Women in the continent. We have lunch at a beautiful farm, overlooking Cachoeira and the Paraguaçú River. We have some time to visit local art studios and shops. (B, L)

 THURSDAY, June 26

- A TASTE OF BAHIA TOUR-

Since Bahian cuisine is a unique combination of Amerindian, African and other influences, and no shortage of Brazilian innovation. And since the “spirits” also eat, and no-one eats without the “spirits”, there is no better place to learn about this, to enlighten its social history and its cultural and spiritual meanings than in a Terreiro (African Religious Community).

So first we visit the open market to see the raw materials of Bahian cooking, and then we settle down at the Terreiro to nourish our minds and our bodies. Evening free (B, L)

FRIDAY, June 27

Enjoy a full day of leisure. Optional Sailing Cruise of Ilha de Itaparica and Ilha dos Frades

(separate fee).

EVENING: BAHIA BY NIGHT: DINNER AND FOLKLORE SHOW -

Spend the evening enjoying Bahian cuisine and the cultural shows. Folklore is rich and includes Capoeira, samba, bumba-meu-boi) (B,D)

SATURDAY, June 28

SALVADOR DA BAHIA

By popular demand! A Day at the beach. Earlier tour participants voted this beach day one of their favorite. After breakfast, we head northwards away from Salvador to the beach where you can enjoy fresh, grilled fish, massages, fishing and other beach amusements. DAY Trip

Or spend the day touring city sites, including Mercado Modelo, a 3-story building in the old Customs House that is the site of hundreds of stalls selling artwork, handicrafts and souvenirs. (B)

SUNDAY, June 29

Explore Black Consciousness

Morning: African Religious Heritage Tour. We visit the House of Yemanja, a shrine built by fishermen to honor the African deity of the sea. We stop by Dique do Tororo dam to see the magnificent statues of “Orishas” floating in the water. Then to the main stop of our visit to one of the most traditional temples of the African religion (Candomblé) to discover how these economic and religious communities developed and thrived.

Afternoon at your leisure for your personal shopping or optional tours. Culinary Class, Urban Quilombos or Capoiera/Samba Class (separate fee). (B)

Evening is Festival night in the Pelhourino—music abounds and the locals  party. 

TUESDAY, July 1

Departure for Miami/US Destinations

Early morning departure for airport for 2PM AA flight to Miami, via Recife, and connecting flights. Transfer to domestic airline to check-in for your flight back to your home destination city. (B)