SALVADOR - BAHIA

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Pelourinho

Even though the Pelourinho is considered a tourist attraction, you can't miss it. In the heart of the old city, the Pelourinho is basically a postcard of Salvador. Among the wonderfully restored pastel-colored buildings you can go shopping, see cultural information centers, find heaps of restaurants, bars and see live music.

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Olodum Rehearsal

While you're in Salvador, check out an Olodum rehearsal. The Olodum band is a traditional Afro-Brazilian group who have been around since the 70s, and are best known for their annual Carnaval Bloco. The group hosts shows and rehearsals year round, which will easily become a trip highlight for any Afro-Brazilian music lover.

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Baía de Todos Santos

As the day comes to a close, find yourself the perfect spot to watch the sunset over Baía de Todos Santos. Elevador Lacerda is a beautiful old art deco elevator, and is easily the most famous spot to watch the sunset. The views are incredible, but it has become a trap for tourists, where local criminals do some of their best work while you're distracted. Some visitors have reported feeling uneasy, and say they spent the whole time watching their belongings.

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Arembepe Beach

Head to the small coastal town of Arembepe, about 27mi (45km) north of Salvador. There's a small hippie village located close to the city center, where the peace and love generation still sell crafts and locally-grown produce. Locals here choose to live off nature, in mud and straw houses, and without electricity. This community housed Mick Jagger and Keith Richards in the 60s, American rocker Janis Joplin in 1970, and the Novos Baianos for extended stays on several occasions.

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Itacimirim

Skip the over-popular coastal village of Praia do Forte in favor of a sleepy fishermans town called Itacimirim, which is just over an hour north of Salvador. Spread along 4mi (8km) of quiet beaches, there are natural pools for snorkeling, ideal diving conditions, fresh water rivers collide with the sea, and a few warm-water surf beaches.

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