Night-time sailing on the approach to Salvador de Bahía calls for great vigilance. Unlit fishing boats are a common sight around the Brazilian port, as are oil rigs, which are much more glittering, but rather more worrying.
Unavoidable formalities
The ritual of formalities is not to be taken lightly in Brazil. In addition to the usual clearance to enter and leave the country, it is necessary to visit certain authorities each time you change state. Several procedures, based on electronic forms, have been put in place by the Nautico bag . This is to facilitate the exchange of information between the federal service, the navy and the police... Make sure you dress appropriately when entering the offices.
A marina in the heart of the city
The marina Terminal Turistico Nautico da Bahia is ideally located in the heart of the tourist area. Mother Natureâ??s trickery has placed the Pelourinho district 85 metres higher than the marinaâeuros!
Fortunately, a few ingenious souls have built the masterly elevador Lacerda in the 1870s. This impressive public elevator provides easy, effortless access to the heart of the city.
The historic district offers visitors a wide variety of monuments and buildings. Bearing the imprint of a highly distinctive colonial past, architectural treasures delight the eye as if in a dream.
The streets are bustling with life, and the omnipresent artistic and folkloric events lend a festive character to every stroll through the city.
As for lovers of sophisticated churches, they will find here a plethora of internationally renowned places of worship, such as the universally admired Nosso Senhor de Bonfim.
On the â??eurosrez de chausséeâeurosâ?, close to the port area, is the âeurosmercado modelo. In this huge arts and crafts market, capoeira dancers and street artists of all stripes provide an almost permanent spectacle, enlivened by rhythmic, festive music. An impressive number of painters offer their colorful and cheerful works for a handful of pennies.
A bay rich in moorings, pontoons and encounters
In and around Bahia, you can choose from a wide range of anchorages and moorings. In the heart of Salvador, Bahia Marina is a comfortable, but more expensive, alternative to the Terminal Nautico de Bahia . Although crime is on the decline, don't forget to take the usual precautions to avoid being robbed. In Ribeira, 6 kilometers further north, Pier Salvador Marina welcomes yachtsmen in a friendly, family atmosphere. Restaurants and shops are numerous and festive. The anchorages and small marinas here are more peaceful than in the center, but the waters are more often laden with mud. However, several beautiful sandy beaches are close by and within easy reach.
One of the attractions of Salvador is the conviviality of the Bahian people. During your stay, it's not uncommon to meet up for a drink or two caipirinha - local drink made from cachaça and lime - with a meeting boat or with a welcoming Brazilian family.
