Bahia, Brazil in $540s-$590s RT

Hopping from beach to beach in Bahia? Don't have to ask YOU twice!

But before making a beeline to the nearest beach hut, don't miss the chance to wander Salvador's pastel-hued hideaways. Some say that with its Afro-Brazilian heritage, it's miles better than Rio, but there's only one way to find out…

Ask any local, what makes this city so vivacious, and they'll most likely chalk it up to the undeniable presence of axé spilling onto its streets, a Yoruba term loosely translating to "life force energy".

Music is the city's driving force, and from Praia to Pelourinho you'll hear the beat of the city's many blocos (street bands).

Bahia's no one-trick pony either. Peel yourself from its blindingly blue coast, venture inland, and you'll find it's not just beaches that dazzle.