Bahia is Brazil at its most soulful – the cradle of Afro-Brazilian culture, where the food is rich, the music is everywhere, and the coastline runs for warm, palm-backed miles. A stretch of resorts near Salvador makes an easy all-inclusive base, but note one big change for US travelers: you now need an eVisa before you fly.
- Language
- Portuguese
- English limited outside tourist areas
- Currency
- Brazilian real (BRL) – cards widely used
- Power
- 127V/220V, Type N plugs
- adapter needed
- Driving
- On the right
- Main airport
- Salvador
- SSA
Where Brazil splits
The resort areas are not interchangeable. What each one is actually for.
Bahia
The coconut coast north of Salvador: warm water year-round, turtle beaches at Praia do Forte, and the country's deepest Afro-Brazilian culture an hour down the road. Pick it for the best combination of beach and things worth seeing. It is the rainiest of these coasts between April and July.
Start with Grand Palladium Imbassaí Resort & Spa, five-star.
Alagoas
The Caribbean stretch: natural pools in the reef offshore at Maragogi, water the colour of a swimming pool, and very little development behind the sand. Pick it for the clearest water in Brazil. There is almost nothing to do beyond the beach and the boat out to the pools.
Start with Japaratinga Lounge Resort, four-star.
Santa Catarina
The southern beach island: Florianópolis' forty-odd beaches, surf on the Atlantic side, lagoons and dunes in the middle, and a proper city attached. Pick it for a Brazilian summer holiday rather than a tropical one. This far south the season is short, roughly December to March.
Start with Costao do Santinho Resort, five-star.
When to go to Brazil
Climate normals for Northeast coast (Bahia), and our verdict on each month.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average daily high | 86 degrees Fahrenheit | 87 degrees Fahrenheit | 86 degrees Fahrenheit | 84 degrees Fahrenheit | 82 degrees Fahrenheit | 80 degrees Fahrenheit | 79 degrees Fahrenheit | 79 degrees Fahrenheit | 81 degrees Fahrenheit | 83 degrees Fahrenheit | 84 degrees Fahrenheit | 85 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Rainfall | 2.7″ | 3.9″ | 6.1″ | 10.9″ | 10.5″ | 8.5″ | 6.9″ | 4.4″ | 3.3″ | 3.9″ | 4.1″ | 4.9″ |
| Verdict | Prime | Prime | Prime | Off-peak | Off-peak | Off-peak | Shoulder | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime |
Sweet spot. September–March (southern-hemisphere spring and summer); rainy season runs April–July on the northeast coast.
Storm risk. The South Atlantic essentially doesn't produce hurricanes, so there's no season to dodge.
Figures are long-term climate normals for Northeast coast (Bahia), good for planning. They are not a forecast.
Do you need a passport or eVisa for Brazil?
Yes to both. U.S. citizens now need an eVisa to enter Brazil – a change from the recent visa-free period. Apply online in advance through the official VFS Global eVisa portal; the tourist eVisa costs around US$80.90 and is valid for up to ten years with multiple entries. Carry a passport with at least six months' validity.
Apply well before you travel and confirm the current process and fee on travel.state.gov and the official Brazilian government portal.
Is Brazil safe?
Brazil carries a country-wide U.S. travel advisory, mainly due to crime (the current level is shown at the top of this guide); several specific areas (certain urban neighborhoods and border zones) carry higher 'do not travel' warnings. Salvador is a rewarding cultural city but has elevated petty and street crime.
Stay in tourist areas, avoid displaying valuables, use registered taxis or rideshares at night, and skip isolated spots. Check travel.state.gov for the latest before you go.
Currency and tipping
The currency is the Brazilian real (BRL). Unlike much of the Caribbean, U.S. dollars are not generally used for everyday payments – cards are widely accepted, and it's wise to carry some reais for taxis, markets, and tips.
Restaurants usually add a 10% service charge (serviço); that's effectively the tip, though rounding up for great service is welcome. Tip guides and drivers a bit at your discretion.
When to visit
Bahia is warm year-round. The drier, sunnier stretch runs roughly September to March; the wettest months tend to be April through July. Note that Brazil's seasons are flipped from the U.S. – the local summer peaks around December to February.
Carnival (February or March) is spectacular in Salvador but very busy and pricey; book far ahead if that's the draw.
Getting there & around
Fly into Salvador (SSA), usually via a connection through a U.S. or Brazilian hub, then transfer to the coast – most resorts arrange this. Brazil drives on the right.
For day trips, prebooked transfers and rideshare apps are the easiest and safest options; self-driving is doable but signage and city traffic can be challenging for first-timers.
What to do beyond the resort
Explore Salvador's UNESCO-listed Pelourinho – pastel colonial streets, baroque churches, and the pulse of live drumming and capoeira. Try Bahian classics like moqueca and acarajé, and time a folkloric show if you can.
Up the coast, the Praia do Forte area mixes beaches with a sea-turtle conservation project, and boat trips reach reef pools and quieter sands.
Good to know
Power & plugs: Brazil uses the unusual Type N plug at 127V or 220V depending on region, so bring an adapter and check voltage. Driving is on the right.
Water: drink bottled or filtered water. Language: Portuguese is essential outside resorts, so a translation app helps. Sun: it's strong and close to the equator – pack reef-safe sunscreen.
Getting to Brazil
Indicative round-trip fares into Salvador (SSA) from the major US gateways, cheapest first. Tap through for live prices and dates.
| From | Airport | Round trip |
|---|---|---|
| Miami | MIA | $686Cheapest |
| Atlanta | ATL | $780 |
| Dallas | DFW | $792 |
| Chicago | ORD | $821 |
| Los Angeles | LAX | $870 |
| Newark | EWR | $885 |
| Boston | BOS | $890 |
| New York | JFK | $989 |
Where the Brazil resorts are
8 resorts mapped stars are five-star properties
The best all-inclusive resorts in Brazil
The Brazil properties we would actually book.
Where to stay in Brazil
The resort areas we cover, and which properties sit in each.
Resort chains in Brazil
The brands operating here. The ones we rank in full link through to the chain, what its plan really covers, and every resort of theirs we track.
Where these companies came from
Almost nobody in this category publishes it. Read oldest first and the list is a short history of how Brazil came to look the way it does.
Brazil, head to head
Price, flights, sand, food and safety, compared honestly.
Brazil vs JamaicaMexicoDominican RepublicMaldivesGreeceSpainTurks & CaicosArubaBarbadosSt. LuciaItalyPortugalTurkeyAntiguaCuraçaoCosta RicaPhilippinesFrench PolynesiaMoroccoEgyptSouth AfricaMauritiusKenyaTanzaniaMozambiqueThailandIndonesiaMalaysiaPunta CanaCancúnRiviera MayaLos CabosPuerto VallartaMontego BayNegrilOcho RiosGuanacasteCreteBora BoraMalé AtollsRodney BayBarbados South CoastBarbados West CoastViti LevuVanua LevuCanary IslandsBalearic IslandsCosta del SolSharm el-SheikhHurghada & the Red Sea CoastBelekRhodesLara & AntalyaMaldives Outer AtollsCorfuHalkidikiKosSoufrière & South St. LuciaGrenadaFijiCroatiaU.S. Virgin IslandsSri LankaSeychellesBahamasChileArgentinaUnited States
Frequently asked questions
Do U.S. citizens need a visa for Brazil?
Yes. U.S. citizens now need an eVisa, obtained in advance via the official VFS Global portal. It costs around US$80.90 and is valid up to ten years with multiple entries.
How do I get the Brazil eVisa?
Apply online before you travel through Brazil's official VFS Global eVisa portal, with your passport and a photo. Apply early, and confirm the current fee and steps on travel.state.gov.
Is Brazil safe?
Brazil carries a country-wide U.S. travel advisory, with some areas rated higher. Salvador rewards visitors but has elevated street crime – stay in tourist areas and check the current advisory at travel.state.gov.
Can I use U.S. dollars in Brazil?
Not really – everyday payments are in Brazilian reais, and cards are widely accepted. Carry some reais for taxis, markets, and tips rather than relying on dollars.
Do you tip in Brazil?
Restaurants typically add a 10% service charge, which serves as the tip; rounding up for great service is welcome. Tipping guides and drivers a little is appreciated.
When is the best time to visit Bahia?
It's warm all year, with the drier, sunnier season roughly September to March. Carnival in February or March is dazzling in Salvador but crowded and expensive.