You could easily spend months exploring this part of the country, but this 14-day tour is a great distillation of the region. You get a look at the best of the nordeste in terms of history, culture, tropical beaches, and islands. You begin and end at the airport in Salvador, but if you can’t find direct flights to Salvador, you can catch domestic flights from Rio or São Paulo.

DAY 1
Land in Salvador. Visit Pelourinho and the Mercado Modelo for the day. In late afternoon, catch a taxi to the Solar do União and Modern Art Museum. Enjoy dinner and a show (with a view of the bay) at Solar do União. Have a few drinks near your hotel (Barra, Costa Verde, or Campo Grande).

DAY 2
Take a taxi tour of Bonfim and the museums in the Campo Grande area, then head straight to Flamengo for lunch on the beach and down to Itapuã for sunset and a taste of Acarajé in the Itapuã praça. Head back to your hotel to regroup for a night out in Pelourinho.

DAY 3
Take a small plane to the island of Morro de São Paulo for the next two days. Explore the village and sights. Take a late-afternoon walk along the three beaches, and eat dinner in the village.

DAY 4
Take an island tour of Volta Ilha, enjoy the beaches, and spend the night in the village.

DAY 5
After breakfast, walk around the beaches or village, then return by plane to Salvador and catch a flight to Maceió. Eat dinner in Maceió and then stroll the boardwalk.

DAY 6
Day-trip to Maragogi to swim and snorkel along the reefs. Spend the evening in Maceió.

DAY 7
Day-trip to Barra de São Miguel and Praia da Gunga, then catch the bus to Recife at around 5 p.m. (to arrive there around 10 p.m.). Spend the late evening near your hotel in Olinda.

DAY 8
Take a city tour of Olinda and Old Recife. Spend the evening in Old Recife.

DAY 9
Catch the bus or tour van to Porto de Galinhas, and take a long walk along the beach to Maracaípe (or take a dune buggy), where you can go snorkeling at the Seahorse Reserve and explore Maracaípe village. Spend the evening in the Porto de Galinhas Village.

DAY 10
Snorkel along the reefs at Ipojuca. In the afternoon, stroll around the village and take a walk along the beach to Cupe. Enjoy dinner in the village.

DAY 11
Day-trip to Carneiros Beach, then catch the late afternoon bus back to Recife and an evening flight to Natal. Spend the final part of the evening on the Ponta Negra boardwalk in Natal near your hotel.

DAY 12
Rent a buggy (with driver) for the day and visit the north coast, focusing on Genipabu and Maracajaú (for snorkeling). Spend the evening back in Ponta Negra, with dinner in the Rua Dr. Manoel A. B. de Araújo area.

DAY 13
Day-trip to Pipa, with lunch and drinks at Praia da Pipa, then swim with the dolphins in the afternoon at Praia do Curral. Spend the evening in the Pipa village.

DAY 14
Return to Natal for a flight to Salvador, then an afternoon or evening flight home.