If your aim is to see a bit of Brazil, I would say that staying in Salvador itself, with its rich culture and lively music scene, for at least a few days would be the best way to do that.

A good resource site is www.bahia-online.net

Costa de Sauipe is a gated tourist resort compound of several hotels and pousadas about two hours from the center of Salvador. It has its own activities and imports some nightlife for the tourists who stay there. (DanielBrasilia, who worked there, would be the TA authority on this complex) There is bus transportation into town, but IMO very limiting in what you are able to do.

One village a bit to the south, Praia do Forte, was a fishing village that was bought up to be redeveloped into a tourist resort as well. It now consists mainly of expensive (for Brazilians) shops and restaurants and lots of pousadas. One TAMAR turtle project is located there as well. Some day trips are available from there as well (the expert on local life seems to be JohnSimp who may weigh in).

The coast in that area is beaches, some of which have some summer homes, some of which are deserted, with a few local villages in places.

The only locals you are likely come in contact with are hotel staff, who may live locally or may take the long daily commute from Salvador. Since they have employment, they are among the lucky ones in the Salvador area and not the most needy.

If you are looking for a way to donate to the needy in a way that really helps, please message me and I can make some suggestions of local charities in Salvador.

At any rate, hope you enjoy your holidays.

Hi Child

If you want to see the real Brazil don't go to Sauipe. I stayed at Breezes in July 2005, it has good accomodation, decent food, shows, and activities for kids, but is a bit to sanitized, and has a very small rocky beach. The resort is tailored to Foreign Tourists and rich Brazillians, who don't want to be bothered by the people of the area. As Tcant said the only locals you'll see in the complex, work there. If you want to stay in the area instead of Salvador, look for a hotel or pousada in Praia do Forte.

Climate is usually good at this time.

As for helping the locals, spend money outside the resorts at local bars, restaurant and shops. Or if you want to help certain causes donate money directly to the charity.

Many Americans and Eupopeans are unaware that Brazil is much more than Indians in the Amazon Jungle, and that is the 13th economy on the planet.

Enjoy Brazil, I do every year when I return to visit with family & friends.

Ciao

As I was mentioned, I will weigh in, first of all, to confirm everything that was written before - not much that I could really add about the overall "facts of life" at Sauipe. From what I notice you probably will be traveling on one of the packages, probably First Choice, which seems to be the one that operates most charters out of England (just from reading all the Forum postings). Apparently, First Choice just does Sauipe and Iberostar, and though the latter is closer to Praia do Forte village, it's got the same kind of clean, made-for-gringos and upper-middle-class Brazilians look and feel, so you decide which one seems to have more of your profile.

As MBrianSF put it very well, just by coming to Brazil, having a great time, spending some of your hard-earned money and then speaking positively of your trip is already something you can do for our country. Brazil is still not very strong on tourism maps - for several reasons, including visa requirements for some strong tourism countries (like US and Canada), high prices on flights and hotels, compared to competitors like Thailand, Vietnam and Mexico (did some research last year from packages leaving Europe and that generally was the case) and some negative news on urban violence. So positive news, even if "only" mouth-to-mouth from travelers, will do wonders for the economy.

By the way, urban violence is one thing you will not feel in Sauipe for sure, which is a reason upper-middle-class Brazilians from cities like São Paulo like to go there. The richer Brazilians actually go to even more exclusive hotels that charge over R$ 1000 a night or just travel to Paris, London or NYC as often as possible.

Charity is always welcome in some areas, not necessarily so much around the mentioned area compared to much further inland or in the slum areas of Salvador, as tourism has raised the average living conditions for many around Praia do Forte (not to say there are those who aren't struggling). If you're not associated with any NGO, just do some research on the issues of charity in Brazil.

We do live in a rich country where more and more people are doing well, but where a sizeable part of the 180 million inhabitants are falling off the fast-track - or haven't even had the opportunity to notice that the train is going by fast and that they have no way of getting on now - because of lack of good educational opportunities and other challenges. But I was reading a recent report on education and some people from England weighed in with their challenges and how some in England are falling through the cracks, so it seems that some charity may also be needed in some places close to home, though I'm quite certain the challenges are not quite as high as they are for destitute Brazilians.

By the way, something that can be done by the US and Europe and its voters, but which never happens, is to loosen up the agricultural products markets for countries in Africa and Brazil to be able to export more and increase local wealth. Also, to make immigration less difficult, to give those who desire a chance to make it anywhere (like meat-processing specialists from the region in which I live who are being succesful in Ireland).

All the best on your trip and your positive intentions.

Boa Viagem!

I am a great fan of Bahia state........beautiful beaches, interesting culture, nature, etc. If you want some specific advice & pics, email directly at rwthomas@sympatico.ca I have been going to Brazil for 18 years & know most places.