Relax on the Beach in Bahia

Bahia is a section in Brazil that is becoming more and more popular for tourists, musicians, and actors alike to vacation. With 650 miles of coastline to explore, you can have a great vacation and not worry about being bothered by huge crowds. In a new article from The New York Times, Alex Robinson writes about how to spend 8 days in Bahia, as well as other things to know about the area. Here's a sample from the article.

1) Start off in Salvador. Check into the Convento do Carmo, then see the capoeira dancers and have dinner at Solar do Unhão.

2) After touring Baroque buildings in the city's Pelourinho district, tuck into the moqueca at the Sorriso da Dadá restaurant. Then go to a concert at Terreiro de Jesus square.

3) Catch a plane to Porto Seguro (www.tam.com.br; $150 round trip), then a taxi to Trancoso. Check into the Pousada Etnia (www.etniabrasil.com.br).

4) Hit Itapororoca beach in the morning and Trancoso or Coqueiros beach in the afternoon. Join the beautiful people for a caipisake at Capim Santo.

5) Take a day trip to Praia do Espelho — a long stretch of white sand — with a driver from Portomondo (www.portomondo.com). Have lunch at Silvinha's.

6) Browse the sexy Brazilian swimwear shops (Lenny, Osklen) on Trancoso's main square, the Quadrado. Later, join the samba line at O Tempo Rei.

7) Hop a flight north from Porto Seguro to Ilhéus for a stay at the Txai resort in nearby Itacaré. Sign up for an afternoon horseback-riding trip.

8) Surf and swim off Tiririca beach, then bliss out with a seven-herb body treatment and an abhyanga massage at the Txai spa.

You can read the rest of the article at NYtimes.com