Worth getting out of bed for...

Viewpoint

It might take you most of the day, but climb up to the peak of the 3,675ft Morro do Pai Inácio, near Lencois, for breathtaking views of the lush valleys and flat-topped mountains of the Chapada Diamantina National Park.

Arts and culture

A disproportionate number of writers and musicians hail from Bahia, and the state buzzes with creativity. Music and dance are a big part of life here, and drummers can be found everywhere – particularly in Salvador, where they fill the streets of the Pelourinho district on Tuesday nights and at the weekend. Capoeira, a combination of dance and martial arts that dates back to the days of slavery, is the ultimate expression of Bahian identity.

Something for nothing

Bahia is the home of Candomblé, a polytheistic hybrid religion that incorporates some elements of Catholicism as well as a healthy dose of African tribal faiths brought to Brazil by slaves. See one of its colourful rituals, which include dancing and animal sacrifice, in Salvador’s Catedral Basílica – the Federation of Afro-Brazilian Worship (+55 (0)71 321 0145) on Rua Alfredo do Brito provides dates and times.

Shopping

In Salvador, the fashionable Pelourinho district offers plenty of fascinating boutiques, selling everything from local art and musical instruments to fashions from up-and-coming Brazilian designers. Look out for very affordable leather goods and silverware.

Daytripper

If you tire of all that history and rural beauty, then take a short plane ride west to the thoroughly modern city of Brasilia. Brazil’s capital was designed by architect Oscar Niemeyer in the 1950s and built from scratch in the country’s arid interior. It remains a marvel of 20th-century urban design.

Best beach

For genuine tranquillity and one of Brazil’s prettiest stretches of coastline, take a boat from Salvador and sail over to the tiny Ilha de Tinharé. The journey takes around two hours.

Perfect picnic

Take your hamper up to Praia do Forte, a fishing village about 50 miles north of Salvador, and spread your picnic blanket out on one of its miles of deserted beaches. If you don’t want to get sand in your sandwiches, then eat up by the Garcia D'Avila Castle (the only mediaeval fort in the Americas), which offers amazing views over the Atlantic.

Walks

The Praia do Forte EcoResort, an hour and a half north of Salvador, gives you the chance to go walking through rainforest and along some stunning sandy beaches. Alternatively, if you don’t require fresh air and daylight for a nice walk, then the Toca da Boa Vista cave in Campo Formoso has more than 60 miles of underground passages – making it the longest in the southern hemisphere.

Children

Kids will love the National Zoo (+55 (0)71 247 0052) on Alto de Ondina in Salvador. They’ll particularly adore the reptile house, which gives them the opportunity to come face to face with giant Amazonian anacondas.

Activities

Perfect your Pele-like skills and Ronaldo-esque runs with a game of beach soccer (futebol de salão) on Bahia’s sandy stretches. The game – played with a smaller ball, and with the emphasis firmly on enjoyment and self-expression – is the reason why, many believe, Brazilians are so dominant in the grown-up game.