About Us
We Built the Guide
We Wish Existed
When we saw tourists landing in Salvador with nothing but a hotel address and a vague idea of where the historic center was, we knew there had to be a better way.
How it started
ToKnowBrazil started as a walking tour in Pelourinho, Salvador's historic center. We were tired of watching visitors walk past the best parts of our city because no one told them where to look.
So we started showing them ourselves. First one tourist, then five, then groups every week. Along the way, the same questions kept coming up: Is it safe? Where should I eat? How do I get from the airport? What's the deal with Carnival?
This site is our answer to all of those questions. Everything we've learned from years of guiding tourists through Brazil, written down so you can access it before you even land.
Photo: Founder/guide leading a walking tour group through Pelourinho's colorful streets, interacting with tourists, candid and natural
2018
Guiding since
500+
Tours completed
3
Languages
4.9
Average rating
What we believe
Honest over polished
We tell you which neighborhoods to skip, not just which ones to visit. If a tourist trap charges three times the local price, we say so.
Local knowledge, not research
Everything on this site comes from living here. We don't aggregate other travel blogs. We walk these streets every day.
Your trip, not our agenda
We recommend what's genuinely best for you, even when that means pointing you somewhere we don't profit from.
Photo: Portrait of the founder/main guide, warm and approachable, in a recognizable Salvador location (Pelourinho, Farol da Barra, Mercado Modelo)
Who you'll meet
Born and raised in Salvador, Bahia. We know every alley in Pelourinho, every acaraje stand worth stopping at, and exactly which streets to avoid after dark.
We speak English, Portuguese, and Spanish. Whether you're traveling solo, with family, or in a group, we adapt the experience to what matters to you.
When we're not guiding, we're updating this site with the kind of practical, no-nonsense information that we wish someone had given us when we first started helping tourists navigate Brazil.
What you'll find here
ToKnowBrazil is a free information hub for international tourists. The guides and articles are the core of what we do. The tours are how we sustain it.
Destination guides
Neighborhood breakdowns, food guides, itineraries, and local tips for Salvador and Rio.
Safety information
Honest safety advice, scam awareness, emergency contacts, and a free downloadable safety guide.
Travel planning
Best time to visit, transport options, where to stay, visa info, and trip budgeting.
Local services
Walking tours, private guides, and airport transfers run directly by our team in Salvador.
Ready to explore Brazil?
Whether you need a guide on the ground or just have a quick question about your trip, we're here to help.