3 Best Sights in Salvador and the Bahia Coast, Brazil

One of the region's most popular hiking trails runs along a section of Rio Lençóis called Rio Serrano. It's surrounded by exuberant forest, now protected as municipal park. The reddish-color water is due to organic matter from the forest floor. You can bathe and relax in several natural pools—they look a bit like hot tubs—formed on the rock-strewn riverbed. There are also three waterfalls scattered around the surrounding hills, best accessed with a local guide. To reach the easily accessible trailhead to the river, head up the hill after Hotel de Lençóis.

One of the country's most scenic treks, this onetime pilgrim trail of the Tupi Indians takes you between towering sierras, through caves, and past waterfalls. The 70-km (43-mile) trail starts in Bomba, climbs to Candombá Hills, follows a plateau at Gerais de Vieira, then goes alongside the steep Rio Paty toward Andaraí. Along the way, you can either camp or sleep in simple, clean wood huts provided by locals. Although the trek itself is not challenging, it does cover a considerable distance spread over four days and requires a general level of fitness and good walking shoes. A six-day trek is also available.