3 Best Sights in Lençois, Salvador and the Bahia Coast

A 15-minute hike takes you down to the mouth of the Lapa Doce cave, where you will see a stunning collection of large stalagmites, stalactites, and columns. Access is only possible with a local guide, included in the price of admission along with a flashlight for navigating in the dark and exploring the unique frescoe-like coloring and natural sculptures. Local guides only speak Portuguese, so if you are looking for greater insight, plan to go with your own guide as part of a longer day experience. Because it's so accessible, Lapa Doce is especially recommended for children.

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.