Circuits: Upper, Lower & Historic
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| The biggest party on the planet!
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| | The Barra-Ondina Circuit [also called the Dodo; Lower; or Ondina circuit]: was added in 1992 and the wider avenue, large hotel and restaurant decks, better views and beach options with barracas [food & drink stands] have made it the preferred circuit as well as a place to stay for those who want maximum action. | |  | | It begins at Farol da Barra (pronounced bah-ha—like Baja) runs along the coast beach to Ondina. This circuit is approximately 4 Km long. This is where the A-List of Carnival performers gravitate as do the more lavish camarotes [reviewing stands] There has been talk about adding a 4th circuit which would also run further along the coast. |  | <nobr>  </nobr>The Pelourinho Circuit [also called the “Batatinha” Circuit. ]
can be enjoyed for free and here is where you will find the cultural essense of the great historic City of Salvador Bahia.. It is quieter
and less jam packed than the Barra and Campo Grande routes. The cobbled
streets of the historic centre of Pelourinho host old time Carnival with bands performing on stage, children in costumes, last minute abada shopping.
This is where the children's groups and traditional groups parade.Because of the street size there are no vehicles in this part of town, lending itself to a calmer environment filled with more youngsters and elderly than elsewhere in the city. It
is also has Salvador's highest concentration of cultural institutions,
churches, museums and restaurants. |  | | The Avenida Circuit [also called the upper ,Campo Grande circuit ] is an easy walk from the Historic Center to Praça Castro Alves where the blocos organize themselves. However, you need a bus or taxi to get to or from the barra. |  | | The Avenida Circuit: The trios move away from Campo Grande and down Avenida Sete de Setembro to Praça Castro Alves and then swing around the corner and return by way of Rua Carlos Gomes which runs parallel to Avenida Sete. This is the original Carnaval route for over 60 years and it's in easy walking distance from the Pelourinho. (literally "Big Field", Salvador's central park) to (very close to Pelourinho) Alleyways packed with vendors and people connect the two main thoroughfares which become extraordinarily most packed about midnight. The smaller, more authentic Afro-Brazilian blocos parade here and it is much more of a local scene . During the parade, approximately 6 Km, it is possible to observe many Salvador's historic points. |  | You can join Salvador's different blocos and camarotes for different days, and try out both the city centre circuit ending at the Hotel de Bahia in Campo Grande or the Barra circuit along the main hotel beach area. | Blocos can be as large as 3000 members, dressed in identical abadás, or official short sleeved vests, protected by a cordon of security guards. The core of the bloco is the trio eléctrico, a large flat-bed truck from which modern sound systems pump out the tunes of musicians and singers on the roof. A support truck follows, with refreshments, toilets and first aid. The trio eléctrico crawls along at 2km an hour, stopping frequently, and it takes between 5 to 8 hours to complete the traditional 6km city circuit, or 4 to 5 hours for the alternative 4km coastal circuit. Parades run from noon till dawn, it is a wild time. Give yourself to the moment as it is easy to find yourself surrounded by heaving, dancing, gyrating bodies as your body shakes to the beat of pulsating African rhythms. The natives like to kiss. | | | | |
