Getting Around

Taxi
Getting around in Salvador is easy: just get in a cab! 1 out of every 3 cars is a taxi (or so it seems). What’s more: it’s cheap. You can go from Pelourinho to Rio Vermelho for about R$18 (US$7). From Pelourinho to Barra for about R$10. Just remember to ask the taxi driver if he knows how to get to where you want to go before you step in “voce sabe chegar no …. “ pronounced “vo-say sa-bee shay-gar no [insert place here]…”. If he doesn’t know, take the next cab.
Most cabs like to drive tourists along the coast, as not only is it prettier but tourists get skeptical when they drive through inner city shourt cuts. When travelling between Rio Vermelho and Pelourinho, ask him to go “por dentro”, through the middle, as that can save you R$10 each way.
If you are travelling longer distances, you can try to negotiate a price cheaper than the expected cost before stepping in the cab. You can usually knock off 10% to 20%.
One english -speaking cab driver we use is Villela:
Villela Cab
9105-9360
and Orlando (only portuguese spoken, but cheap deals)
Orlando Cab
9191-4526

Car Rentals
Renting a car is not the best option unless you have a Brazilian escort who will be driving you around. It does come very helpful if you are planning on visiting Praia do Forte or the north coast beaches, Porto Seguro or Itacare. Be sure to rent cars from reputable rental companies. Also opt for the company that does not hold R$800 in “calcao” (deductable) when you get insurance, otherwise, what’s the point?

Seletivo
A great option if you don’t want to pay $50 from the Aiport to downtown. It goes along the ocean drive, giving access to most of the Hotels in Salvador between the Airport and Historic Center. Last stop, Praca da Se in Pelourinho.
They go for R$5 and run more frequently during rush hours.

Bus
The other less recommended transportation method is the public buses. Although a lot cheaper, these take longer (up to 95 minutes from Pelourinho to Itapua, where a cab would take 30 minutes) and are riskier, as crooks have been robbing buses, and the mob sets one or two on fire when angry at the government.