Stop over between Salvador and Rio de Janeiro

Hello!

During my South America travels this summer I am going to be making the journey from salvador to Rio in Brazil. I have read that this is an extremely long bus - up to 30 hours, so i had the idea of making a stop over for a couple of days to cut up the journey. Does anyone have any suggestions where would be a nice place for 4 girls to spend some time....it doesn't have to be somewhere on the coast but maybe inland..

Do people think ouro Preto and Belle Horizonte are worth visiting and would the be good stop over options?
Any opinions and advice are much appreciated

Thanks! x

Im not sure if you want to relax or party. But a 4 hour boat south of Salvador is Morro de Sao Paulo. Its a really nice place to relax and or party. It does not break up the long journey to Rio as you would have to go back to Salvador to get the bus.

The other place I recommend is Arraial d'Ajuda. It is next to Porto Seguro and near the middle of the journey to Rio. Here you can relax at the many fantastic beaches and or party hard at the many late night parties. I recommend going to the plaza and getting the fresh fruit cocktails r$4. So good value. The HI hostel is very good value and excellent for meeting other English speakers.

Enjoy

I agree with the post above. Porto Seguru, transasco and Morro are great places to go (if its not raining). If its raining, the water turns brown becuase of the rivers. Ouro Preto is ok but forget Belo Horizonte. I live in Brasil and I know. BH is a big city, thats all!!! Staying on the beach is alot more fun. ALso, forget Vitoria. But Im sure you can find airfare about the same price as bus http://www.voegol.com.br/Paginas/home.aspx

32 hours on bus, or 2 hours on plane.

Brilliant advice.
I have been reading up on Morro de Sao Paulo, Arraial d'Ajuda and Porto Seguro and tehy all soudn ike fantastic places to go!
Can you recommend some specific places to stay that you recommend as well as things to do, places to eat etc...
I have read about several beaches for each place, are there any that you would particularly recommend going to and some that you would think not worth going to?

thank you so much

Porto Seguro is separated from Arraial D'Ajuda only by a short boat ride across the river, so essentially you can see both, as well as taking the local bus or walking the sand to Trancoso. You can take a comfortable overnight semi-leito bus on Aguia Branca from Salvador, arriving at 7am in Porto Seguro, for about R$90 one way (vs. R$289 by GOL flight). Porto Seguro and Arraial D'Ajuda have beach clubs that have music as well as restaurant service and the usual chairs on the sand. In Porto Seguro, see the site of the discovery of Brazil, and the little stalls of native Indian crafts.

Morro do Sao Paulo, while beautiful and worth spending time in, will not easily break up your journey. Transportation is easiest and cheapest from Salvador and retuning there.

Ouro Preto, as well as some of the other Colonial historic cities in the dramatic mountains of Minas Gerais, like Tiradentes and Congonhas, are lovely. There's a fun steam train between Sao Joao del Rei and Tiradentes.
I also like Belo Horizonte, which has lots of great bars and restaurants (savory Mineiro food and locally made cachaca), and one of the best Sunday feiras I've ever been to. Here are some other opinions and suggestions for B.H.
http://travel.yahoo.com/p-reviews-481683-prod-travelguide-action-read-ratings_and_reviews-i-sortorder-3