If Rio is beautiful, Salvador de Bahia is the cultured one. One of the oldest cities in Brazil overlooks the Bahia de Todos os Santos, the colonial streets of the Pelhourinho district daubed in pastels like a packet of sweets. This is the country’s Afro-Brazilian gem and the city centre is practically a living museum of 17^th and 18^th century architecture as well as a centre for music. Bahia is also the gateway to the Chapada Diamantina National Park, one of the most beautiful in Brazil. Here you’ll find canyons, waterfalls, swamps and natural pools. It’s also an easy starting point for visiting Minas Gerais, the heart of Brazil’s gold rush. Cobbled streets are lined with ornate mansions and Baroque churches. The old capital, Ouro Preto, is probably the best example of this, a UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site, perched on a hillside.