If you’re planning a trip to Salvador or are already in its grip, this guide will help you understand what makes Brazil’s first capital city so impressionable and gift you with a few key tips and recommendations to set your stay up for success.

Before you book the pousada, before you pin the surf spot, before you learn how to pronounce acarajé, there are a few things you should know about Bahia, the northeast Brazilian state that’s at the epicenter of Afro-Brazilian culture.