WHERE WE GO TRANSPORT WHY CRUZ THE COAST

Rio to Salvador by land

Cruz the Coast takes you away from the gringo trail, allowing you to discover all the hidden gems between Rio and Salvador, from historic colonial towns to completely off the beaten track wonders of nature: wild surf beaches, nature reserves, sand-dunes, cocoa plantations, rivers, waterfalls & jungles. You’ll see and experience a side of Brazil that you would never have known about if you’d taken the bus.
Hassle free travel

No lugging your bags back and forth between hostels and bus terminals, no worrying about whether you bought the right ticket at the right price to the right destination and no need to search for a place to stay. We provide you with door to door transport to where you’re staying in each town. No time-wasting, no hassles, no being ripped off and no worries!
Value for money

Cruz the Coast provides independent travelers with a safe, convenient, affordable and fun alternative to the standard stresses of public transport in Brazil. You will get loads of free extras thrown in along the way, such as an all-you-can-drink boat cruise around Arraial do Cabo, a capoeira class on the beach in Itacaré, caipirinha cocktail making & tasting class… even free Portuguese lessons if you’re up for it!

Where we go

Cruz the Coast Brazil operates trips up and down the coast in both directions;

From Rio to Salvador AND from Salvador to Rio, travelling through the states of

Rio de Janeiro, Espirito Santo and Bahia.

The total duration of the trip between Rio and Salvador is 10 nights.

We are now offering transfers between Rio and Ilha Grande / Paraty

These transfers can be added to the beginning (or end) of your Cruz the Coast trip.

Read a bit about each place

About us

Cruz the Coast is a Brazilian company run by an Irish lad and an Aussie sheila. Between us we have more than 10 years experience working in the tourism industry – running hostels, tour agencies and leading tours. We’re also backpackers ourselves. We know what it means to be an independent traveller. Over the years we’ve backpacked our way around every corner of Latin America. We’ve been through all the trials and tribulations of trying to get from one place to the other in the land of Mañana and Amanhã.

We know everything there is to know about each place we visit. From the best party hostels, to the ideal surfer hangs, to the most beautiful ‘lie in a hammock with ocean view’ pousadas. But it’s not just accommodation we’re experts in. We can also tell you where to go for the tastiest moqueca, the best massage in town, the fastest internet connection, ATM cash points for foreign cards, the most adventurous hiking trail, the most paradisiacal beach, optimal surf times, the best bars in town… just to give a few examples. Basically, anything you need to know. And if we don’t know (it happens occasionally!) we’ll know exactly how to find out.

But at the end of the day, you are in charge of your trip. You choose where you want to stay and what you want to do in each place. We’re there to give you all the information if you ask for it. And if you like, we’ll reserve your accommodation for you. If you ask for our help, we’ll give it. If you prefer to do things yourself, that’s no problem either.

Cruz the Coast is all about having the freedom to make your own decisions, allowing you to travel Brazil your way.

What people say about us….

The Rio Times

“As anyone familiar with overland travel in Brazil can attest, bus stations can be pretty rough going. With this in mind, expats and Brazil enthusiasts Jonathan Flynn and Jane Bell started Cruz the Coast, a transport service between Rio and Salvador that provides backpackers and independent travelers with a safe, convenient and fun alternative to the standard stresses of getting from A to B.”

BBC – Danny Robins Indie Travel Guide

“Another company worth looking at is Cruz the Coast. Run by an Aussie and an Irishman, they run fun sounding mini-bus tours up the coast between Rio and Salvador. The idea is that they provide door to door transport to tried and tested spots for travellers and give you loads of tips on what to do in each place. Excellent guides and drivers and good value for money.”

Nile Guide.com

“the trip whisks passengers along the coast to Arraial do Cabo and beautiful Buzios, and from there winds its way up to Salvador da Bahia, via the beautiful, as-yet sunspoiled Northeastern beach town of Itacare, stopping en-route at Santa Teresa, Itauna and Arraial de Ajuda. The tour takes in everything from lush nature reserves to stunning colonial architecture, and with fun extras like caiprinha-making classes, capoeira lessons on the beach, really delivers a whole lot of bang for your tourist buck….”