To fully understand a city, it’s imperative that you do more than just visit the most talked about landmarks and fanciest restaurants. If you’re hoping to experience everything that a city has to offer, cultural heritage tours are right for you. You’ll be placed in the heart of a city, and authentically experience what it’s like to live among the local community and learn about its customs.
Cultural heritage tours will also educate you on the cultural traditions of your new favorite destination spot and allow you to connect with locals. To fully immerse yourself in a new culture and community, check out these amazing international cultural heritage tours.
Brazil
Santa Teresa district, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Brazil contains some of the most fascinating cultural traditions in the world, making its cultural heritage tours some of the most educational. The country is a major melting pot of many world cultures, notably Portuguese, African, and indigenous traditions. When you book vacation package deals to Rio de Janeiro, you’ll have your pick of cultural heritage tours.
But among the most interesting experiences are food tours of Santa Teresa. Santa Teresa is one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Rio and is known for its bohemian atmosphere. Those lucky enough to take a food tour of Santa Teresa will get the chance to taste some of Brazil’s most delectable dishes while learning about the history of the neighborhood.
You should also check out Salvador, a city in the northeast that’s known for its African roots. If you’re looking to learn more about the city’s African identity, consider taking the Historical African Oriented City Tour. You’ll visit several locations around the city that have great importance to Salvador’s African population, including the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary of the Black People as well as several other African neighborhoods throughout the city.
You may also like: How to Spend a Weekend of Black History & Culture in Washington, D.C.
Kenya
Nairobi National Park, with Nairobi in the background
Cultural heritage tours of Kenya encompass a wide array of experiences that will both educate and enrich you. Nairobi, Kenya’s capital and one of the most fascinating cities in Africa, ranks high among the best places for those interested in understanding Kenya’s cultural traditions. The Nairobi Day Tour will introduce you to Kenya’s history of wildlife conservation at Nairobi National Park, one of the most remarkable national parks in the world. While there, you’ll have a fantastic view of lions, elephants, giraffes, and other iconic African wildlife.
The tour closes with a visit to the African Heritage House, a location built with African architecture that houses authentic tribal art. Several walking tours of the city are also available that highlight everything from Nairobi’s colonial past to current political movements.
South Africa
African penguin, Boulders Penguin Colony National Park, South Africa
If you have an interest in South Africa’s decades-long fight against apartheid, you should first head to Soweto, a major center of the anti-apartheid movement in the ‘60s and ’70s. Among the key stops of most Soweto walking tours are the Hector Pieterson Museum and Memorial, which commemorates the 1976 Soweto uprising, and the homes of Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Stops at other important locations in Soweto, such as the Regina Mundi Catholic Church and Motsoaledi informal settlement, are also included in most walking tours.
Looking to learn more about South Africa’s ecology? Head to Cape Town. Most of the prominent ecology-based Cape Town tours center around the breathtaking views of Table Mountain and the Boulders Beach Penguin Colony — a sanctuary that is home to some of the cutest animals in the world! After seeing the city’s natural beauty, take a food tour of the city and enjoy the delicious diversity of South African cuisine.
Bermuda
Ft. Hamilton, Bermuda
Head on over to the city of Hamilton for an authentic Caribbean experience. One of the most interesting tours of Hamilton is the Bermuda Railway by Bike tour. Embark on a journey off the beaten path as you follow your guide down trails that are often ignored by most visitors. The tour centers on the beauty of Bermuda’s ecology by showcasing the island’s flora and fauna in settings that are relatively undisturbed by the public. The tour also affords guests the opportunity to visit a 17th-century estate and a fort erected in the 1800s.
When you’ve worked up your appetite after all that biking, check out the Bermuda After Hours Food Tour, which includes stops at some of the top restaurants in the city. Sip specialty cocktails as you sample some of the country’s best cuisine and signature dishes.
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