Vacation Spots in Brazil (Other than the city of Rio de Janeiro)
Part 1
Brazil is the 5th largest country in the world and the largest country in South America. What does this mean? This means there are plenty of spots to go on vacation! Other than the typical city of Rio- there are tons of worth while places to visit in Brazil. Even within the actual state of Rio de Janeiro you have many other options that can satisfy your travel bug beyond what you could imagine ever imagine!
Since Brazil is so large and diverse there are many different types of vacation destinations that cater to different styles of vacations. There are busier beach-ie areas, large bustling cities, more natural/nature destinations and even some areas that make you feel as if you are in another continent.
Beach destinations:
Buzios: If you are looking for a location not far from the city of Rio- Buzios is a perfect option. The city of Buzios was made famous by Bridgette Bardot in the 60’s and has come a long way from the fisherman’s village that it once was. To arrive here you can a) take a bus from Rio for about 120 reis and 4 hours b) take a private cab/Uber - you can usually negotiate the trip for 550-600 reis or c) go by plane.Buzios is a great place if you are looking to get away from the danger of Rio and overwhelming business of it all. Buzios is a super safe place, with little to no crime. It has multiple beaches that you can visit, a huge restaurant scene and enough of a nightlife where you can enjoy yourself until the early hours of the morning if you so please. It also has infastructure such as a bus system, Uber, large grocery stores and great wifi and cellphone service. It is a great vacation destination that has a good mix of families, couples, and singles with a high concentration of Argentinian tourists. Highly recommend staying near Joao Fernandes beach. It is close enough and far enough away from the action so that you can be able to enjoy yourself and also feel the serenity of being in a peaceful area.
Jerricoacoara, Céara: Here is another beautiful beach town. Jerricoacoara or “Jerri” is much more rustic than Buzios. To arrive in Jerri you can either take a plane directly to the airport (which is very expensive) or take a shuttle from Fortaleza airport for about 200-300 reis per person and about a 4 hour drive - which is decently enjoyable. Here, has much more of a hippie vibe, with many small clothing shops, restaurants, and other ma and pa stores. Luxury does exist in the area as there are some higher end hotels and restaurants. There are a lot of tourists that come here for the windsurfing or simply for a weekend getaway from the neighbouring larger city of Fortaleza. For the breathtaking sunsets there is always a party at Café Jerri which is a must for techno music, beautiful people and just a great party that doesn’t finish too late. Otherwise at night there are many reggae style, chill house party vibe events that switch places depending on the day. Here you will find mostly Brazilians with other nationalities peppered in around the area. Highly recommend getting a group of friends and doing the buggy tour - make a party out of it.
Jerricoacoara, Céara Buggy Tour
Trancoso, Bahia: Giselle Bundchen, Adriana Lima are just some of the big time Brazilian celebrities that ome here for vacation. Trancoso, Bahia is Brazils Chiqe vacation beach location. To arrive here you can either take your private plane or take a transfer from Porto Seguro airport that involves crossing the river on a ferry boat (don’t worry, it is not that hard to do and costs about 100 reis total) . Bahia is a lovely state with the highest concentration of African diaspora. This shows in the people, the food, the music, the dance and the overall culture. Expect to eat spicy foods, dance to lively music and feel the upbeat nature of Bahia. Other than this, the beaches here are some of the nicest in Brazil and the world. Trancoso has miles of pristine beach with lukewarm water. The accommodations are a mix of ultra luxurious and affordable - same with the restaurants and shops- with the emphasis on luxury. It has a decent night life , but it is much more prominent during new years and carnival- otherwise it is made more for couples who want to enjoy a beautiful and romantic getaway. If you want something more off the beaten path- take the bus or a taxi 4 hours to Caraiva which is a must more rustic island nearby that has a younger and more of a single -life party vibe /“Hippie Chique”
Bahia
City Destinations
Sao Paulo: Lots of people will tell you , don’t go to Sao Paulo- it’s just another city. DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS. Sao Paulo isn’t “just another city”. Sao Paulo is a city with over 12 million residents and the biggest in Brazil. It is a bustling metropolis that rivals New York. It is classy, it is rich, it has some of the best. food you will find from everywhere in the world, it is classy and it is half the price of New York. It obviously has the dangers that come with Brazil - but what big city isn’t dangerous? Fun Fact: Sao Paulo has the highest population of Japanese outside of Japan. This means you will find some of the best Ramen, Sushi etc here - even better at times then Japan itself ! A Thursday to Monday is perfect to visit this city to check out the museums, the different neighbourhoods, the food , the parties and the city life!
Beco do Batman, Sao Paulo
Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais: Belo Horizonte is a different vibe. Located in the state of Minas Gerais that is known for having the best food in Brazil and the sexiest accents. This city is a fun time if you are looking for something less hectic than Sao Paulo that has culture, great food, and a nice casual weekend beer drinking, normal-life vibe. Here you won’t see many tourists and can get a glimpse into a more normalized, and more economically stable city in Brazil. Here you experience less poverty and more of a normal day to day life which can be refreshing after spending time in many of the bigger Brazilian cities. Fun Fact: Here is where Pão de Queijo originated - famous Brazilian cheese bread and it is the # 3 best city after Rio and Salvador to celebrate Carnival. They say that here- since there is no water/beach they compensate by having the most bars per capita in Brazil.
Belo Horizonte
Gramado, Rio Grande do Sul: This city is located in the South of Brazil but could as easily be a city in Germany. What is different about this city is that it is all modelled as if it were a german ciy. the houses, the roads and general infrastrure is all very European. It is a beautiful picturesque town thatis great for a romantic weekend getaway. In August, you don’t want to miss their film festival that brings people from all over the world for a week of parties, events and film.
Gramado
Here is just the first part of many vacation spot ideas for those wanting to visit the lovely country of Brazil. We will be following up with more articles and even more amazing places to visit in Brazil. Até Depois !
