Looking at the (huge) map and getting a bit overloaded about picking the best places to visit in Brazil? Don't fret, we're here to assist you to make the most out of your journey and give you the best suggestions to delight in Brazil like a regional. I'm Brazilian and I'm about to share all my preferred aspects of my country. From drinking caipirinha at the beach in Rio, to visiting a national park full of pristine blue lagoons in the north or assisting to conserve turtles in the south, Brazil has a choice for each type of backpacker.
From north to south, you're going to discover something fantastic to do in every corner of the nation and I ensure you'll be shocked by how varied Brazil is. Opt for an open heart, listen and talk with the locals-- there is no better way to learn more about our culture.
The beaches in the north of the island are more touristy and have lots of widely known clubs, so things can get a bit more pricey. I 'd advise that you check out Praia da Lagoinha, Praia do Forte, Praia da Daniela, Praia Brava and Praia dos Ingleses. The east side of the island has an incredible backpacker vibe and is a terrific area for browsing. My preferred beaches there are Joaquina, Praia Mole, Praia da Galheta and Barra da Lagoa. This is likewise the backpacker hotspot of the city, where you'll discover individuals from all over the world, super cool bars and restaurants and people selling their art in the street.
If you're searching for some quiet time surrounded by nature, the south of the island is where you want to be. We're talking untouched beaches, some of them only accessible by trekking, like Praia dos Naufragados. If you want to join the residents, you need to attempt the hike to Lagoinha do Leste, one of the most famous hiking tracks in the south of Brazil. There are 3 different options with different levels of trouble, the most convenient one taking control of an hour. You will not regret the views when you get there though!
Ouro Preto is one of the best places to visit in Brazil for anyone who wishes to comprehend the nation ´ s history. The city's name equates to 'Black Gold' in English, since it was the centre of the gold rush in the 18th century. Nowadays, you can still experience the city's past through its architecture and the art of the incredible Brazilian sculptor Aleijadinho. You can visit all the piece de resistances on foot, and simply walking around admiring the landscapes is really one of the very best things you can do. The piece de resistances in Ouro Preto are the old mines from the colonial period, where you can take a tour to find out about how lots of ores and gemstones were drawn out and taken back to Europe, and how slave work was utilized for this.
The city also has numerous museums where you can start to comprehend more about the history of the country. At Inconfidence Museum you can find out about Brazil's self-reliance, and if you have an interest in Brazilian art, you should have a look at the Spiritual Art Museum. An excellent place to see Aleijadinho's work is São Francisco de Assis church, where you can find lots of sculptures made by the artist.
One of the coolest things you can do in Ouro Preto is try to find a university celebration. They're incredibly open and accept trainees from all over the world. All you have to do is go to the student neighbourhood Baixita and ask where the party will occur. You can actually knock at one of the fraternity's doors and ask. If you're going to during Carnival, even better-- there will be LOTS OF trainee celebrations you can join.Start your adventure walking around Vila Madalena, a stylish area loaded with great cafes, restaurants and classic stores. On Saturdays, you can check out Feira Livre da Vila Madalena, a street market with arts and crafts, loads of fruits and veggies and amazing street food. For a genuine Brazilian experience, try a pastel (a delicious savoury treat) with a sugar walking cane juice. After getting all the energy you require, head to Beco do Batman, a well-known spot in the city for street art lovers.
If you enjoy art, go to the Museum of Art of São Paulo at Avenida Paulista. You're going to see the building rather easily from a distance because of its remarkable architecture design and you can get lost inside for hours.
After visiting the museum, head to Bixiga, one of the most conventional areas in the city that has lots of terrific pizzerias. Speaking of pizza, you MUST TRY Brazilian pizza. Forget whatever you thought you understood about the traditional Italian food and open yourself to an entire new level of nonsense. I am discussing ice cream pizza and I'm not even sorry.
By this point, you have actually probably noticed that São Paulo is a great location to walk around and eat tasty food, so if you're not veggie, head to Mercado Municipal to attempt a HUGE mortadella sandwich. After all this eating, have a walk in Ibirapuera park and go to the Afro Museum, an area committed to telling the story of more than five centuries of African history in Brazil.
For an incredible sunset and to join the locals, go to Praça do Pôr do Sol (it literally indicates the sundown park) for among the most gorgeous views of the city.Still in the historic centre, check out Largo Tereiro de Jesus, a location loaded with lovely churches, dining establishments and amazing architecture. Check Out the Afro Museum to get more information about Afro religions in Brazil, and Casa do Carnaval da Bahia to get to know the history of Carnival in the city. Still around this location, check the Lacerda Lift. Integrated in 1873, this is the most convenient (and cheapest) way to get to the high part of the city. When you're at the top, Tomé de Sousa square is a beautiful viewpoint and best place to view the sunset.
If you want to buy cost effective and genuine keepsakes for your enjoyed ones back home, see Mercado Modelo. This public market has been working for more than 100 years and has more than 250 stalls selling art and food.Now, get ready for an amazing story. Bonfim Church was built between 1745 and 1772, and nowadays is the centre of a gorgeous multi-faith celebration that happens in Salvador every year in January. On this day, around 200 women dressed in white walk an expedition of 8km to wash the stairs of the church with water and flowers, while the residents celebrate with music and chants of African origin. This is a gorgeous ritual to view and you ought to think about visiting Salvador throughout this time. And let's not forget the Senhor do Fim ribbon, a tradition which includes putting a vibrant ribbon on someone's Click here to find out more wrist and inquiring to make 3 desires. You make one knot for each dream, and when the ribbon falls off by itself, all these dreams will come true. This tradition becomes part of the Festa do Bonfim (Bonfim Party), however you can find these ribbons throughout the year in most cities in Brazil.
Together with Pelourinho, Barra Lighthouse is one of the most popular postcard images of Salvador. The lighthouse was integrated in the 17th century and nowadays is a museum. Just in front of the lighthouse, there's a lovely beach for you to walk around and see the sunset.
How can we not speak about food? Food from Bahia is incredible, and you can't leave the city without attempting an Acarajé! It's a beautiful mix of beans, shrimp, onion, salt and pepper-- completely and fried in palm oil. It's the most standard food of the city and you can find the very best ones in Largo da Dinha.Galeria 13 hostel is a great base for your Salvador experience. They have a pool, breakfast until 12pm, happy hours with caipirinhas, Brazilian movie nights and a friendly canine. They're likewise found in the historic centre, which will make your day of checking out much easier.If you have a little bit more time in Recife, you must think about spending a day in Olinda, a well-known historic city with amazing Carnival parties and blocks. It's so near to Recife that some individuals get confused and think it's the same city. Explore the historical centre and its vibrant colonial houses on foot, prior to heading to Alto da Sé, a location with an amazing view of the city and markets selling food and art.The most well-known attraction in Olinda is the Carnival and its giant dolls parade. They state everything started in 1931, when an extremely good-looking man used to walk at midnight. After a long time, he became well known (The Midnight Male) and all the single women in the city would wait for him every night. After a few years, a huge doll of him was developed and a massive carnival parade with him leading the way to other huge dolls became a tradition. Today the parade still follows the exact same path as the mystical guy! Watching the Giant Carnival Dolls of Olinda is a truly wonderful experience and you're going to be astonished by the energy in the streets throughout Brazilian Carnival.