Taking a look at the (massive) map and getting a bit overloaded about picking the best locations to visit in Brazil? Do not worry, we're here to help you to make the most out of your journey and give you the very best tips to delight in Brazil like a regional. I'm Brazilian and I'm about to share all my preferred things about my nation. From drinking caipirinha at the beach in Rio, to checking out a national park loaded with pristine blue lagoons in the north or helping to conserve turtles in the south, Brazil has an option for each kind of backpacker.
From north to south, you're going to find something fantastic to do in every corner of the country and I ensure you'll be shocked by how diverse Brazil is. Choose an open heart, listen and talk to the locals-- there is no much better way to learn more about our culture.
The beaches in the north of the island are more touristy and have lots of well-known clubs, so things can get a bit more costly. I 'd advise that you visit Praia da Lagoinha, Praia do Strength, Praia da Daniela, Praia Brava and Praia dos Ingleses. The east side of the island has an amazing backpacker vibe and is an excellent spot for surfing. My preferred beaches there are Joaquina, Praia Mole, Praia da Galheta and Barra da Lagoa. This is also the backpacker hotspot of the city, where you'll find individuals from all over the world, super cool bars and restaurants and individuals 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 wish to be. We're talking unblemished beaches, some of them only available by trekking, like Praia dos Naufragados. If you want to join the residents, you ought to attempt the walking to Lagoinha do Leste, one of the most well-known treking trails in the south of Brazil. There are three various alternatives with different levels of problem, the most convenient one taking over an hour. You won't be sorry for the views when you get there though!
Ouro Preto is one of the very best locations to visit in Brazil for anyone who wishes to understand the country ´ s history. The city's name equates to 'Black Gold' in English, due to the fact that 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 carver Aleijadinho. You can check out all the main attractions on foot, and just walking admiring the scenery is truly among the best things you can do. The main attractions in Ouro Preto are the old mines from the colonial period, where you can take a trip to hear about how tons of ores and jewels were drawn out and taken back to Europe, and how slave work was utilized for this.
The city likewise has many museums where you can begin to understand more about the history of the nation. At Inconfidence Museum you can learn more about Brazil's independence, and if you're interested in Brazilian art, you must take a look at the Sacred Art Museum. A fantastic location to see Aleijadinho's work is São Francisco de Assis church, where you can discover many sculptures made by the artist.
One of the coolest things you can do in Ouro Preto is search for a university celebration. They're extremely open and accept students from all over the world. All you have to do is go to the trainee area Baixita and ask where the celebration will happen. You can literally knock at one of the fraternity's doors and ask. If you're visiting during Carnival, even better-- there will be PLENTY of student celebrations you can join.Start your adventure walking Vila Madalena, a fashionable area full of good coffee shops, dining establishments and classic shops. On Saturdays, you can visit Feira Livre da Vila Madalena, a street market with arts and crafts, loads of fruits and veggies and incredible street food. For a genuine Brazilian experience, attempt a pastel (a scrumptious savoury snack) with a sugar cane juice. After getting all the energy you need, head to Beco do Batman, a well-known area in the city for street art fans.
If you're into art, visit the Museum of Art of São Paulo at Avenida Paulista. You're going to see the structure rather quickly from a range because of its amazing architecture style and you can get lost inside for hours.
After going to the museum, head to Bixiga, among the most conventional areas in the city that has lots of great pizzerias. Speaking of pizza, you MUST TRY Brazilian pizza. Forget everything you believed you understood about the standard 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've probably observed that São Paulo is a terrific location to walk and consume delicious food, so if you're not veggie, head to Mercado Municipal to try an ENORMOUS mortadella sandwich. After all this eating, have a walk in Ibirapuera park and go to the Afro Museum, an area committed to informing the story of more than 5 centuries of African history in Brazil.
For a fantastic sunset and to mingle with the locals, go to Praça do Pôr do Sol (it literally implies the sundown park) for among the most stunning views of the city.Still in the historic centre, see Largo Tereiro de Jesus, a location full of beautiful churches, restaurants and amazing architecture. Click here to find out more Visit the Afro Museum to get more information about Afro faiths in Brazil, and Casa do Carnaval da Bahia to be familiar with the history of Carnival in the city. Still around this location, examine the Lacerda Lift. Built in 1873, this is the most convenient (and least expensive) method to get to the high part of the city. When you're at the top, Tomé de Sousa square is a lovely perspective and best location to see the sunset.
If you want to buy inexpensive and authentic souvenirs for your loved ones back home, go to Mercado Modelo. This public market has been working for more than 100 years and has over 250 stalls selling art and food.Now, prepare for an incredible story. Bonfim Church was developed between 1745 and 1772, and nowadays is the centre of a gorgeous multi-faith celebration that occurs in Salvador every year in January. On this day, around 200 ladies dressed in white walk a trip of 8km to wash the stairs of the church with water and flowers, while the locals celebrate with music and chants of African origin. This is a gorgeous ritual to view and you ought to consider going to Salvador during this time. And let's not forget about the Senhor do Fim ribbon, a tradition which involves putting a colourful ribbon on someone's wrist and asking them to make three wishes. You make one knot for each wish, and when the ribbon falls off on its own, all these dreams will come true. This custom becomes part of the Festa do Bonfim (Bonfim Celebration), however you can discover these ribbons throughout the year in a lot of cities in Brazil.
Together with Pelourinho, Barra Lighthouse is among the most well-known postcard pictures of Salvador. The lighthouse was integrated in the 17th century and nowadays is a museum. Just in front of the lighthouse, there's a stunning beach for you to walk around and watch the sunset.
How can we not speak about food? Food from Bahia is fantastic, and you can't leave the city without attempting an Acarajé! It's a lovely mix of beans, shrimp, onion, salt and pepper-- entirely and fried in palm oil. It's the most standard food of the city and you can discover the best ones in Largo da Dinha.Galeria 13 hostel is a fantastic base for your Salvador adventure. They have a swimming pool, breakfast until 12pm, happy hours with caipirinhas, Brazilian film nights and a friendly dog. They're likewise found in the historical centre, which will make your day of checking out much easier.If you have a little bit more time in Recife, you ought to consider spending a day in Olinda, a famous historic city with fantastic Carnival celebrations 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 homes on foot, prior to heading to Alto da Sé, a location with an incredible view of the city and markets selling food and art.The most famous attraction in Olinda is the Carnival and its huge dolls parade. They state whatever began in 1931, when an extremely handsome guy used to walk around at midnight. After some time, he became popular (The Midnight Male) and all the single women in the city would wait on him every night. After a few years, a giant doll of him was created and an enormous carnival parade with him blazing a trail to other huge dolls ended up being a tradition. Today the parade still follows the same route as the strange male! Enjoying the Giant Carnival Dolls of Olinda is a really magical experience and you're going to be amazed by the energy in the streets throughout Brazilian Carnival.