Looking at the (massive) map and getting a bit overloaded about choosing the very best locations to visit in Brazil? Don't worry, we're here to help you to make the most out of your trip and give you the best suggestions to delight in Brazil like a regional. I'm Brazilian and I will share all my preferred aspects of my country. From drinking caipirinha at the beach in Rio, to checking out a national forest full of pristine blue lagoons in the north or assisting to save turtles in the south, Brazil has an option for each kind of backpacker.
From north to south, you're going to find something incredible to do in every corner of the nation and I ensure you'll be amazed by how varied Brazil is. Opt for an open heart, listen and talk with the locals-- there is no much better method 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 Specialty, Praia da Daniela, Praia Brava and Praia dos Ingleses. The east side of the island has a fantastic backpacker vibe and is a terrific 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 offering their art in the street.
If you're looking 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 just available by trekking, like Praia dos Naufragados. If you want to join the locals, you should attempt the walking to Lagoinha do Leste, one of the most well-known treking trails in the south of Brazil. There are three different options with different levels of trouble, the easiest one taking over an hour. You will not be sorry for the views when you get there though!
Ouro Preto is one of the very best places to visit in Brazil for anybody who wants to understand the nation ´ s history. The city's name equates to 'Black Gold' in English, because it was the centre of the gold enter the 18th century. Nowadays, you can still experience the city's past through its architecture and the art of the fantastic Brazilian sculptor Aleijadinho. You can go to all the piece de resistances on foot, and simply walking around admiring the landscapes is actually one of the best things you can do. The piece de resistances in Ouro Preto are the old mines from the colonial duration, where you can take a tour to find out about how lots of ores and gemstones were extracted and taken back to Europe, and how servant work was utilized for this.
The city also has many museums where you can start to comprehend more about the history of the nation. At Inconfidence Museum you can find out about Brazil's self-reliance, and if you have an interest in Brazilian art, you should check out the Sacred Art Museum. A terrific location to see Aleijadinho's work is São Francisco de Assis church, where you can find many sculptures made by the artist.
Among the coolest things you can do in Ouro Preto is try to find a university celebration. They're super open and accept students from all over the world. All you need to do is go to the trainee area Baixita and ask where the party will happen. You can actually knock at one of the fraternity's doors and ask. If you're visiting during Carnival, even better-- there will be A LOT OF trainee celebrations you can join.Start your experience walking around Vila Madalena, a trendy neighbourhood loaded with great cafes, restaurants and vintage 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 fantastic street food. For an authentic Brazilian experience, try a pastel (a tasty savoury treat) with a sugar walking cane juice. After getting all the energy you need, head to Beco do Batman, a famous area in the city for street art fans.
If you enjoy art, go to the Museum of Art of São Paulo at Avenida Paulista. You're visiting the building quite quickly from a distance 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 traditional areas in the city that has lots of great pizzerias. Speaking of pizza, you MUST TRY Brazilian pizza. Forget viajar pelo brasil everything you believed you understood about the standard Italian food and open yourself to an entire new level of nonsense. I am talking about ice cream pizza and I'm not even sorry.
By this point, you've probably observed that São Paulo is an excellent location to walk around and consume 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 check out the Afro Museum, a space committed to informing the story of more than 5 centuries of African history in Brazil.
For an amazing sunset and to mingle with the residents, go to Praça do Pôr do Sol (it literally implies the sundown park) for among the most beautiful views of the city.Still in the historic centre, visit Largo Tereiro de Jesus, a location loaded with lovely churches, dining establishments and amazing architecture. Check Out the Afro Museum to find out more about Afro religions 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. Integrated in 1873, this is the easiest (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 perfect location to view the sundown.
If you want to buy inexpensive and authentic mementos for your loved ones back home, check out Mercado Modelo. This public market has been working for more than 100 years and has over 250 stalls selling art and food.Now, get ready for an amazing story. Bonfim Church was built in between 1745 and 1772, and nowadays is the centre of a beautiful multi-faith celebration that happens in Salvador every year in January. On this day, around 200 women dressed in white walk a pilgrimage 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 routine to view and you need 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 to make 3 desires. You make one knot for each desire, 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), but you can find these ribbons throughout the year in the majority of cities in Brazil.
Together with Pelourinho, Barra Lighthouse is among the most popular postcard pictures of Salvador. The lighthouse was integrated in the 17th century and nowadays is a museum. Simply in front of the lighthouse, there's a stunning beach for you to walk and enjoy the sunset.
How can we not discuss food? Food from Bahia is incredible, and you can't leave the city without trying an Acarajé! It's a gorgeous mix of beans, shrimp, onion, salt and pepper-- entirely and fried in palm oil. It's the most conventional food of the city and you can discover the best ones in Largo da Dinha.Galeria 13 hostel is an excellent base for your Salvador adventure. They have a pool, breakfast till 12pm, happy hours with caipirinhas, Brazilian movie nights and a friendly pet dog. They're likewise located in the historic centre, which will make your day of exploring much easier.If you have a bit more time in Recife, you should think about investing a day in Olinda, a popular historic city with remarkable Carnival parties and blocks. It's so near to Recife that some people get confused and think it's the same city. Check out the historic centre and its vibrant colonial homes on foot, prior to heading to Alto da Sé, a place with an incredible view of the city and markets selling food and art.The most famous destination in Olinda is the Carnival and its huge dolls parade. They state everything began in 1931, when a very handsome male utilized to walk around at midnight. After a long time, he became well known (The Midnight Guy) and all the single women in the city would await him every night. After a few years, a giant doll of him was developed and a massive carnival parade with him leading the way to other huge dolls ended up being a tradition. Today the parade still follows the exact same path as the mysterious guy! Seeing the Giant Carnival Dolls of Olinda is a truly wonderful experience and you're going to be surprised by the energy in the streets throughout Brazilian Carnival.