Looking at the (massive) map and getting a bit overloaded about choosing the best locations to go to in Brazil? Don't fret, we're here to assist you to make the most out of your trip and offer you the best tips to delight in Brazil like a regional. I'm Brazilian and I'm about to share all my favourite features of my nation. From drinking caipirinha at the beach in Rio, to going to a national forest filled with beautiful 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 fantastic to do in every corner of the country and I guarantee 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 be familiar with our culture.
The beaches in the north of the island are more touristy and have numerous popular clubs, so things can get a bit more expensive. I 'd suggest that you check out Praia da Lagoinha, Praia do Specialty, Praia da Daniela, Praia Brava and Praia dos Ingleses. The east side of the island has an amazing backpacker vibe and is a terrific area for surfing. 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 find people from all over the world, very 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 untouched beaches, some of them just available by travelling, like Praia dos Naufragados. If you wish to join the residents, you ought to try the walking to Lagoinha do Leste, among the most well-known hiking trails in the south of Brazil. There are three various alternatives with various levels of problem, the simplest one taking control of an hour. You will not be sorry for the views when you arrive though!
Ouro Preto is among the very best places to check out in Brazil for anybody who wants to understand the nation ´ s history. The city's name translates to 'Black Gold' in English, since 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 just 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 trip to become aware of how tons of ores and precious stones were drawn out and reclaimed to Europe, and how slave work was used for this.
The city also has lots of museums where you can start to understand more about the history of the country. At Inconfidence Museum you can discover Brazil's self-reliance, and if you're interested in Brazilian art, you should check out the Spiritual Art Museum. A terrific place to see Aleijadinho's work is São Francisco de Assis church, where you can discover numerous sculptures made by the artist.
One of the coolest things you can do in Ouro Preto is look for a university party. They're incredibly open and accept trainees from all over the world. All you need to do is go to the trainee neighbourhood Baixita and ask where the party will happen. You can actually knock at one of the fraternity's doors and ask. If you're checking out throughout Carnival, even much better-- there will be LOTS OF student celebrations you can join.Start your experience walking Vila Madalena, a fashionable area loaded with great coffee shops, restaurants and vintage stores. On Saturdays, you can go to 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 require, head to Beco do Batman, a well-known spot in the city for street art enthusiasts.
If you enjoy art, check out the Museum of Art of São Paulo at Avenida Paulista. You're visiting the structure quite easily from a distance because of its remarkable architecture design and you can get lost inside for hours.
After checking out the museum, head to Bixiga, among the most traditional neighbourhoods in the city that has plenty of terrific pizzerias. Mentioning pizza, you MUST SHOT Brazilian pizza. Forget whatever you thought you knew about the traditional Italian food and open yourself to a whole brand-new level of rubbish. I am speaking about ice cream pizza and I'm not even sorry.
By this point, you have actually probably noticed that São Paulo is a fantastic place to walk and consume scrumptious food, so if you're not veggie, head to Mercado Municipal to attempt a MASSIVE mortadella sandwich. After all this eating, have a walk in Ibirapuera park and visit the Afro Museum, a space committed to telling the story of more than five centuries of African history in Brazil.
For a remarkable sundown and to join the locals, go to Praça do Pôr do Sol (it actually suggests the sunset park) for one of the most gorgeous views of the city.Still in the historical centre, check out Largo Tereiro de Jesus, a location loaded with lovely churches, dining establishments and amazing architecture. Visit 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 area, inspect the Lacerda Lift. Integrated in 1873, this is the most convenient (and most inexpensive) method 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 enjoy the sunset.
If you want to purchase budget-friendly and authentic mementos for your loved ones back home, visit 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 incredible story. Bonfim Church was built 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 residents commemorate with music and chants of African origin. This is a gorgeous routine to watch and you must consider checking out Salvador during this time. And let's not forget the Senhor do Fim ribbon, a tradition which includes putting a colourful ribbon on someone's wrist and asking to make three dreams. You make one knot for each desire, and when the ribbon falls off on its own, all these dreams will become a reality. This custom belongs to Additional reading the Festa do Bonfim (Bonfim Party), however you can find these ribbons throughout the year in a lot of 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 beautiful beach for you to walk and see the sunset.
How can we not discuss food? Food from Bahia is fantastic, and you can't leave the city without trying an Acarajé! It's a stunning mix of beans, shrimp, onion, salt and pepper-- all together and fried in palm oil. It's the most traditional food of the city and you can discover 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 film nights and a friendly pet. They're also located 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 need to consider investing a day in Olinda, a well-known historical city with fantastic Carnival parties and blocks. It's so close to Recife that some individuals get puzzled and think it's the same city. Explore the historic centre and its vibrant colonial houses on foot, prior to heading to Alto da Sé, a place with a fantastic view of the city and markets offering food and art.The most famous destination in Olinda is the Carnival and its giant dolls parade. They state everything began in 1931, when an extremely handsome male used to walk at midnight. After some time, he ended up being well known (The Midnight Man) and all the single women in the city would wait for him every night. After a couple of years, a giant doll of him was developed and a massive carnival parade with him blazing a trail to other giant 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 magical experience and you're going to be surprised by the energy in the streets during Brazilian Carnival.