Taking a look at the (enormous) map and getting a bit overwhelmed about picking the very best locations to visit in Brazil? Don't stress, we're here to help you to make the most out of your trip and offer you the very best ideas to delight in Brazil like a regional. I'm Brazilian and I will share all my favourite features of my country. From drinking caipirinha at the beach in Rio, to checking out a national park full of pristine blue lagoons in the north or assisting to save turtles in the south, Brazil has an option for each type of backpacker.
From north to south, you're going to find something incredible to do in every corner of the country and I guarantee you'll be amazed by how diverse Brazil is. Choose an open heart, listen and speak with the locals-- there is no 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 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 amazing backpacker vibe and is an excellent spot for browsing. 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 people 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 unblemished beaches, some of them only available by trekking, like Praia dos Naufragados. If you wish to join the locals, you must attempt the walking to Lagoinha do Leste, among the most well-known treking tracks in the south of Brazil. There are 3 various choices with various 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 anybody who wants to understand the nation ´ s history. The city's name equates to 'Black Gold' in English, due to the fact that 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 remarkable Brazilian carver Aleijadinho. You can check out all the piece de resistances on foot, and simply walking admiring the surroundings is actually 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 start to comprehend more about the history of the nation. At Inconfidence Museum you can learn more about Brazil's self-reliance, and if you have an interest in Brazilian art, you should have a look at the Sacred Art Museum. A great place to see Aleijadinho's work is São Francisco de Assis church, where you can discover lots of sculptures made by the artist.
Among the coolest things you can do in Ouro Preto is try to find a university celebration. They're incredibly open and accept students from all over the world. All you need to do is go to the trainee neighbourhood Baixita and ask where the party will take place. You can actually knock at one of the fraternity's doors and ask. If you're visiting during Carnival, even much better-- there will be A LOT OF trainee parties you can join.Start your experience walking Vila Madalena, a stylish neighbourhood full of nice cafes, dining establishments and classic stores. 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 an authentic Brazilian experience, try 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, one of the most conventional areas in the city that has plenty of excellent pizzerias. Mentioning pizza, you MUST TRY Brazilian pizza. Forget whatever you thought you learnt 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 and eat delicious food, so if you're not veggie, head to Mercado Municipal to try a HUGE mortadella sandwich. After all this eating, have a walk in Ibirapuera park and go to the Afro Museum, an area committed to informing the Additional reading story of more than 5 centuries of African history in Brazil.
For an amazing 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 loaded with beautiful churches, restaurants and amazing architecture. Visit the Afro Museum for more information about Afro religious beliefs 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 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 perfect place to view the sunset.
If you want to buy budget-friendly and genuine mementos for your liked ones back home, check out Mercado Modelo. This public market has actually been working for more than 100 years and has more than 250 stalls offering art and food.Now, prepare yourself for a fantastic story. Bonfim Church was constructed in between 1745 and 1772, and nowadays is the centre of a lovely multi-faith event that takes place in Salvador every year in January. On this day, around 200 females worn white walk an expedition of 8km to clean the stairs of the church with water and flowers, while the residents commemorate with music and chants of African origin. This is a lovely routine to see and you need to think about checking out Salvador throughout this time. And let's not forget the Senhor do Fim ribbon, a custom which includes putting a vibrant ribbon on someone's wrist and asking to make 3 wishes. You make one knot for each wish, and when the ribbon falls off on its own, all these dreams will come true. This tradition is part of the Festa do Bonfim (Bonfim Party), but you can find these ribbons throughout the year in most cities in Brazil.
Together with Pelourinho, Barra Lighthouse is one of the most famous 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 lovely beach for you to walk and enjoy the sundown.
How can we not discuss food? Food from Bahia is remarkable, and you can't leave the city without trying an Acarajé! It's a beautiful mix of beans, shrimp, onion, salt and pepper-- all together and fried in palm oil. It's the most standard food of the city and you can discover the very best ones in Largo da Dinha.Galeria 13 hostel is a terrific base for your Salvador experience. They have a pool, breakfast up until 12pm, happy hours with caipirinhas, Brazilian film nights and a friendly canine. They're also located in the historical centre, which will make your day of checking out much easier.If you have a bit more time in Recife, you must think about spending a day in Olinda, a famous historical city with amazing Carnival parties and blocks. It's so near Recife that some individuals get puzzled and believe it's the same city. Explore the historical centre and its colourful colonial homes on foot, prior to heading to Alto da Sé, a location with a remarkable 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 whatever began in 1931, when an extremely handsome man used to walk at midnight. After a long 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 few years, a huge doll of him was developed and a huge carnival parade with him leading the way to other giant dolls became a custom. Today the parade still follows the very same path as the mystical man! Watching 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.