Taking a look at the (enormous) map and getting a bit overwhelmed about picking the best locations to visit in Brazil? Do not stress, we're here to help you to make the most out of your journey and give you the very best pointers to delight in Brazil like a regional. I'm Brazilian and I'm about to share all my preferred features of my country. From drinking caipirinha at the beach in Rio, to going to a national park filled with pristine blue lagoons in the north or helping to conserve turtles in the south, Brazil has an option for each sort of backpacker.
From north to south, you're going to find something remarkable 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 with 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 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 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 ought to attempt the hike to Lagoinha do Leste, one of the most well-known treking trails in the south of Brazil. There are three various options with different levels of trouble, the most convenient 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 locations to visit in Brazil for anybody who wishes to understand the country ´ s history. The city's name translates 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 carver Aleijadinho. You can check out all the main attractions on foot, and just walking around appreciating the landscapes is really one of the very best things you can do. The main attractions 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 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. A great place to see Aleijadinho's work is São Francisco de Assis church, where you can find numerous sculptures made by the artist.
Among 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 student neighbourhood Baixita and ask where the celebration 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 adventure walking around Vila Madalena, a stylish area 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, attempt a pastel (a scrumptious savoury treat) 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 enjoy art, visit the Museum of Art of São Paulo at Avenida Paulista. You're going to see the building rather quickly from a range because of its fantastic architecture style 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 great pizzerias. Speaking of pizza, you MUST TRY Brazilian pizza. Forget everything you thought you learnt about brasil estados 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 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 lovely views of the city.Still in the historic centre, visit Largo Tereiro de Jesus, a place full of gorgeous churches, restaurants and incredible architecture. Go To the Afro Museum to read more about Afro faiths in Brazil, and Casa do Carnaval da Bahia to get to know the history of Carnival in the city. Still around this area, check the Lacerda Lift. Built in 1873, this is the easiest (and most affordable) way to get to the high part of the city. When you're at the top, Tomé de Sousa square is a gorgeous viewpoint and ideal location to enjoy the sundown.
If you wish to purchase cost effective and genuine keepsakes for your enjoyed ones back home, see 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 an amazing 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 locals 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 inquiring to make 3 dreams. You make one knot for each dream, and when the ribbon falls off by itself, all these dreams will become a reality. This custom belongs to the Festa do Bonfim (Bonfim Party), but you can find these ribbons all year round in many cities in Brazil.
Together with Pelourinho, Barra Lighthouse is one of the most famous postcard images of Salvador. The lighthouse was built in the 17th century and nowadays is a museum. Just in front of the lighthouse, there's a lovely beach for you to walk and see the sundown.
How can we not speak about food? Food from Bahia is remarkable, and you can't leave the city without attempting an Acarajé! It's a stunning mix of beans, shrimp, onion, salt and pepper-- completely and fried in palm oil. It's the most conventional food of the city and you can find the best ones in Largo da Dinha.Galeria 13 hostel is a great 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 found in the historic centre, which will make your day of exploring much easier.If you have a little 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 believe it's the same city. Check out the historic centre and its vibrant colonial homes on foot, before heading to Alto da Sé, a place with an amazing view of the city and markets selling food and art.The most popular destination in Olinda is the Carnival and its huge dolls parade. They state everything started in 1931, when a very good-looking male utilized to walk around at midnight. After some time, he became well known (The Midnight Male) and all the single women in the city would await him every night. After a couple of years, a giant doll of him was created and a massive 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 during Brazilian Carnival.