Looking at the (massive) map and getting a bit overloaded about choosing the best locations to go to 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 pointers to delight in Brazil like a regional. I'm Brazilian and I'm about to share all my preferred things about my country. From drinking caipirinha at the beach in Rio, to checking out a national park filled with beautiful blue lagoons in the north or helping to conserve turtles in the south, Brazil has a choice for every single type of backpacker.
From north to south, you're going to discover something amazing to do in every corner of the nation and I ensure you'll be surprised by how varied Brazil is. Opt for 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 widely known clubs, so things can get a bit more costly. I 'd suggest 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 a remarkable backpacker vibe and is a fantastic area for browsing. My favourite 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 popular hiking tracks in the south of Brazil. There are 3 various choices with different levels of problem, the most convenient one taking over an hour. You will not be sorry for the views when you get there though!
Ouro Preto is among the very best places to go to 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 amazing Brazilian sculptor Aleijadinho. You can go to all the piece de resistances on foot, and just walking appreciating the scenery is really among 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 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 ought to 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 discover lots of 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 have 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 Vila Madalena, a fashionable 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 fantastic street food. For a genuine Brazilian experience, try a pastel (a delicious savoury snack) with a sugar walking stick juice. After getting all the energy you require, head to Beco do Batman, a popular area 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 building quite easily from a distance because of its remarkable architecture design and you can get lost inside for hours.
After visiting the museum, head to Bixiga, among the most traditional areas in the city that has plenty of terrific pizzerias. Mentioning pizza, you MUST SHOT Brazilian pizza. Forget whatever you thought you knew about the conventional 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 here have actually probably noticed that São Paulo is a fantastic 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 consuming, have a walk in Ibirapuera park and check out the Afro Museum, a space committed to telling the story of more than 5 centuries of African history in Brazil.
For a remarkable sundown and to join the residents, go to Praça do Pôr do Sol (it actually means 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 filled with lovely churches, dining establishments and amazing architecture. 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 most affordable) method to get to the high part of the city. When you're at the top, Tomé de Sousa square is a beautiful perspective and perfect location to enjoy the sundown.
If you wish to purchase economical and authentic 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 an amazing story. Bonfim Church was built between 1745 and 1772, and nowadays is the centre of a beautiful multi-faith celebration that occurs in Salvador every year in January. On this day, around 200 women 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 the Senhor do Fim ribbon, a tradition which includes putting a vibrant ribbon on someone's wrist and asking them to make three desires. You make one knot for each desire, and when the ribbon falls off on its own, all these dreams will become a reality. This tradition belongs to the Festa do Bonfim (Bonfim Party), but you can find these ribbons all year round in most cities in Brazil.
Together with Pelourinho, Barra Lighthouse is one of the most famous postcard images 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 see the sundown.
How can we not talk 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 swimming pool, breakfast till 12pm, happy hours with caipirinhas, Brazilian movie nights and a friendly pet. 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 consider investing a day in Olinda, a popular historic city with fantastic Carnival celebrations and blocks. It's so near Recife that some individuals get puzzled and think it's the same city. Explore the historical centre and its vibrant colonial homes on foot, before heading to Alto da Sé, a location with a remarkable view of the city and markets selling food and art.The most famous attraction in Olinda is the Carnival and its giant dolls parade. They state whatever began in 1931, when an extremely handsome guy used to walk around at midnight. After some time, he ended up being 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 a massive carnival parade with him blazing a trail to other giant dolls became a custom. Today the parade still follows the same route as the mysterious male! Seeing the Giant Carnival Dolls of Olinda is a genuinely wonderful experience and you're going to be impressed by the energy in the streets during Brazilian Carnival.