Taking a look at the (enormous) map and getting a bit overwhelmed about picking the best locations to visit 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 tips to delight in Brazil like a regional. I'm Brazilian and I'm about to share all my preferred things about my nation. From drinking caipirinha at the beach in Rio, to checking out a national park loaded with pristine blue lagoons in the north or assisting to conserve turtles in the south, Brazil has an option for every single kind of backpacker.
From north to south, you're going to find something fantastic to do in every corner of the country and I ensure 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 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 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 an excellent 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 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 accessible by trekking, like Praia dos Naufragados. If you wish to join the locals, you must attempt the hike to Lagoinha do Leste, one of the most popular hiking tracks in the south of Brazil. There are 3 various options with various 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 among the very best places to go to in Brazil for anybody who wishes to understand the country ´ s history. The city's name equates to 'Black Gold' in English, because 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 remarkable Brazilian carver Aleijadinho. You can visit all the main attractions 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 duration, where you can take a trip to hear about how tons of ores and gemstones 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 begin to comprehend more about the history of the nation. At Inconfidence Museum you can find out about Brazil's independence, and if you have an interest in Brazilian art, you ought to take a look at the Spiritual Art Museum. A great location to see Aleijadinho's work is São Francisco de Assis church, where you can discover many sculptures made by the artist.
One of the coolest things you can do in Ouro Preto is try to find a university party. They're very 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 occur. You can actually knock at one of the fraternity's doors and ask. If you're checking out during Carnival, even better-- there will be LOTS OF trainee celebrations you can join.Start your adventure walking around Vila Madalena, a stylish area loaded with nice cafes, restaurants and classic stores. On Saturdays, you can check out Feira Livre da Vila Madalena, a street market with arts and crafts, loads of fruits get more info and veggies and amazing 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 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 going to see the building quite easily from a range because of its remarkable architecture design and you can get lost inside for hours.
After visiting the museum, head to Bixiga, one of the most traditional neighbourhoods in the city that has plenty of terrific pizzerias. Mentioning pizza, you MUST SHOT Brazilian pizza. Forget everything you thought you learnt about the conventional Italian food and open yourself to an entire brand-new level of rubbish. I am speaking about ice cream pizza and I'm not even sorry.
By this point, you've probably discovered that São Paulo is a fantastic location to walk and consume scrumptious food, so if you're not veggie, head to Mercado Municipal to attempt a HUGE mortadella sandwich. After all this consuming, have a walk in Ibirapuera park and visit the Afro Museum, a space devoted 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, go to Largo Tereiro de Jesus, a location filled with lovely churches, dining establishments and fantastic architecture. Check Out the Afro Museum to find out more about Afro religious beliefs in Brazil, and Casa do Carnaval da Bahia to learn more about the history of Carnival in the city. Still around this location, 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 lovely perspective and perfect place to see the sundown.
If you wish to purchase inexpensive and authentic souvenirs for your loved ones back home, go to Mercado Modelo. This public market has been working for more than 100 years and has over 250 stalls selling art and food.Now, prepare for an incredible story. Bonfim Church was developed 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 beautiful ritual to watch and you should consider visiting Salvador during this time. And let's not forget about 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 come to life. This custom belongs to the Festa do Bonfim (Bonfim Celebration), however you can discover these ribbons all year round in many cities in Brazil.
Together with Pelourinho, Barra Lighthouse is one of the most well-known 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 beautiful beach for you to walk around 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 lovely 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 a fantastic base for your Salvador adventure. They have a swimming pool, breakfast until 12pm, happy hours with caipirinhas, Brazilian film nights and a friendly pet. They're likewise found 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 ought to consider spending a day in Olinda, a famous historic city with fantastic Carnival celebrations and blocks. It's so near to Recife that some people get confused and think it's the same city. Explore 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 attraction in Olinda is the Carnival and its huge dolls parade. They state whatever started in 1931, when a very handsome male utilized to walk at midnight. After a long time, he became well known (The Midnight Man) and all the single women in the city would await him every night. After a couple of years, a huge doll of him was produced and a massive carnival parade with him leading the way to other giant dolls ended up being a custom. Today the parade still follows the exact same route as the mysterious man! 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.