Other Destinations in Brazil
POPULAR DESTINATIONS IN BRAZIL
RIO DE JANEIRO
Rio de Janeiro needs no introduction. Everyone who goes to Brazil wants to visit the "Cidade Maravilhosa." And indeed, it's a very beautiful city!
However, as you may know, Rio has security issues. So, for your visit to be enjoyable, please be aware of your safety, do not wear or show any valuable items (especially walking on the streets), take taxis (Taxi Rio) or at least Ubers, avoid walking after 6pm, etc.
Please be sure that you stay in a hotel/Airbnb in the “Zona Sul” (the South Zone, including the neighborhoods of Leblon, Copacapana, Leme, Ipanema), which is the rich and touristy part of Rio, or in Barra da Tijuca (further away from the city center, but accessible by metro and also close to beaches).
Rio has a lot to offer, you can easily stay a week there, going to Lapa to party, hiking up to the Christ the Redeemer statue, the Sugar Loaf (Pão de Açúcar), surfing, getting kicked around by the waves at the devil’s beach, just observing beach life on the 14km beach in the city, etc.
Around Rio
There are many beautiful towns around Rio with mesmerizing beaches. You can reach these towns by car, by bus or even by taxi (from Rio)
Búzios (It became famous after Brigitte Bardot lived there (there's a statue of her in the town's center)
AMAZON FOREST
To reach the Amazon, you must first fly to Manaus, the biggest city in the middle of the Amazon jungle. You may have to fly through Brasília to get to Manaus (at least 3h by plane). If you want to take a tour there, we recommend Iguana Tour, which does tours also in the middle of the jungle: I've done it (Barbara) with Iguana Tour and it was simply one of the coolest tours I've ever done. Recommendation: 4 days, 5 nights, so you can really explore (sleep in the forest, do tours in the jungle, visit an indigenous tribe, see the sunrise from the river, see alligators, swim with the botos (river dolphins), see where two different rivers meet – the Rio Negro and Solimões, etc).
FOZ DO IGUAÇU
Foz do Iguaçu is the largest waterfall of South America on the border between Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. On the Brazilian side you can walk over walkways very close to the waterfall (you’ll get very wet so bring a rain poncho or buy one there), on the Argentinian side you can get a boat to go very close to the bottom. Plan one or better two days to visit the Iguaçu Park (one for the Brazilian side and the other one for the Argentinian side). You can also cross the border and go to Argentina or Paraguay or do a visit in Itaipu Dam (the largest hydroelectric power plant in production in the world). The Bird Park is also a nice place to visit and see the diversity of birds of the region.
PANTANAL (BONITO)
Pantanal is a natural reserve the size of France! Ride down the river to find untouched wildlife, capybaras chilling out with alligators, look for the elusive jaguar, and fish for some piranhas. You must fly to Campo Grande or Cuiabá to reach the Pantanal area and do not forget to take a guide/tour.
If you are visiting the Pantanal, do not miss the city of Bonito in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, with its crystalline rivers, waterfalls, and caverns. It’s a great place to visit if you are in the area!
The city is known by its sustainable and eco-tourism. So, if you want to go there, you need to book everything in advance (as they control the number of people that can enter the site each day). Go through any of the many local agencies (the prices are all the same, as they are set by the city).
Bonitour Viagens e Turismo
Try alligator meat when in Bonito (it's all legal and cooked safely, don’t worry!).
MARANHÃO - LENÇÓIS MARANHENSES
A place that's on our bucket list is the Lençois Maranhenses National Park. It's a vast area of undulating, swept sand dunes between which rainwater lakes form at certain times of the year. The result is midnight blue lakes offset by brilliant white dunes, and the option to explore them on foot, on four legs or on wheels. If you can carve out the time to travel to the north-east and spend a few days exploring here, you won’t regret it.
How to get there?
The best way to reach the park is to get to São Luís, a former colonial city about four hours from Lençois Maranhenses. Flights from all over the county land regularly and once in the city, almost every pousada (inn), hotel or hostel will be able to arrange a transfer for you. Buses do the rounds picking up tourists from their accommodation around 7am each morning.
The best time to go is between June and September when the lakes are full and plentiful, and the sun is less intense.
FERNANDO DE NORONHA
Pristine beaches on the Island Fernando de Noronha - an island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, 1h from Recife or Natal by plane. It’s a national park, very beautiful. You can hike, surf, dive, take a boat trip with dolphins!
Amazing place to go, but bit more expensive.
Tourism is super controlled in the island (very sustainable and eco-friendly), so you need to book for everything in advance. Be aware of that!