Looking at the (massive) map and getting a bit overloaded 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 helping to conserve turtles in the south, Brazil has an option for each 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. 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 pricey. I 'd recommend that you go to Praia da Lagoinha, Praia do Strength, Praia da Daniela, Praia Brava and Praia dos Ingleses. The east side of the island has an amazing backpacker ambiance 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 discover individuals from all over the world, super cool bars and dining establishments and individuals offering 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, a few of them just accessible by trekking, like Praia dos Naufragados. If you wish to mingle with the locals, you must try the hike to Lagoinha do Leste, among the most popular hiking tracks in the south of Brazil. There are 3 different choices with various levels of trouble, the easiest one taking control of an hour. You will not regret 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, 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 piece de resistances on foot, and simply walking around admiring the surroundings is actually one of the best things you can do. The piece de resistances in Ouro Preto are the old mines from the colonial duration, where you can take a tour to hear about how tons of ores and gemstones were extracted 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 learn about Brazil's independence, and if you have an interest in Brazilian art, you need to check out the Sacred Art Museum. A terrific 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 search for a university celebration. They're super open and accept students from all over the world. All you have to do is go to the trainee area Baixita and ask where the celebration will happen. You can literally knock at one of the fraternity's doors and ask. If you're going to throughout Carnival, even much better-- there will be PLENTY of student celebrations you can join.Start your experience walking Vila Madalena, a trendy neighbourhood filled with good coffee shops, dining establishments and vintage shops. On Saturdays, you can go to Feira Livre da Vila Madalena, a street market with arts and crafts, loads of fruits and veggies and remarkable 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 Click for source do Batman, a popular spot in the city for street art lovers.
If you're into art, go to the Museum of Art of São Paulo at Avenida Paulista. You're visiting the structure rather easily from a distance because of its incredible architecture style and you can get lost inside for hours.
After going to the museum, head to Bixiga, among the most standard neighbourhoods in the city that's full of fantastic pizzerias. Speaking of pizza, you MUST SHOT Brazilian pizza. Forget whatever you believed you knew about the traditional Italian food and open yourself to a whole new level of nonsense. I am discussing ice cream pizza and I'm not even sorry.
By this point, you have actually most likely seen that São Paulo is a great place to walk around and eat tasty food, so if you're not veggie, head to Mercado Municipal to attempt a MASSIVE mortadella sandwich. After all this consuming, have a walk in Ibirapuera park and check out the Afro Museum, a space dedicated to telling the story of more than five centuries of African history in Brazil.
For an incredible sundown and to join the residents, go to Praça do Pôr do Sol (it actually suggests the sundown park) for among the most beautiful views of the city.Still in the historical centre, go to Largo Tereiro de Jesus, a place filled with stunning churches, dining establishments and remarkable architecture. Check Out the Afro Museum to learn more about Afro religions in Brazil, and Casa do Carnaval da Bahia to learn more about the history of Carnival in the city. Still around this area, 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 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 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 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 beautiful 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 fantastic base for your Salvador adventure. They have a swimming pool, breakfast until 12pm, happy hours with caipirinhas, Brazilian movie nights and a friendly pet. They're likewise found in the historical centre, which will make your day of exploring much easier.If you have a little bit more time in Recife, you ought to consider spending a day in Olinda, a popular historic city with remarkable 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 destination in Olinda is the Carnival and its huge dolls parade. They say whatever began in 1931, when a really good-looking male used to walk around at midnight. After some time, he ended up being popular (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 huge dolls ended up being a tradition. 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.