Looking at the (massive) map and getting a bit overwhelmed about choosing the best locations to go to in Brazil? Do not stress, we're here to assist you to make the most out of your journey and offer you the 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 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 fantastic to do in every corner of the nation and I guarantee you'll be amazed by how diverse Brazil is. Opt for an open heart, listen and talk to the residents-- 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 many 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 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 regret the views when you get there though!
Ouro Preto is among the very best locations to visit in Brazil for anyone who wants 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 sculptor Aleijadinho. You can go to all the piece de resistances on foot, and just walking around admiring 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 period, where you can take a trip to become aware of how tons of ores and precious stones were drawn out and reclaimed to Europe, and how servant 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 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 better-- there will be A LOT OF trainee parties 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 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 require, 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 visiting the structure quite easily from a distance because of its remarkable architecture design and you can get lost inside for hours.
After checking out the museum, head to Bixiga, among the most traditional neighbourhoods 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 have actually probably noticed that São Paulo is a fantastic place to walk and consume scrumptious food, so if you're not veggie, head to Mercado Municipal to attempt a MASSIVE mortadella sandwich. After all this eating, have a walk in Ibirapuera park and visit the Afro Museum, a space dedicated to telling the story of more than five 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 stunning 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 brasil more about the history of Carnival in the city. Still around this area, inspect the Lacerda Lift. Integrated in 1873, this is the simplest (and least expensive) 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 best location to see the sunset.
If you want to buy inexpensive 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 for a remarkable story. Bonfim Church was developed in between 1745 and 1772, and nowadays is the centre of a stunning multi-faith celebration that takes place in Salvador every year in January. On this day, around 200 females dressed in white walk a trip of 8km to wash the stairs of the church with water and flowers, while the residents 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 tradition which involves putting a colourful 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 becomes part of the Festa do Bonfim (Bonfim Party), however you can discover these ribbons throughout the year in a lot of cities in Brazil.
Together with Pelourinho, Barra Lighthouse is among 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 gorgeous beach for you to walk around and watch the sunset.
How can we not talk about food? Food from Bahia is fantastic, 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 standard 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 remarkable Carnival celebrations and blocks. It's so near to Recife that some people get confused and think 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 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 huge doll of him was produced and a massive carnival parade with him leading the way to other huge dolls ended up being a custom. Today the parade still follows the exact same route as the mysterious male! Seeing the Giant Carnival Dolls of Olinda is a really wonderful experience and you're going to be amazed by the energy in the streets during Brazilian Carnival.