Taking a look at the (huge) map and getting a bit overwhelmed about selecting the very best places to check out in Brazil? Don't fret, we're here to help you to make the most out of your trip and offer you the best ideas to enjoy Brazil like a local. I'm Brazilian and I will share all my favourite aspects of my country. From drinking caipirinha at the beach in Rio, to going to a national forest full of beautiful blue lagoons in the north or assisting to save turtles in the south, Brazil has an alternative for every 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 shocked by how varied Brazil is. Go with an open heart, listen and speak with the residents-- there is no better method to be familiar with our culture.
The beaches in the north of the island are more touristy and have many popular clubs, so things can get a bit more expensive. 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 ambiance and is a great area for browsing. My favourite beaches there are Joaquina, Praia Mole, Praia da Galheta and Barra da Lagoa. This is likewise the backpacker hotspot of the city, where you'll discover people from all over the world, incredibly cool bars and dining establishments and people selling their art in the street.
If you're trying to find some quiet time surrounded by nature, the south of the island is where you want to be. We're talking untouched beaches, a few of them only accessible by travelling, like Praia dos Naufragados. If you wish to mingle with the residents, you need to try the walking to Lagoinha do Leste, among the most famous hiking routes in the south of Brazil. There are three different choices with various levels of difficulty, the simplest one taking control of an hour. You won't regret the views when you arrive though!
Ouro Preto is among the best places to check out in Brazil for anybody who wants to comprehend the nation ´ s history. The city's name translates to 'Black Gold' in English, since 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 fantastic Brazilian sculptor Aleijadinho. You can go to all the piece de resistances on foot, and just walking around admiring the scenery 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 find out about how lots of ores and precious stones were extracted 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 nation. At Inconfidence Museum you can learn more about Brazil's independence, and if you're interested in Brazilian art, you must take a look at the Sacred Art Museum. A fantastic location to see Aleijadinho's work is São Francisco de Assis church, where you can discover lots of sculptures made by the artist.
One of the coolest things you can do in Ouro Preto is search for a university celebration. They're extremely open and accept students from all over the world. All you have to do is go to the student area Baixita and ask where the celebration will take place. 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 A LOT OF student parties you can join.Start your adventure walking Vila Madalena, a fashionable neighbourhood filled with great 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 fantastic street food. For an authentic Brazilian experience, attempt a pastel (a scrumptious savoury treat) with a sugar cane juice. After getting all the energy you need, head to Beco do Batman, a well-known area in the city for street art fans.
If you enjoy art, go to the Museum of Art of São Paulo at Avenida Paulista. You're going to see the structure rather quickly from a range because of its amazing architecture style and you can get lost inside for hours.
After going to the museum, head to Bixiga, among the most traditional neighbourhoods in the city that's full of fantastic pizzerias. Speaking of pizza, you MUST TRY o brasil tem quantos estados Brazilian pizza. Forget whatever you believed you understood about the traditional Italian food and open yourself to a whole new level of nonsense. I am talking about ice cream pizza and I'm not even sorry.
By this point, you have actually most likely observed that São Paulo is a great 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 committed to informing the story of more than five centuries of African history in Brazil.
For an amazing sunset and to mingle with the residents, go to Praça do Pôr do Sol (it actually indicates the sundown park) for among the most lovely views of the city.Still in the historical centre, visit Largo Tereiro de Jesus, a place full of gorgeous 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 get to know the history of Carnival in the city. Still around this area, check the Lacerda Lift. Built in 1873, this is the simplest (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 stunning perspective and ideal location to enjoy the sundown.
If you wish to purchase affordable and authentic keepsakes for your loved ones back home, visit Mercado Modelo. This public market has 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 desire, 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 most 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. Simply in front of the lighthouse, there's a lovely beach for you to walk and see the sundown.
How can we not discuss food? Food from Bahia is remarkable, and you can't leave the city without attempting an Acarajé! It's a gorgeous 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 pool, breakfast till 12pm, happy hours with caipirinhas, Brazilian movie nights and a friendly pet dog. They're likewise located 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 think about investing a day in Olinda, a popular historic city with remarkable Carnival parties and blocks. It's so close to Recife that some people get confused and believe it's the same city. Check out the historic centre and its vibrant colonial houses on foot, before heading to Alto da Sé, a place with an amazing view of the city and markets offering food and art.The most popular tourist attraction in Olinda is the Carnival and its huge dolls parade. They say everything started in 1931, when an extremely good-looking male utilized to walk around 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 giant doll of him was created and a massive carnival parade with him blazing a trail to other huge dolls ended up being a tradition. Today the parade still follows the same route as the strange male! Enjoying the Giant Carnival Dolls of Olinda is a really magical experience and you're going to be amazed by the energy in the streets during Brazilian Carnival.