Looking at the (huge) map and getting a bit overloaded about selecting the very best places to go to in Brazil? Don't fret, we're here to assist 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 incredible to do in every corner of the nation and I guarantee you'll be amazed by how varied Brazil is. Go with an open heart, listen and speak to the residents-- there is no better method to get to know our culture.
The beaches in the north of the island are more touristy and have many well-known clubs, so things can get a bit more pricey. I 'd advise 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 an incredible backpacker vibe 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 people selling their art in the street.
If you're looking 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 attempt the walking to Lagoinha do Leste, one of the most popular treking trails in the south of Brazil. There are 3 various options with different levels of problem, the simplest one taking control of an hour. You won't regret the views when you get there though!
Ouro Preto is among the best locations to check out in Brazil for anyone 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 rush in 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 appreciating the surroundings is really among the very best things you can do. The piece de resistances in Ouro Preto are the old mines from the colonial period, where you can take a trip 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 numerous museums where you can begin to understand more about the history of the country. At Inconfidence Museum you can find out about Brazil's self-reliance, and if you have an interest in Brazilian art, you should have a look at the Spiritual Art Museum. An excellent place to see Aleijadinho's work is São Francisco de Assis church, where you can find numerous sculptures made by the artist.
Among the coolest things you can do in Ouro Preto is try to find 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 actually knock at one of the fraternity's doors and ask. If you're going to 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 go to Feira Livre da Vila Madalena, a street market with arts and crafts, loads of fruits and veggies and incredible 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 lovers.
If you're into art, go to the Museum of Art of São Paulo at Avenida Paulista. You're visiting the structure rather quickly from a range because of its amazing architecture design and you can get lost inside for hours.
After visiting the museum, head to Bixiga, one of the most conventional areas in the city that has lots of excellent pizzerias. Speaking of pizza, you MUST TRY Brazilian pizza. Forget everything you believed you knew about the standard Italian food and open yourself to an entire new level of nonsense. I am discussing ice cream pizza and I'm not even sorry.
By this point, you've most likely observed that São Paulo is an excellent location to walk around and eat delicious food, so if you're not veggie, head to Mercado Municipal to try a HUGE mortadella sandwich. After all this consuming, have a walk in Ibirapuera park and check out the Afro Museum, an area committed to informing the story of more than five centuries of African history in Brazil.
For an amazing sunset and to mingle with the locals, go to Praça do Pôr do Sol (it actually indicates the sundown park) for among the most beautiful views of the city.Still in the historic centre, go to Largo Tereiro de Jesus, a place 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 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 watch the sunset.
If you want to buy inexpensive and authentic mementos for your liked 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 a remarkable story. Bonfim Church was developed in between 1745 and 1772, and nowadays is the centre of a stunning multi-faith event that occurs in Salvador every year in January. On this day, around 200 ladies worn white walk a trip 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 stunning routine to enjoy and you must consider going to Salvador during this time. And let's not ignore the Senhor do Fim ribbon, a custom which includes putting a vibrant ribbon on someone's wrist and asking to make three desires. You make one knot for each desire, and when the ribbon falls off on its own, all these dreams will become a reality. This tradition is part of 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 popular postcard pictures of Salvador. The lighthouse was integrated 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 enjoy the sundown.
How can we not discuss food? Food from Bahia is fantastic, and you can't leave the city without trying an Acarajé! It's a lovely mix of beans, shrimp, onion, salt and pepper-- all together and fried in palm oil. It's the most standard food of the city and you can discover the very best ones in Largo da Dinha.Galeria 13 hostel is a terrific base for your Salvador experience. They have a swimming pool, breakfast until 12pm, happy hours with caipirinhas, Brazilian film nights and a friendly dog. They're also found in the historical centre, which will make your day of checking out much easier.If you have a bit more time in Recife, you must consider spending a day in Olinda, a famous historical city with amazing Carnival celebrations and blocks. It's so near Recife that some individuals get puzzled and believe it's the same city. Check out the historical centre and its colourful colonial houses on foot, before heading to Alto da Sé, a more info location with a remarkable view of the city and markets selling food and art.The most well-known attraction in Olinda is the Carnival and its giant dolls parade. They say everything began in 1931, when a really good-looking guy used to walk around at midnight. After some time, he ended up being popular (The Midnight Guy) and all the single women in the city would wait on him every night. After a few years, a giant doll of him was created and a huge 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.