Looking at the (huge) map and getting a bit overloaded about selecting the best locations to check out in Brazil? Don't stress, we're here to help you to make the most out of your journey and give you the very best tips to enjoy 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 loaded with beautiful blue lagoons in the north or helping 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 country and I guarantee you'll be shocked by how diverse Brazil is. Opt for an open heart, listen and speak to the locals-- there is no much better method to learn more about our culture.
The beaches in the north of the island are more touristy and have lots of well-known clubs, so things can get a bit more costly. I 'd advise 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 a fantastic area for surfing. 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 find individuals from all over the world, super cool bars and restaurants and people offering their art in the street.
If you're looking for some quiet time surrounded by nature, the south of the island is where you want to be. We're talking unblemished beaches, a few of them only available by travelling, like Praia dos Naufragados. If you want to join the residents, you should attempt the walking to Lagoinha do Leste, one of the most well-known treking trails in the south of Brazil. There are three various alternatives with different levels of problem, the most convenient one taking over 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 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 sculptor Aleijadinho. You can visit all the piece de resistances on foot, and just walking around appreciating the landscapes is truly among the best things you can do. The main attractions 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 gemstones were extracted and taken back to Europe, and how servant work was utilized for this.
The city also has numerous 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 place 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 trainees from all over the world. All you have 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 much better-- there will be A LOT OF trainee parties you can join.Start your adventure walking around Vila Madalena, a trendy neighbourhood loaded with great cafes, restaurants and vintage shops. On Saturdays, you can visit Feira Livre da Vila Madalena, a street market with arts and crafts, loads of fruits and veggies and fantastic street food. For a genuine Brazilian experience, try a pastel (a delicious savoury treat) with a sugar walking cane juice. After getting all the energy you require, head to Beco do Batman, a well-known spot in the city for street art enthusiasts.
If you're into art, go to the Museum of Art of São Paulo at Browse this site Avenida Paulista. You're visiting the structure quite easily from a range because of its incredible architecture design and you can get lost inside for hours.
After visiting the museum, head to Bixiga, among the most traditional areas in the city that's full of great pizzerias. Mentioning pizza, you MUST SHOT Brazilian pizza. Forget whatever you thought you learnt about the standard Italian food and open yourself to an entire brand-new level of rubbish. I am discussing ice cream pizza and I'm not even sorry.
By this point, you have actually probably noticed that São Paulo is a terrific place to walk around and consume delicious food, so if you're not veggie, head to Mercado Municipal to try a HUGE mortadella sandwich. After all this eating, 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 a remarkable sundown and to join the locals, go to Praça do Pôr do Sol (it literally indicates the sunset park) for one of the most lovely views of the city.Still in the historic centre, go to Largo Tereiro de Jesus, a location loaded with beautiful churches, restaurants and remarkable architecture. Go To the Afro Museum for more information about Afro faiths in Brazil, and Casa do Carnaval da Bahia to learn more about the history of Carnival in the city. Still around this location, inspect the Lacerda Lift. Built in 1873, this is the most convenient (and most affordable) way to get to the high part of the city. When you're at the top, Tomé de Sousa square is a stunning perspective and best location to view the sundown.
If you wish to buy economical and genuine keepsakes for your liked ones back home, go to Mercado Modelo. This public market has actually been working for more than 100 years and has more than 250 stalls selling art and food.Now, prepare for an incredible story. Bonfim Church was developed in between 1745 and 1772, and nowadays is the centre of a stunning 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 enjoy and you must 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 asking to make 3 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 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 around and enjoy the sundown.
How can we not talk about food? Food from Bahia is remarkable, and you can't leave the city without trying an Acarajé! It's a stunning 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 discover the very best ones in Largo da Dinha.Galeria 13 hostel is a terrific base for your Salvador adventure. They have a swimming pool, breakfast until 12pm, happy hours with caipirinhas, Brazilian film nights and a friendly dog. They're likewise 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 ought to consider spending a day in Olinda, a famous historical city with fantastic Carnival parties and blocks. It's so near to Recife that some individuals get confused and believe it's the same city. Check out the historic centre and its colourful 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 destination in Olinda is the Carnival and its huge dolls parade. They say 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 genuinely magical experience and you're going to be impressed by the energy in the streets during Brazilian Carnival.