Looking at the (massive) map and getting a bit overloaded about choosing the very best locations to visit in Brazil? Do not fret, we're here to assist you to make the most out of your trip and offer you the best tips to delight in Brazil like a local. I'm Brazilian and I'm about to share all my favourite features of my country. From drinking caipirinha at the beach in Rio, to visiting a national park loaded with pristine blue lagoons in the north or helping to save turtles in the south, Brazil has an option for every single sort of backpacker.
From north to south, you're going to find something remarkable to do in every corner of the nation and I guarantee you'll be surprised by how diverse Brazil is. Choose an open heart, listen and talk with the locals-- there is no much better method to get to know 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 suggest 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 incredible backpacker ambiance and is a great spot for browsing. My favourite 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, incredibly 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 unblemished beaches, a few of them only accessible by travelling, like Praia dos Naufragados. If you wish to mingle with the locals, 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 control of an hour. You won't regret the views when you get there though!
Ouro Preto is among the best places to check out in Brazil for anybody who wishes to understand the country ´ s history. The city's name equates 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 incredible Brazilian sculptor Aleijadinho. You can check out all the piece de resistances on foot, and just walking around appreciating the scenery is truly 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 jewels were drawn out and taken back 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 must have a look at the Sacred Art Museum. A fantastic place to see Aleijadinho's work is São Francisco de Assis church, where you can find many sculptures made by the artist.
Among the coolest things you can do in Ouro Preto is try to find a university celebration. They're super open and accept students from all over the world. All you need to do is go to the student neighbourhood Baixita and ask where the celebration will happen. You can actually knock at one of the fraternity's doors and ask. If you're going to during Carnival, even much better-- there will be A LOT OF trainee parties you can join.Start your adventure walking Vila Madalena, a stylish neighbourhood full of nice cafes, dining establishments and classic shops. On Saturdays, you can check out 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, attempt a pastel (a delicious savoury snack) 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 lovers.
If you're into art, go to the Museum of Art of São Paulo at Avenida Paulista. You're visiting the structure quite easily from a distance because of its amazing architecture style and you can get lost inside for hours.
After visiting the museum, head to Bixiga, among the most conventional neighbourhoods in the city that has plenty of fantastic pizzerias. Mentioning pizza, you MUST SHOT Brazilian pizza. Forget everything you believed you learnt about the conventional Italian food and open yourself to a whole brand-new level of rubbish. I am talking about ice cream pizza and I'm not even sorry.
By this point, you've probably observed that São Paulo is a terrific place to walk and eat delicious food, so if you're not veggie, head to Mercado Municipal to attempt an ENORMOUS mortadella sandwich. After all this consuming, have a walk in Ibirapuera park and go to the Afro Museum, an area devoted to telling the story of more than 5 centuries of African history in Brazil.
For an incredible sunset and to join the locals, go to Praça do Pôr do Sol (it actually indicates the sunset park) for among the most gorgeous views of the city.Still in the historic centre, go to Largo Tereiro de Jesus, a location filled with lovely churches, dining establishments and remarkable architecture. Check Out the Afro Museum for more information about Afro religions in Brazil, and Casa do Carnaval da Bahia to be familiar with the history of Carnival in the city. Still around this area, check the Lacerda Lift. Built in 1873, this is the easiest (and most inexpensive) method to get to the high part of the city. When you're at the top, Tomé de Sousa square is a lovely viewpoint and best place to see the sunset.
If you wish to purchase inexpensive and genuine souvenirs for your liked ones back home, visit 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 an incredible story. Bonfim Church was built between 1745 and 1772, and nowadays is the centre of a lovely multi-faith celebration that takes place in Salvador every year in January. On this day, around 200 ladies worn 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 stunning ritual to see and you must consider going to Salvador during this time. And let's not forget the Senhor do Fim ribbon, a tradition which includes putting a colourful ribbon on someone's wrist and inquiring to make three dreams. You make one knot for each desire, and when the ribbon falls off by itself, all these dreams will come true. This tradition is part of the Festa do Bonfim (Bonfim Party), however you can discover these ribbons throughout the year in the majority of cities in Brazil.
Together with Pelourinho, Barra Lighthouse is among 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 stunning beach for you to walk and view the sunset.
How can we not discuss food? Food from Bahia is incredible, and you can't leave the city without trying an Acarajé! It's a beautiful mix of beans, shrimp, onion, salt and pepper-- all together and fried in palm oil. It's the most traditional food of the city and you can find the very best ones in Largo da Dinha.Galeria 13 hostel is an excellent base for your Salvador experience. They have a pool, breakfast up until 12pm, happy hours with caipirinhas, Brazilian Browse this site film nights and a friendly canine. They're also located 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 think about investing a day in Olinda, a well-known historic city with incredible Carnival parties and blocks. It's so near 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 selling food and art.The most famous destination in Olinda is the Carnival and its huge dolls parade. They state whatever started in 1931, when a very handsome male utilized to walk at midnight. After a long time, he became well known (The Midnight Man) and all the single women in the city would wait for him every night. After a couple of years, a huge doll of him was developed and an enormous carnival parade with him blazing a trail to other giant dolls became a tradition. Today the parade still follows the very same path as the strange guy! Viewing the Giant Carnival Dolls of Olinda is a truly magical experience and you're going to be astonished by the energy in the streets throughout Brazilian Carnival.