Taking a look at the (massive) map and getting a bit overloaded about picking the very best places to go to in Brazil? Do not fret, we're here to assist you to make the most out of your journey and provide you the best pointers to enjoy Brazil like a regional. I'm Brazilian and I'm about to share all my preferred features of 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 remarkable to do in every corner of the country and I guarantee you'll be shocked by how diverse Brazil is. Choose an open heart, listen and talk with the locals-- 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 lots of well-known clubs, so things can get a bit more costly. I 'd advise that you visit 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 vibe and is an excellent spot 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 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 places to go to in Brazil for anybody who wishes to understand the nation ´ s history. The city's name equates 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 simply walking admiring the scenery is truly among 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 jewels were drawn out and reclaimed to Europe, and how slave work was used for this.
The city likewise has lots of museums where you can begin to understand more about the history of the country. At Inconfidence Museum you can learn more about Brazil's self-reliance, and if you're interested in Brazilian art, you ought to take 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.
One of the coolest things you can do in Ouro Preto is search for a university celebration. They're super open and accept students from all over the world. All you have to do is go to the trainee area Baixita and ask where the party will happen. You can literally knock at one of the fraternity's doors and ask. If you're going to throughout Carnival, even better-- there will be PLENTY of student celebrations you can join.Start your experience walking Vila Madalena, a trendy neighbourhood filled with great coffee shops, restaurants and classic stores. On Saturdays, you can visit 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, 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, visit the Museum of Art of São Paulo at Avenida Paulista. You're going to see the building rather quickly from a range because of its amazing architecture style 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 terrific pizzerias. Mentioning pizza, you MUST TRY Brazilian pizza. Forget everything you thought you understood about the conventional Italian food and open yourself to a whole new level of rubbish. I am Additional reading speaking about ice cream pizza and I'm not even sorry.
By this point, you have actually most likely noticed that São Paulo is a great place to walk around and eat tasty food, so if you're not veggie, head to Mercado Municipal to attempt a MASSIVE mortadella sandwich. After all this consuming, have a walk in Ibirapuera park and check out the Afro Museum, a space committed 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 place filled with stunning churches, dining establishments and fantastic architecture. Go To 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 location, examine the Lacerda Lift. Integrated in 1873, this is the most convenient (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 ideal location to enjoy the sundown.
If you wish to purchase budget friendly and authentic mementos for your loved 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 built in between 1745 and 1772, and nowadays is the centre of a gorgeous multi-faith event that happens in Salvador every year in January. On this day, around 200 ladies dressed in white walk a pilgrimage of 8km to wash the stairs of the church with water and flowers, while the locals celebrate with music and chants of African origin. This is a gorgeous ritual to view and you ought to think about visiting Salvador during this time. And let's not ignore the Senhor do Fim ribbon, a tradition which involves putting a colourful ribbon on someone's wrist and asking them to make 3 wishes. You make one knot for each dream, and when the ribbon falls off on its own, all these dreams will come true. 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 famous 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 talk about food? Food from Bahia is remarkable, and you can't leave the city without attempting an Acarajé! It's a stunning 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 discover the best ones in Largo da Dinha.Galeria 13 hostel is an excellent base for your Salvador adventure. They have a swimming pool, breakfast up until 12pm, happy hours with caipirinhas, Brazilian movie nights and a friendly dog. They're also located in the historic centre, which will make your day of checking out much easier.If you have a bit more time in Recife, you ought to think about spending a day in Olinda, a famous historic city with remarkable Carnival celebrations and blocks. It's so close to Recife that some individuals get confused and believe it's the same city. Explore the historical centre and its colourful colonial houses on foot, before heading to Alto da Sé, a location with a fantastic view of the city and markets offering food and art.The most famous destination in Olinda is the Carnival and its giant dolls parade. They say whatever started in 1931, when an extremely handsome man used to walk at midnight. After a long time, he ended up being 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 produced and a huge carnival parade with him leading the way to other giant dolls ended up being a custom. Today the parade still follows the exact same path as the mystical man! Watching the Giant Carnival Dolls of Olinda is a genuinely wonderful experience and you're going to be surprised by the energy in the streets during Brazilian Carnival.