Looking at the (massive) map and getting a bit overloaded about choosing the very best locations to go to in Brazil? Do not worry, we're here to assist you to make the most out of your trip and provide you the very best suggestions to take pleasure in Brazil like a local. I'm Brazilian and I will share all my preferred things about my nation. From drinking caipirinha at the beach in Rio, to visiting a national park loaded with pristine blue lagoons in the north or assisting to save turtles in the south, Brazil has a choice for every single kind of backpacker.
From north to south, you're going to discover something amazing to do in every corner of the country and I ensure you'll be surprised by how diverse Brazil is. Opt for an open heart, listen and talk to the residents-- 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 many widely known clubs, so things can get a bit more pricey. I 'd recommend 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 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 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, among the most popular hiking tracks in the south of Brazil. There are 3 different options with various levels of trouble, the easiest one taking control of 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, 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 carver Aleijadinho. You can visit all the main attractions on foot, and simply walking admiring the surroundings 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 trip to hear about how tons of ores and gemstones were drawn out and reclaimed to Europe, and how slave work was utilized for this.
The city likewise has lots of museums where you can begin 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 many 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 trainee area Baixita and ask where the celebration will happen. 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 PLENTY of student parties you can join.Start your experience walking Vila Madalena, a trendy neighbourhood filled with good 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 remarkable street food. For a genuine Brazilian experience, attempt a pastel (a delicious savoury snack) with a sugar walking stick juice. After getting all the energy you require, head to Beco do Batman, a popular area 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 easily from a distance because of its incredible architecture style and you can get lost inside for hours.
After going to the museum, head to Bixiga, among the most standard neighbourhoods in the city that's full of fantastic pizzerias. Speaking of pizza, you MUST SHOT 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 discussing ice cream pizza and I'm not even sorry.
By this point, you have actually most likely seen that São Paulo is a great place 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 go to 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 literally indicates the sundown park) for among the most lovely views of the city.Still in the historic centre, visit Largo Tereiro de Jesus, a place full of gorgeous churches, restaurants and incredible architecture. Go To the Afro Museum to read more about Afro faiths 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 easiest (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 gorgeous viewpoint and ideal location to enjoy the sundown.
If you wish to purchase budget friendly and genuine keepsakes for your enjoyed ones back home, see Mercado Modelo. This public market has actually been working for more than 100 years and has over 250 stalls selling art and food.Now, get ready for an amazing story. Bonfim Church was built between 1745 and 1772, and nowadays is the centre of a beautiful multi-faith celebration that happens in Salvador every year in January. On this day, around 200 women 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 beautiful ritual to watch and you should consider visiting Salvador during 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 dream, and when the ribbon falls off by itself, all these dreams will come to life. This custom belongs to the Festa do Bonfim (Bonfim Celebration), however you can find these ribbons all year round in many 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. Just in front of the lighthouse, there's a beautiful beach for you to walk around and see the sundown.
How can we not speak about food? Food from Bahia is fantastic, 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 find the best ones in Largo da Dinha.Galeria 13 hostel is a fantastic base for your Salvador adventure. They have a swimming pool, breakfast until 12pm, happy hours with caipirinhas, Brazilian movie nights and a friendly pet. They're likewise found in the historical centre, which will make your day of exploring much easier.If you have a little bit more time in Recife, you ought to consider spending a day in Olinda, a popular historic city with remarkable Carnival celebrations and blocks. It's so near to Recife that some people get confused and think it's the same city. Explore the historic centre and its vibrant colonial homes on foot, prior to heading to Alto da Sé, a place with an incredible 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 everything 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 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 giant dolls ended up being a custom. Today the parade still follows the exact same route as the mysterious man! Seeing the Giant Carnival Dolls of Olinda is a genuinely wonderful experience and you're going to be impressed by the energy in the streets during here Brazilian Carnival.