I went to Brazil more times than I can count and lived there 9+ months. I discovered various regions of the country but still have so much more to explore. This list of places is in no particular order but I highlighted my favorite places and added star rankings (3 = this is la crème de la crème!, 2 = wow, check this out!, and 1 = go if you have time). At the bottom of the list, I included places I have yet to go to but was recommended by local Brazilian friends.
If you don’t have a lot of time and would like custom recommendations on which places to visit and how long you should stay in each city, email with with Subject Line: “Custom Itinerary Request: Brazil & Your Travel Time”.
PS: Basic Portuguese words that will help you understand the names: praia = beach, ilha = island
- São Paulo
- São Paulo Region
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Costa verde ***: Ubatuba (“Uba Chuva”), praia Sununga
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Ilha Bela: praia de Castelhanos
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Campos do Jordão
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Great for winter in July with mountains, restaurants, trails, parties
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- Rio de Janeiro ***
- Rio de Janeiro Region
- Ilha Grande ***, Angra Dos Reis
- Beautiful if the island isn’t crowded with turquoise water, white sand and untouched beaches. You can spot dolphins and turtles on boat trips!
- Paraty ***
- Colonial village, super charming with boats to go island hopping. Stay at Pousada Literária de Paraty if you can
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Day trips: Amambuca, Trinidade (30km south of Paraty with natural pools “Tobagão”), Praia do Sono
- Petropolis **, Teresopolis, Itaipava
- Mountains, about 5-10 degrees colder than Rio, lots of hikes and waterfalls, great to stay in a fazenda with a pool.
- Itaipava has a large brewery and hosts beer festivals as it’s where the famous Brazilian beer is made
- Teresopolis: Dedo Do Deus and Pico Maior
- Búzios*, Cabo Frio, Arraial do Cabo, Macae
- Cariocas love it, its their version of Saint-Tropez (but in not as nice and it’s very expensive). I don’t think it even comes close to Ilha Grande or Paraty. There are some beautiful hikes that tourists don’t know about so go with a local!
- Buzios: Praia Brava, Praia de Azeda e Azedinha. Praia da Ferradurinha e Praia João Fernandes.
- Ilha Grande ***, Angra Dos Reis
- Florianópolis *** (aka “Floripa” for short)
- Foz de Iguaçu ** (15 hours bus ride or 1+ hour flight)
- Bonito
- Flutuação is the main activity, meaning you float downstream in crystal clear rivers
- Manaus, Amazon
- São Luis, Parque Nacional dos Lençóis Maranhenses ***
- Colorful colonial village and desert with white sand dunes and natural pools
- Salvador
- Praia do Forte ***, Rio vermelho
Places I haven’t been to yet but can’t wait to explore!
- Santa Catarina Canyons
- Stay at Morada Dos Canyons Hotel for amazing views
- Parque Nacional da Chapada dos Veadeiros
- camping, hiking, waterfalls, swimming
- Fortaleza, Jericoacoara
- Ilha Fernando de Noronha
- Exclusive island with a limit on the number of people. You have to fly to Recife or Natal and hop on a small plane
- Stay in pousada (fishermens home) eg. Pousada Maria Bonita – Rua das Amendoeiras, 06 – Floresta Nova, Fernando de Noronha
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Chapada Diamantina Parque Nacional
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Stay in a city called Lençóis and hire a guide for trails.
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Vale do Pati
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Península de Marau
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Ilha de boipeba, Morro de São Paulo
- Porto Alegre
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