Looking at the (huge) map and getting a bit overloaded about selecting 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 trip and provide you the best suggestions to take pleasure in Brazil like a local. I'm Brazilian and I will share all my favourite aspects of my nation. From drinking caipirinha at the beach in Rio, to visiting a national forest full of 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 find something incredible to do in every corner of the nation and I guarantee you'll be amazed by how varied Brazil is. Go with an open heart, listen and speak to the locals-- there is no better method to get to know our culture.
The beaches in the north of the island are more touristy and have numerous popular clubs, so things can get a bit more expensive. I 'd suggest that you check out Praia da Lagoinha, Praia do Forte, Praia da Daniela, Praia Brava and Praia dos Ingleses. The east side of the island has a remarkable backpacker vibe and is a fantastic area for surfing. My favourite beaches there are Joaquina, Praia Mole, Praia da Galheta and Barra da Lagoa. This is likewise the backpacker hotspot of the city, where you'll find people from all over the world, incredibly 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 mingle with the residents, you should try the walking to Lagoinha do Leste, one of the most famous treking routes in the south of Brazil. There are three different alternatives with different levels of problem, the most convenient one taking control of an hour. You won't be sorry for the views when you arrive though!
Ouro Preto is one of the best locations to check out in Brazil for anyone who wants to comprehend the country ´ s history. The city's name translates 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 amazing Brazilian sculptor Aleijadinho. You can check out all the piece de resistances on foot, and just walking around appreciating 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 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 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 look for a university party. They're incredibly 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 literally 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 student parties you can join.Start your adventure walking Vila Madalena, a fashionable area full of nice coffee shops, dining establishments and classic shops. 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 a genuine Brazilian experience, attempt a pastel (a scrumptious savoury snack) 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 great pizzerias. Speaking of pizza, you MUST TRY Brazilian pizza. Forget everything you believed you knew about the conventional Italian food and open yourself to an entire brand-new level of nonsense. I am talking about ice cream pizza and I'm not even sorry.
By this point, you've probably discovered that São Paulo is a terrific location to walk and consume delicious food, so if you're not veggie, head to Mercado Municipal to try an ENORMOUS mortadella sandwich. After all this eating, have a walk in Ibirapuera park and go to the Afro Museum, an area devoted to informing the story of more than 5 centuries of African history in Brazil.
For a fantastic sunset and to mingle with the locals, go to Praça do Pôr do Sol (it literally implies the sunset park) for one of the most stunning views of the city.Still in the historic centre, see Largo Tereiro de Jesus, a location loaded with lovely churches, restaurants and amazing architecture. Visit the Afro Museum for more information about Afro religious beliefs in Brazil, and Casa do Carnaval da Bahia to be familiar with the history of Carnival in the city. Still around this location, examine the Lacerda Lift. Integrated in 1873, this is the most convenient (and cheapest) way to get to the high part of the city. When you're at the top, Tomé de Sousa square is a beautiful viewpoint and perfect place to view the sunset.
If you want to buy budget-friendly and genuine mementos for your liked ones back home, check out Mercado Modelo. This public market has actually been working for click here more than 100 years and has more than 250 stalls offering art and food.Now, prepare yourself for a fantastic story. Bonfim Church was constructed in between 1745 and 1772, and nowadays is the centre of a lovely 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 see and you need to 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 three 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 well-known 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 around and view the sunset.
How can we not talk about food? Food from Bahia is amazing, 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 discover 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 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 spending a day in Olinda, a well-known historical city with amazing 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, before 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 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 really magical experience and you're going to be impressed by the energy in the streets during Brazilian Carnival.