Most people know Brazil for the carnival in Rio de Janeiro. But there is so much more to this immense country: from stunning beaches to lush jungles and immense waterfalls. Whether you want to party on a beach with some of the friendliest and most positive people in the world, go wildlife spotting, or hike in vast nature, Brazil has something to offer for everyone. Let me tell you more about the best things to do in Brazil with this super extensive Brazil travel guide.
This Brazil travel guide has 5 separate sections: one for each of the 5 regions of Brazil. Places in each section are color-coded as a must-visit, highly recommended, and if time permits.
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Table of Contents - The Ultimate Brazil Travel Guide
Traveling Brazil - Tips & Tricks
Currency: After changing its currency various times, Brazil now uses the Real. At the time of writing the exchange rate is about BRL 6,40 to the EUR and BRL 6,17 to the USD. For up-to-date exchange rates, check a website like XE.com.
ATMs: It’s always good to have some cash on you in Brazil. I couldn’t find a free ATM during our stay in Brazil, but what helps cut costs is using a bank card with no or a low withdrawal fee and a good exchange rate, like Wise. A lot of places accept cards as well, although some will charge you extra for it.
Transport: Brazil has an extensive network of bus routes that will take you just about anywhere. Distances are huge though, so if you want to visit places in Brazil that are in very different parts of the country, flights will save you a lot of time, and possibly also money.
Food: Brazil is a huge country with huge differences, also when it comes to food.
In Southern Brazil, they eat a lot of meat, and asados are common. Food in the North is more tropical, and here you’ll find a lot of plantain and yuca, similar to Colombia. But the one thing you will find everywhere in Brazil is beans, or feijões, in many different colors and styles.
Salgados is a collective name for salty snack foods. Pão de queijo (cheese bread) is my favorite!
All the sweet-tooths amongst you should try the Brigadeiro: a topical Brazilian dessert made of chocolate and condensed milk. Or an Açai bowl if you’re after something healthier.
If you’re looking for cheap food, opt for a menu del dia, or a buffet. Some go by weight and aren’t as cheap. But all-you-can-eat buffets outside of the main tourist areas are generally very good value. Especially if you’re hungry after a day of exploring.
CPF numbers: Every Brazilian has a CPF number, which is their taxpayer identification number. Unfortunately for us travelers, a CPF is required for many things, like a sim card, many online orders, and for making online payments. You can generate a CPF online, for example here. But it won’t work for everything. When buying a sim card, make sure to ask if you’re able to activate it without a CPF, and for online payments, you can often use PayPal or make a transfer since a generated CPF won’t work for that. If you need to buy a bus ticket, you can use Busbud. Since it’s not a Brazilian company, it doesn’t require a CPF. If you’re staying in Brazil for a longer time and feel you need a personal CPF number, you can register and ask for one here.
When to visit Brazil
Being such a huge country with many different climates, there is a good place to go in Brazil any time of the year.
Most people who travel to Brazil want to visit the carnival in Rio de Janeiro, which is in February. But if you’re not fuzzed about this, it’s actually not the best time to visit Brazil since it’s very hot and humid in most of the country this time of year. It’s also the busiest and most expensive period since it’s the summer holidays in South America.
Winter is perfect for the North, especially if you want to visit Lençóis Maranhenses National Park where water levels are at their highest from May to August. This is also a good season for the southern coast since it’s not as busy, hot, humid, or expensive as during summer. We visited the southern coast in June and July, and still enjoyed some time on the beach and swimming in the sea.
If you want to visit the Amazon rainforest, it depends on your preference which is the best season. Weatherwise, the best season would be the dry season. But during the wet season, the trees are fruiting and it’s easier to spot wildlife.
How to get to Brazil
The two most common ways to get to Brazil are flying into one of the major airports, or crossing the land border at Iguazu. The cheapest places to fly into from abroad are the airports of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
The border crossing between Puerto de Iguazu in Argentina and Foz do Iguaçu is one of the most popular and straightforward border crossings of South America. It’s also possible to enter Brazil from Santa Cruz in Bolivia, Uruguay, and from Paraguay.
A more adventurous way to arrive in Brazil is by boat through the Amazon. But it’s important to know that these routes are not the safest or the most reliable. Boats leave whenever it suits them and there is quite some illegal activity going on in the Amazon. This doesn’t mean it’s not safe at all, but it is something to be aware of.
South Region
The south region is home to the iconic Iguaçu Falls and popular surf beaches of Floripa. The far South of this region has a gaucho culture similar to Argentina where maté and asados are equally popular.
Iguaçu Falls
The Iguaçu waterfalls are one of the most popular sights of this Brazil travel guide. Iguaçu Falls (or Iguazú in Spanish) is the largest waterfall system in the world and looks like something out of a fairytale.
The sound of the huge amount of water falling down, the lush green jungle around, the many birds and butterflies, the rainbows formed at the bottom. It’s an incredible place and if you’re wondering what to do in Brazil, this is definitely a must-visit.
A visit to Iguaçu is not complete without visiting both the Argentine and Brazilian sides of this beautiful national park. While the Argentine side offers a more natural experience and has several trails leading to more up-close experiences, the Brazilian side is worth a visit as well. The Brazilian part of the National Park only offers one boardwalk, but from here you’ll get to see a bigger panorama compared to the Argentine side. For more information about visiting the Iguazu Falls, including itinerary suggestions, check out my guide to the Iguazu Waterfalls.
How to get to the Iguaçu Falls
The gateway to the Brazilian part of the Iguaçu Falls is the small city of Foz do Iguaçu. Foz is very well connected with other Brazilian cities, Puerto Iguazú in Argentina and Ciudad Del Este in Paraguay by bus. If you prefer to fly, there is an international airport as well.
Florianópolis (Floripa)
Florianópolis, or Floripa in short, is a very popular destination amongst foreign tourists. Especially amongst surfers. I didn’t quite get the vibe of Floripa myself, but maybe I just didn’t go to the right places. Or my expectations were just too high since so many people recommended it.
There are some beautiful coastal hikes in the south of the island though. We only had time for one during our stay, but if I am to visit Floripa again, I will base myself further south and do some more hiking in the Southern part of the island.
How to get to Florianopolis
Floripa is well served by both buses and planes. You can travel between Floripa and other popular destinations in Brazil, like Foz, Rio, and São Paulo, via night bus. If you’re traveling from further away, a flight might be more convenient.
Ilha do Mel
Ilha do Mel is a popular holiday and weekend destination for locals, but largely unexplored by foreign tourists. This makes it a perfect destination for those of you looking for a more off-the-beaten-track, yet easy-to-visit experience.
Ilha do Mel (Honey Island) is a very pretty, calm, and relaxed island in the south of Brazil. There are some nice coastal hikes you can do, or just laze on the beach. Since the island is only small, you can easily visit Ilha do Mel in 2 days.
How to get to Ilha do Mel
First, you will need to take a bus or flight to the city of Curitiba. Here you can buy a combined bus + ferry ticket from Abaline. It’s also possible to just pay the bus and buy a ferry ticket on the spot, but since both the bus and ferry are operated by the same company, it’s the same price.
Southeast Region
The Southeast region is the most visited by foreigners. It’s where the states of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo are located, which are dotted with nice and popular beaches.
Maresias
What I love about Maresias, is that it has a very nice beach just out of town. Unlike Floripa or Ubatuba, where you might be a little disappointed when you first arrive and need to know where to find the nicer places. Just head to the beach from town, and lay down your towel or rent a chair + umbrella.
If you’re looking for comfort, you might want to stay a little closer to town, where you’ll find many bars and açaí stands. If you’re looking for a more virgin beach, head to the Canto do Moreira side of the beach where you won’t find any shops and natural shade from the vegetation.
There are also many other beaches around Maresias, which are easily visited by bus. And if you’re looking for something else to do, you can visit one of the waterfalls in the hills behind town.
While I did very much enjoy my stay in Maresias, there are many beach destinations in Brazil, and if you’re limited on time you might want to skip this one. I think the island vibes of Ilha do Mel and Ilha Grande can’t be beaten, and if you’re traveling up north as well, the beaches of Brazil’s Northeast region are the best in all of Brazil.
How to get to Maresias
The most common way to travel to Maresias is via the city of São Paulo. However, if you’re coming from the Southern coast (like Ilha do Mel or Floripa), you might want to travel via Santos instead. The upside of traveling directly to Santos is that you don’t have to deal with the crazy traffic in the city of São Paulo and it’s quicker. The downside is that there are not as many connections and in our case the timing didn’t quite work out so we opted for traveling via São Paulo.
Ubatuba
Ubatuba is another very chill small coastal city in Brazil. It’s a real surfer’s destination, so if you’re looking for a place to stay for a while and do some surfing, Ubatuba can be a very nice option. I do recommend you visit in the low season though. Ubatuba is very close to São Paulo and gets absolutely loaded with tourists in high season which also causes prices to soar.
But even non-surfers will enjoy this town. The beach of the city itself is not so nice, and I was quite disappointed when I first arrived. But we spoke to the owners of the hostel where we stayed and some people who had already spent quite some time in Ubatuba and they recommended some very nice beaches. Their best recommendation was the Trilha das 7 praias. A lovely coastal hike not far from Ubatuba.
How to get to Ubatuba
Ubatuba is well connected with other popular places in the states of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Maresias for example is not far and there is no need to take a long-distance bus. As a matter of fact, we didn’t find a long-distance bus which would take us to Ubatuba directly. We first took a local bus to Caraguatatuba and from there another local bus to Ubatuba. There are direct connections with São Paulo, Angra dos Reis, and Rio de Janeiro.
Paraty
Paraty is similar to Ubatuba in the sense that the beach of the town itself is not so nice, but there are many beautiful secluded beaches close to town. Since Paraty is not far from Rio de Janeiro city, the most popular destination in all of Brazil, it is busier and more touristic than Ubatuba. Also outside of the high season. The town is prettier than Ubatuba though, with its colonial architecture. You can go hiking along the coast and visit some nice beaches along the way. Or take a boat tour and visit some of the islands in front of Paraty where you can also snorkel.
How to get to Paraty
There are direct connections with surrounding popular destinations like the city of Rio de Janeiro, Angra dos Reis and Ubatuba.
Ilha Grande
Ilha Grande is another fan favorite, probably also due to its proximity to Rio de Janeiro. It is much bigger than Ilha do Mel and has more beaches to explore. It’s another great place for both lazing on beautiful beaches and hiking. The beaches in the North are best for swimming since the water is much calmer here. The southern side faces the open ocean, so there are more waves and a stronger current here. If you don’t feel like hiking you can also take a boat tour, or a taxi boat to one of many secluded beaches. Feeling adventurous? Do a multiple-day hike around the island staying at some remote villages along the way.
How to get to Ilha Grande
There are several ways to get to Ilha Grande. One of the most popular (and most costly) is by buying a combined bus + ferry ticket with a travel agency. If you’re looking for a cheaper way to travel, you can take a ferry from Angra dos Reis or Mangaratiba. That’s the cheapest option.
Rio de Janeiro
While far from my favorite place in Brazil, Rio is unique, and a visit to Brazil is not complete without a visit to this vibrant and diverse city. I actually had very low expectations of Rio de Janeiro, and thought I would mainly just feel unsafe throughout my stay here, but it wasn’t like that. Just as with every big city in South America, it is important to stay alert, keep your wits about you, stay in the more touristic and safer areas, and try to avoid walking alone at night. But I didn’t feel less safe here compared to cities like Buenos Aires.
There are much better beaches in Brazil than the beaches of Rio de Janeiro, so I wouldn’t plan much (or any) beach time there. Instead, visit the Sugarloaf Mountain and/or Christ the Redeemer statue for the beautiful views. Ipanema Beach, Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas and Parque Lage are nice for a stroll. Parque Lage is also the starting point for the trail up to Christ the Redeemer although hiking here is not recommended. Robberies are common. Santa Teresa is a nice suburb to visit too, it has a lot of similarities with Portuguese cities like Lisbon.
How to get to Rio de Janeiro
There is always a convenient way to get to Rio. Rio has direct bus connections to all frequently visited places around and a huge airport with many domestic and international flights.
Maromba & Visconde de Mauá
Maromba is another one of those places which is popular with locals, yet undiscovered by foreign tourists. Even Brazilians living further away will most likely not have heard about this town and I’d say it’s probably the most off-the-beaten-track destination of this Brazil travel guide.
Maromba is a cute little town surrounded by hills and waterfalls. It’s a great place for hiking. While there are more impressive waterfalls to visit in Brazil, if you’re looking for a calm and off-the-beaten place close to Rio de Janeiro, Maromba is a nice little getaway from the chaos of the city.
How to get to Maromba
In order to get to Maromba, you will first need to travel to Resende. From here you can take a bus to Resende and next a bus to Maromba with the company Viação Resendense. They also stop in Maringá and Visconde de Mauá, which are bigger towns in the area if Maromba seems a little too small for your liking.
Ouro Preto
Ouro Preto is a beautiful and very interesting city in the state of Minas Gerais. It has a little bit more fame with foreigners than some of the other places mentioned in this Brazil travel guide, but it’s still quite unknown.
Ouro Preto (meaning Black Gold, because of the iron oxide layer that covered the gold found here) was the most important city in Brazil during the Gold Rush. It even grew to be the biggest city in the Americas. The main attractions of Ouro Preto are the many churches, the gold mines, and the colonial architecture in general. The historic center is only small, and you can visit Ouro Preto in as little as 2 days.
How to get to Ouro Preto
Ouro Preto is not far from Belo Horizonte and there are regular buses between the two cities (about 2 hours). There are also direct buses between Rio de Janeiro and Ouro Preto, if you’re traveling from there.
Northeast Region
I loved the beaches of the Northeast region! The water is super clear, calm and a lot warmer than in the South and Southeast regions. If you’re after the best beaches in Brazil, look no further: this is your section of this Brazil travel guide.
Chapada Diamantina
Chapada Diamantina is the most popular Chapada (plateau) in Brazil. It’s a big area, but the best and most popular place for visitors to base themselves is Lençóis. Lençóis is a small colonial town right in the middle of Chapada Diamantina. From here you can visit several attractions yourself (like Ribeirão do Meio and the Serrano natural pools). There are also plenty of agencies in town to take you to places that are further away and on hikes for which you need a guide.
How to get to Chapada Diamantina (Lençóis)
There is transport to Lençóis from the bigger town of Seabra. You can easily get here from the state capital Salvador, or other big cities like Brasília or Palmas.
Porto de Galinhas
Porto de Galinhas offers white beaches and crystal clear calm waters perfect for swimming. This area is home to some of the most beautiful beaches of this Brazil travel guide. The beaches of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo might be the most popular, but that doesn’t mean they are the best.
Porto de Galinhas is the main holiday town along the coast of Pernambuco and a great place to base yourself since it offers everything you need. But if you want a less party and more local feel, next-door Maracaipe is perfect for you. Or head over to one of the quiet beaches like Praia do Carneiros or Maragogi. They are popular for day-trippers, but much quieter than Porto de Galinhas once they have gone.
How to get to Porto de Galinhas
You can get to Porto de Galinhas by regular bus from Recife, the capital city of the state of Pernambuco.
Olinda
Olinda is a colonial city very close to Recife. It’s famous for its colonial architecture and unique carnival with giant puppets carried through the streets. So if you’re looking for a more traditional and less commercial carnival than Rio’s, you might want to head to Olinda instead.
Another thing Olinda is well-known for is the sharks. The coast of Recife, and so also Olinda, has the most shark attacks of all of Brazil and sees one of the highest numbers of shark attacks in the world. So stick to exploring the city and pick another place from this Brazil travel guide for swimming.
How to get to Olinda
Due to conurbation, Olinda and Recife have merged. So you can take a bus or plane to Recife, and hop on an urban bus to Olinda from here.
Ilha de Itamaracá
While technically an island, Ilha de Itamaracá is very close to the Brazilian mainland and connected by a bridge. It’s a popular place amongst kitesurfers. The beach is also nice but doesn’t compare to the beaches around Porto de Galinhas. It is much less busy however, so if you’re looking for a more quiet, off-the-beaten-track destination, Itamaracá might just be what you’re looking for.
You can also go hiking through the forest and visit small and traditional villages, or visit the “Orange Fort” a fort built by Dutch colonists.
How to get to Ilha de Itamaracá
The easiest way to get to Ilha do Itamaracá is by bus from Recife, the capital of the state of Pernambuco.
João Pessoa
João Pessoa is a relatively small city for Brazilian standards, and much quieter than many of the other bigger cities in the country. I also found it quite uneventful, but the city itself is not the main attraction here. There are some stunning beaches around João Pessoa, which is the reason to come here. Since João Pessoa isn’t as big or famous as many of the other places mentioned in this Brazil travel guide, the beaches are quieter compared to many other places.
How to get to João Pessoa
There are direct buses to João Pessoa from other cities along the coast like Natal and Recife.
Pipa
Pipa is a popular destination for local tourists and attracts a relatively young crowd. It’s the perfect place to laze on the beach or surf during the day and party at night. Pipa is also famous for the Baía dos Golfinhos, which was the main reason we visited. When the tide is low enough, you can walk to this bay where dolphins occasionally come very close to the coast when they are trying to catch fish. Unfortunately, we didn’t see them as closely as we hoped, but we did get to see them which was the main thing.
How to get to Pipa
There are direct buses to Pipa from Natal, which take about 2 hours.
Natal
While I’m generally not a fan of South American cities, I actually quite liked Natal. It has a chill vibe and the city beach is very nice as well (for a city beach at least 😉). It has a nice boulevard to walk along and plenty of nice-looking bars and restaurants.
How to get to Natal
Being the state capital, there are plenty of ways to get to Natal. There are direct buses from the capitals of neighboring states and the airport is well-connected as well.
Lençóis Maranhenses National Park
Lençóis Maranhenses National Park is one of the most iconic places of this Brazil travel guide and an absolute must-visit. The best time to visit this National Park is just after the rainy season when this sand dune desert has filled up with water. That’s right, a desert full of water! The heavy rains of the rainy season fill up the “valleys” between the dunes with crystal-clear fresh water. It’s a spectacular sight and swimming in the pools is a unique experience. If you’re visiting Brazil between May and August, Lençóis Maranhenses should be on the top of your list.
How to get to Lençóis Maranhenses National Park
There are two gateways to the national park: Barreirinhas and Atins. Barreirinhas is a small city and the most popular place to stay when visiting Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. It’s the best place to stay if you’re short on time, looking for comfort and good infrastructure and/or are on a budget.
If you’re up for a little more adventure, I recommend you continue to Atins instead. Atins is a small beachside town with sand roads and donkeys roaming free. Perfect for those who are looking to escape from the city. Tours to Los Lençóis from here visit a different part and see much fewer people. I enjoyed our stay in Atins much more than Barreirinhas. So if you have the time to spend a few more days, definitely hop on a 4×4 or boat from Barreirinhas to Atins.
Chapada das Mesas
Not many foreigners make it here, which is a shame. It’s a beautiful area. Chapada das Mesas translates to Table Plateau, and the name comes from the flat top mountains, which look a little like tables.
The main thing to do here is to visit the waterfalls. While there is no public transport to get to the sights, you can either rent a car and visit yourself, or go with a tour agency. There are a couple in the town of Carolina, the main gateway to the Chapada. We went with Savana Ecoturismo who were very good.
How to get to Chapada das Mesas
Carolina is the gateway to Chapada das Mesas. The most direct way to travel here by bus is from Belem (Pará state) or Palmas (Tocatins state). It’s also possible to get here from São Luis (Maranhão state).
The North Region
The North Region is one of the most culturally rich and diverse regions in Brazil since it’s home to the immense Amazon rainforest.
Alter do Chão
Alter do Chão is a tiny town right in the Amazon Rainforest, on the banks of the Tapajós River. It’s roughly halfway between the port city of Belem and the capital of the Amazonia state Manaus, making it the perfect stopover if you’re making this trip by boat.
Alter do Chão is famous for its stunning river beaches, mainly Ilha do Amor, a peninsular beach in the Tapajós River, right in front of the town. Besides visiting the beach, Alter do Chão is also a great place for wildlife spotting. Especially monkeys and birds are very common to see.
How to get to Alter do Chão
To get to Alter do Chão, you’ll need to take an urban bus from Santarem (40 min). You can reach Santarem by boat from either Belem or Manaus, by plane, or by bus. Due to its remote location in the Amazon, there aren’t many bus connections, but you can travel to Altamira from where you can travel to different places.
We made the trip from Santarem to Carolina by bus, and while it was doable, we spent so much time on buses and we had to change several times, so it would have been so much easier to just take a flight.
Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon is of course huge, and there are many places to visit in this vast jungle. Manaus is the main gateway though, and many people who want to stay at a lodge in the jungle will start from here. You can either contact an agency to arrange a tour or arrange with a lodge directly.
We stayed at the Dolphin Lodge which was amazing and I can highly recommend staying with them. They are a few hours away from Manaus, along a river where it’s very common to spot pink and grey river dolphins (hence the name of the lodge). The family who runs the lodge is also amazing. So is the food and the accommodation is super comfortable.
How to get to the Amazon (Manaus)
Manaus is well connected by air, which is the fastest and easiest way to get here. If you’re looking for a more adventurous way, you can take a boat from Belem on the coast, with or without a stopover in Alter do Chão. These are cargo boats, but they have a regular schedule and they let you put up a hammock on the deck where you can sleep. While it’s a cool experience, don’t expect much comfort on the boat. Hammocks get pushed together as close as possible (personal space, what’s that?), toilets and showers won’t stay very clean for long and I have yet to meet a foreign tourist who did not get sick of the food on the boat (burgers and sandwiches are the way to go, avoid the rice and pasta).
If you want even more adventure or a more off-the-beaten-track experience, you can also travel all the way to Colombia or Peru by boat. But these boats don’t have schedules and come and go as needed. So you might need to spend some days in very remote towns waiting for the next boat to leave.
Jalapão
Jalapão is a gorgeous area with very interesting natural sights to see. From fervedouros to waterfalls and mountains. The only way to travel around this area and see a lot of is, is with a 4×4. The most common way is therefore to join a tour. Various agencies offer multi-day tours traveling around Jalapão visiting several of its attractions.
We did it on a budget and stayed at the Jalapão Ecolodge, in front of the Catedral do Jalapão and visited this from here. Next, we took a bus to São Félix do Tocantins to see two fervedouros: Fervedouro do Alecrim and Bela Vista.
How to get to Jalapão
The gateway to Jalapão is Palmas. The easiest way to see all that Jalapão has to offer is with a tour agency which you can contract here.
Central-west Region
Saving the best for last: this is where the amazing Pantanal is located, my very favorite destination of this Brazil travel guide.
Chapada dos Guimarães
I found the Chapada dos Guimarães less impressive than the other Chapadas we visited. The main attraction is the Cachoeira Véu de Noiva viewpoint. If you’re lucky (like we were 😍) you can see macaws fly around, which was the best part of the chapada in my opinion. There are a few other smaller waterfalls around which you can access and where you can go for a swim. Do note you can only start the circuit until noon since the park closes at 4 pm (at the time of writing).
How to get to Chapada dos Guimarães
There is no public transport, so you can either join a tour from Cuiabá or go by car. We had rented a car in Cuiabá for a week to visit the Pantanal, so we decided to spend a day in the Chapada before heading there.
The Pantanal
The Pantanal is divided into the south (Mato Grosso do Sul) and the north (Mato Grosso). The north is home to the biggest, most dense jaguar population, and this is where you’ll want to go if you want to see jaguars. In the south, jaguars are not as common to see, but you can see many other animals. These animals are also present in the north, but it’s almost easier to see other animals in the south because there aren’t so many jaguars who hunt them.
Most people will choose one place to visit, and I’d say choose the north. Seeing the jaguars in the wild is truly spectacular. While this Brazil travel guide contains many incredible and unique places, The Pantanal is just something else and every wildlife lover should put this on the top of their list.
Tours are expensive, but you can make it cheaper by self-driving the Pantanal. This is what we did, and this was our 6-day pantanal itinerary.
How to get to Pantanal
How to get to the Pantanal depends on where exactly you want to go. If you want to see jaguars, you will need to head to Porto Jofre, which you can get to via Cuiaba. There is no public transport, but you can either join a tour from here, or rent a car. If you want to visit the southern part of the Pantanal, then your main gateway is Campo Grande.
Bonito
Bonito translates to beautiful and is a very fitting name for this area. Here you can find spectacular rivers and caves. It’s not a very cheap destination because almost all attractions require an entrance fee, and some can only be visited with a tour. Visit the gorgeous Gurta do Lago Azul and follow the flow in incredibly clear rivers surrounded by fish.
How to get to Bonito
We arrived here from Corumba, our first destination in Brazil when arriving here from Bolivia. If you’re coming from the other side, the easier way to travel here is via Campo Grande.
Other things to do in Brazil
While I am lucky enough to have spent over a year in Brazil, spread over two visits, I feel there is still so much more to explore.
Some of the more famous places we left out are Cabo Frio and Búzios in the state of Rio de Janeiro and the city of São Paulo.
Popular destinations amongst Brazilians we had to skip so far are Jericoacoara (a bigger more commercial version of Atins), Capitolio and Chapada dos Veadeiros.
I would also love to visit more towns in Minas Gerais like Tiradentes and São Thomé das Letras. The latter is renowned for its unique and strong energy fields, which many people associate with spiritual experiences.
For more colonial architecture closer to the coast, San Francisco is a pretty and cute little town not far from Ilha do Mel. And of course, there is the whole coast of Bahia we skipped, including the popular beach town of Itacaré. We’ve also skipped Brazil’s capital Brasília, but since I’m generally not a fan of South American cities, I’m not too sad about that.
This was: The Ultimate Brazil Travel Guide
Brazil is an incredible country, which many travelers skip because of a lack of information. I hope this Brazil travel guide has shown you more about the amazing things to see and do in Brazil. Brazil really is a unique country, not only because of its nature, but just as much because of its people and their unique and positive energy. It’s a country you simply must visit at least once in your life.
