When many think of Brazil, they immediately associate it with football or the 2016 Summer Olympics. Indeed, there is so much more: it is so full of natural beauty, history and celebration that it is considered one of the hottest new places in the world. Here is just a taste of some great things to do while visiting.
Feeling like a king in Petrópolis
Petrópolis is the place where the “cariocas” (people of Rio) go to rest from the city. The former summer palace of Pedro II is now an imperial museum (link in Portuguese) where you can learn all about the royal family. Follow the region’s German roots by drinking beer from the Bohemia brewery (one of the first in Brazil) and beef croquettes from Casa do Alamão.
Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco
Fernando de Noronha is a volcanic archipelago of 21 islands in the Atlantic Ocean, of which only the largest is inhabited, the rest have been declared a Marine National Park. This earthly paradise is considered one of the best diving destinations in Brazil and is perfect for those who wish to enjoy nature in its purest form, relax on its beautiful beaches or observe its flora and fauna. In 2001, UNESCO declared Fernando de Noronha a natural heritage of humanity.
How to get there: the first step is to reach Recife, the capital of Pernambuco or Natal, the capital of Rio Grande do Norte. There are daily flights departing from major cities in Brazil.
Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Maranhão
On the north coast of Brazil, in the state of Maranhão, is the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park: an area of about 1,500 km2 of white sand dunes and blue lagoons, undoubtedly one of the most amazing places in Brazil. Despite being a desert, the rains are abundant (about 300 times more than in the Sahara desert). The undulating lagoons protected by white sand dunes make Lençois Mahrenenses a dream place. The best time to visit is from June to September, as the lagoons fill with water from January to May thanks to the rains.
How to get there: In Barreirinhas, the nearest town, there are many hotels, inns and travel agencies offering visits to the Lençois Mahrenenses.
Rio de Janeiro
If you have to choose which of the most important cities in Brazil to visit, it will undoubtedly be Rio de Janeiro. It is a city that has it all. The views from Christ the Redeemer or the 396-meter-high Sugar Loaf summit are truly jaw-dropping. Copacabana or Ipanema are some of the most beautiful beaches in Brazil, they have a very special atmosphere. In the city, you can visit the Tijuca Natural Park with monkeys and toucans and the Barrio de Santa Teresa.
Don’t miss Selaron Steps, one of the most colorful places in the city, and Pedro Do Telegrafo, a stone that seems to dangle on the edge of a precipice where many enjoy taking beautiful photos.
Salvador Bahia
Also known as “the land of happiness”, it is a fusion of the best that Brazil has to offer: history, ancient traditions, sun and sea 365 days a year, magic, mysticism, a warm and friendly population for which everything is a reason to play. It is the soul of Brazil, where the meeting of different cultures and races has given rise to harmonious forms of music, dance and religion. Located on the cliffs overlooking the Baia de Todos os Santos, Salvador is divided into a “cidade baixa” corresponding to the port area, and a “cidade alta” which houses the historic center of the city, Pelourinho, full of churches and colonial buildings dating back to to the 17th century. Here, as in many other parts of the country, the artistic treasures of the colonial era have been restored to their former glory, giving visitors new spaces.La città è frequentata soprattutto da giovani, ed è recentemente diventata famosa anche tra i jet internazionali: molte celebrità si aggiravano a piedi nudi tra i numerosi chioschi che adornano le spiagge.
Natal
This is where the dune area begins, a series of long beaches that stretch from Natal to Fortaleza, intersecting the dunes that define the ocean on one side and the “caapongas”, natural lagoons on the other. fresh water. The main attraction of Fortaleza, an important commercial and port center in the Northeast, are the beautiful beaches that are located just outside the city limits, continuing the dune region that stretches from Natal to Fortaleza. Even the beaches of the city are very popular, more for the nightclubs and restaurants than for the sea: in fact, the sparkling Fortaleza never fails to have fun! For nature lovers, there are two interesting alternative routes along the northeastern coast with 800km of pristine beaches that stretch between Natal and Fortaleza and the Lencois Maranhenses desert, where dunes alternate with fresh water.
The protection of these landscapes is subject to strict regulations against pollution and construction, even at the expense of the comforts that tourists are used to. A visit is recommended for those who, with a spirit of adaptation, will be able to adapt to the simplicity of the accommodation in the typical pousads, colonial houses restored with tourists in mind. 160 km from Fortaleza it is one of the most surprising places on the entire Cearense coast. It is a wonderful place made up of dunes, lagoons, miles of wild beach and cliffs that almost on the seashore break in a vast pink sand. Five hours drive from Fortaleza is the small fishing village of Jericoacoara, an oasis of white sand dunes and green coconut trees that are reflected in the crystal clear sea, here simple but well maintained pousadas have been created that allow you to enjoy of one of the best seas in Brazil and a unique environment and atmosphere.
