OTHER SUGGESTED TRIPS IN BRAZIL
Brazil is a HUGE country and if you are staying for one week, we recommend you choose one or at most 2 cities (or regions) to visit.
"CLASSIC" TOURS
What else can I see near Pipa?
Genipabu: Known in all of Brazil for (guided) buggy rides through the enormous sand dunes. They traditionally ask “com emoção?” (= with emotion?) which you should answer with a resounding “YES” to fly through the dunes. Think roller coaster without rails! The area is calmer compared to Pipa, but also with beautiful beaches. It can be reached by car or by bus; or by organized tour.
Natal (literal translation: Christmas) is the capital of Rio Grande do Norte, the state north of Paraiba, very famous for its beaches and sand dunes - people stay normally in Natal and go during the day to Genipabu, although hotels are available in Genipabu.
And Maracajaú, see description here.
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POPULAR DESTINATIONS IN BRAZIL
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro needs no introduction. Everyone who goes to Brazil wants to visit the "Cidade Maravilhosa." And indeed, it's a very beautiful city (and Barbara’s home town!).
However, as you may know, Rio has security issues. So, for your visit to be enjoyable, please be aware of your safety, do not wear or show any valuable items (especially walking on the streets), take taxis (Taxi Rio) or at least Ubers, avoid walking after 6pm, etc.
Please be sure that you stay in a hotel/Airbnb in the “Zona Sul” (the South Zone, including the neighborhoods of Leblon, Copacapana, Leme, Ipanema), which is the rich and touristy part of Rio, or in Barra da Tijuca (further away from the city center, but accessible by metro and also close to beaches).
Rio has a lot to offer, you can easily stay a week there, going to Lapa to party, hiking up to the Christ the Redeemer statue, the Sugar Loaf (Pão de Açúcar), surfing, getting kicked around by the waves at the devil’s beach, just observing beach life on the 14km beach in the city, etc.
www.visitbrasil.com/destinations/rio-de-janeiro.html
TIP: visit the Port area, with Kobra wall murals and the Museu do Amanhã (Museum of Tomorrow). Also visit the Botanical Garden.
PLEASE, REFRAIN FROM VISITING A FAVELA!! It can become dangerous very quickly and you can get "stuck."
Around Rio: there are many beautiful towns around Rio with mesmerizing beaches. You can reach these towns by car, by bus or even by taxi (from Rio)
It became famous after Brigitte Bardot lived there (there's a statue of her in the town's center)
Amazon Forest
To reach the Amazon, you must first fly to Manaus, the biggest city in the middle of the Amazon jungle. You may have to fly through Brasília to get to Manaus (at least 3h by plane). If you want to take a tour there, we recommend Iguana Tour, which does tours also in the middle of the jungle: I've done it (Barbara) with Iguana Tour and it was simply one of the coolest tours I've ever done. Recommendation: 4 days, 5 nights, so you can really explore (sleep in the forest, do tours in the jungle, visit an indigenous tribe, see the sunrise from the river, see alligators, swim with the botos (river dolphins), see where two different rivers meet – the Rio Negro and Solimões, etc).
Foz do Iguaçu
Foz do Iguaçu is the largest waterfall of South America on the border between Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. On the Brazilian side you can walk over walkways very close to the waterfall (you’ll get very wet so bring a rain poncho or buy one there), on the Argentinian side you can get a boat to go very close to the bottom. Plan one or better two days to visit the Iguaçu Park (one for the Brazilian side and the other one for the Argentinian side). You can also cross the border and go to Argentina or Paraguay or do a visit in Itaipu Dam (the largest hydroelectric power plant in production in the world). The Bird Park is also a nice place to visit and see the diversity of birds of the region.
Pantanal (Bonito)
Pantanal is a natural reserve the size of France! Ride down the river to find untouched wildlife, capybaras chilling out with alligators, look for the elusive jaguar, and fish for some piranhas. You must fly to Campo Grande or Cuiabá to reach the Pantanal area and do not forget to take a guide/tour.
If you are visiting the Pantanal, do not miss the city of Bonito in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, with its crystalline rivers, waterfalls, and caverns. It’s a great place to visit if you are in the area!
The city is known by its sustainable and eco-tourism. So, if you want to go there, you need to book everything in advance (as they control the number of people that can enter the site each day). Go through any of the many local agencies (the prices are all the same, as they are set by the city).
Bonitour Viagens e Turismo
Try alligator meat when in Bonito (it's all legal and cooked safely, don’t worry!).
Bahia
Salvador: many of you know the city as "Salvador de Bahia". It was the first Brazilian capital and is renowned for its natural beauty, friendliness of its people, and the strong influence of African culture. The Historic Centre of Salvador is a place where visitors will find streets and architectural monuments that date back to Colonial Brazil, the Empire, and the First Republic. Containing the neighbourhoods of Sé, Pilar, and Pelourinho (added to UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage List), the region is culturally rich and the home to historic monuments from the period between the 17th and 19th centuries, making it a very popular destination with tourists looking for museums, theatres, churches, musical performances, local cuisine, and handicrafts.
TIP: Salvador is very beautiful but be aware of safety (be street smart), as it's a big city.
Morro de São Paulo: is a small island a 2h ferry ride from the port of Salvador. There is no “fast boat,” so just say no if someone offers, it’s a common ruse to overcharge you for a normal ticket. The island has no cars, and you can walk across the island and back in less than a day. Very recommended to stay a couple of days relaxing, sitting on the beach.
Chapada Diamantina: Amazing hiking/biking trips, lakes, waterfalls. You'll need a guide (they can also do a package for the whole period you are staying, with a different tour every day). Since it takes time to get there, take at least four days. It will be an intense journey. You’ll do day hiking trips and move by car to a different area every (other) day. For some hikes you’ll be hiking under the hot sun, but guides will tell you how much water you need to pack. Do not miss the waterfall “Cachoeira do Buracão.” There are direct flights from Salvador to Lençóis (the main village inside the park).
A recommended agency for the tour (they have guides who can speak English):
Pernambuco
Recife is the capital of Pernambuco state, and it’s called the Brazilian Venice due to the river and canals around it. It had a period of Dutch colonization that is visible from the different architecture compared with other cities in the northeast. Visit the center of Recife and its baroque churches. In front of most beaches, you’ll see signs warning of shark attacks, so don’t go swimming where no one else is ;) It has a vivid nightlife. Olinda is a small village close by worth the visit. Typically, you visit Olinda during the daytime and Recife at night.
As in any big city, be aware of your safety!
South of Recife is Porto de Galinhas (Chicken Port), which is a beach village littered with chicken statues and many (all inclusive) beach resorts. It can be reached by car (1h30 from Recife), by bus (2h) or by organized tour. Small town vibes, very safe!
In Pernambuco, we also recommend you visit: Itamaracá, Muro Alto and Praia dos Carneiros, for the beaches.
Alagoas
Maragogi: if you like snorkeling and diving, do not miss Maragogi! One place in Brazil that compares to the Caribbean. It’s close to the city of Maceió and around 1h30 by car from Porto de Galinhas. You can also reach it by taking bus to Maceió and then another bus to Maragogi.
Paraíba – João Pessoa
João Pessoa is the easternmost place of the Americas “Ponta dos Seixas,” the place where sun rises first. The city is the capital of Paraíba state. It’s considered a medium-sized city with around 700,000 inhabitants and is not touristy at all - you will not see a lot of foreigners here. It's also one of the safest capitals in Northeast. It’s the third oldest city of Brazil and has a very nice historical center with many churches. The old town is located around 3 miles from the beach, we recommend going there to visit, but the area close to the beach is also very populated and there are options for eating and drinking, especially during the evening. There are many miles of beach within the city. You can rent a chair with an umbrella for some shade, or just put your towel (or locally bought canga) anywhere. The best beaches are: Cabo Branco, Tambaú, Caribessa and Seixas (not exactly in this order).
Boat trips to Picãozinho or Seixas (coral barriers) are very common and it’s worth going there to relax and to have a nice view of the city. Boats depart from the area close to Hotel Tambaú (in front of Bob’s restaurant) and leave around one hour before low tide. There are also boats to Areia Vermelha (a sand island formed when the tide is low) leaving from Caribessa.
For seeing the sunset, go to Praia do Jacaré - you will see the sunset from the river with the sound of Jurandi do Sax (this guy is playing Ravel's Bolero in the saxophone every afternoon for years!). Please note that sunset is around 17:40, so it’s recommendable to arrive there around 17:00 (it takes around 25min to go there by car from Tambaú).
For a day trip or to spend a night, you can go to the south, there is a very beautiful area of beaches (Jacuma, Tabatinga, Coqueirinho e Tambaba), including a nudist beach (Tambaba). You can rent a car or do it with a tour company (normally in a buggy).
If you like to do sports, enjoy the beach promenade early in the morning (around 6am) or after 5pm to go running or do some exercise.
Maranhão – Lençois Maranhenses
A place that's on our bucket list is the Lençois Maranhenses National Park. It's a vast area of undulating, swept sand dunes between which rainwater lakes form at certain times of the year. The result is midnight blue lakes offset by brilliant white dunes, and the option to explore them on foot, on four legs or on wheels. If you can carve out the time to travel to the north-east and spend a few days exploring here, you won’t regret it.
How to get there?
The best way to reach the park is to get to São Luís, a former colonial city about four hours from Lençois Maranhenses. Flights from all over the county land regularly and once in the city, almost every pousada (inn), hotel or hostel will be able to arrange a transfer for you. Buses do the rounds picking up tourists from their accommodation around 7am each morning.
The best time to go is between June and September when the lakes are full and plentiful, and the sun is less intense.
Ceará
Fortaleza is a touristy city, one of the biggest in Northeast. There are nice beaches outside the city, like Canoa Quebrada, and the biggest aquapark in Latin America - Beach Park. Beach Park also has the longest waterslide in the world: 14 floors high and reaching speeds over 60 mi/h. You can reach Fortaleza by plane (1h) or by car (around 8-9h driving).
As is the case in other capital cities, please be aware of your safety in Fortaleza, as it's a big city. Follow the tips from the Safety section of this guide.
Jericoacoara: sand dunes, beautiful beaches, and calm atmosphere. It can be touristy depending on the season, but it’s definitely a spot to visit. It’s located in the state of Ceará, after Fortaleza (around 4h driving from Fortaleza).
Sergipe - Aracaju
Aracaju, the capital city in the state of Sergipe, has beautiful beaches where visitors will be able to rest or have fun surrounded by beautiful sand dunes and coconut trees. Founded in 1855, the city was Brazil’s first planned state capital. Known for its beautiful beaches and catamaran rides, Aracaju’s urban planning was done in such a way that its streets were designed to end at the Sergipe River, which flows through the city and into the sea.
Atalaia Waterfront, the main tourist site in the city, is two and a half miles long and contains a large leisure complex, hotels, and restaurants. There is also an Oceanarium there, which is home to several Brazilian marine wildlife species. The Oceanarium is administered by the Tamar Project, dedicated to the protection of sea turtles in Brazil.
Fernando de Noronha
Where we are going for our honeymoon!
Pristine beaches on the Island Fernando de Noronha - an island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, 1h from Recife or Natal by plane. It’s a national park, very beautiful. You can hike, surf, dive, take a boat trip with dolphins!
Amazing place to go, but bit more expensive.
Tourism is super controlled in the island (very sustainable and eco-friendly), so you need to book for everything in advance. Be aware of that!
São Paulo
The biggest city in Brazil (around 11.5 million people), São Paulo, colloquially known as Sampa, is one of these cities that never sleep. There is always something going on. From plays and cultural exhibits to bars and restaurants that are open at all hours of the day and night, visitors have no problem finding something to do. The city, which has the same name as the state, has countless movie theatres, cultural centers, museums, historic buildings, parks, theatres, and art galleries. It's the "Brazilian New York."
As the biggest city, also be aware of your safety!
You can find amazing restaurants and almost anything you’re looking for.
