Ride the Elevador Lacerda

Hop on the Elevador Lacerda, connecting the Cidade Baixa and the Cidade Alta, for spectacular views of the colonial part of the city at a bargain price: only 10 centavos! Assuming you have any room left in your backpack for a few souvenirs, head across the street to the Mercado Modelo in the Cidade Baixa and pick up a few traditional Bahian souvenirs. From hammocks, to art and everything in between, this place has something for everyone! This is THE tourist activity in Salvador but it is also frequently used be locals of all walks of life. Get a slice of Bahian culture and diversity with a walk from the Mercado to the Pelourinho.

Step back in time in the Pelo

Be transported back in time to colonial Salvador! Wander the streets of the Pelourinho, lined with beautiful colonial buildings and teeming with Afro-Brazilian culture at every turn, from spontaneous rodas de capoeira, to traditionally dressed Bahian women, and mystical Candomblé ceremonies. You never know what you are going to find in the Pelourinho, keep an eye on the street kids and discover hidden restaurants or nightlife buried in the maze of colonial streets.

Dance to the beats of Afro-Brazilian drums in the Pelo

Take in some traditional Afro-Brazilian culture with the concert held every Tuesday night on the steps of the Escada do Carmo in the Pelourinho! You can find everything you need for a great night out around here, the caipirinhas flow and it is not hard to find capoeira to shock and bedazzle you. A great spot that should not be left out of any Brazil travels.

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Spend an afternoon at Ipanema beach.

Head to the famous Ipanema beach for an afternoon of sun, swimming, and some of the best people watching in the world! Add to that some of the best snacks you’ll have in Brazil, all brought directly to your sun chair….and you have the perfect day! Make sure to try the queijo coalho (cheese grilled on a charcoal grill), mate com limão (iced mate tea with lime-ade), and água de coco (coconut water). The entertainment and the food are cheap and satisfying and make for the perfect afternoon for the backpacker traveling Brazil on a budget!

Hand glide off Pedra Bonita and take in Rio from above.

This splurge in your budget will be one you’ll never forget. Jump from the Pedra Bonita (literally, “beautiful rock”) overlooking the beautiful São Conrado beach and glide for an amazing 15-25 minutes over the tropical forest-covered mountains, white sand beaches and turquoise waters of Rio de Janeiro. Pay the extra for the still photos, but skip the video if you’re on a tight budget.

Ride the Bondihno into Santa Teresa.

Catch the bonde, one of the last remaining streetcars that transported Cariocas all over Rio, and travel into the Bohemian district of Santa Teresa. You’ll feel as though you’ve stepped back in time as the bonde winds its way up cobblestone streets, past historic mansions towards Largo do Guimarães or Largo das Neves. If you’re feeling particularly brave, ride it for free as the locals do, hanging off the sides!

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Dolphin watch from the cliffs above the Baía dos

Golfinhos

Head west of Praia da Pipa away from the main drag of hostels and restaurants, through tropical forest to towering the cliffs above Baía dos Golfinhos to watch dolphins frolicking in the turquoise blue waters bellow. This is a surreal and unique experience that will be a highlight of any trip to Brazil’s Northeast!

Surf Praia do Amor

Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, head down to Praia do Amor, Pipa’s best surf beach, for an afternoon of surfing! Classes are offered, and surfboard rentals are available for about R$40/day.

Walk with the turtles at Praia do Madeiro

Follow the marked trails to Praia do Madeiro (also accessible from the Santúario Ecológico de Pipa), 1.5km west of Pipa town and watch the green sea turtles at high tide!  This will surely be a highlight of any Brazilian vacation.

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Explore quaint villages and take in spectacular tropical scenery on a boat tour of the island

Fly past beautiful beaches and mangroves, explore the offshore reefs of Garapuá and Moreré, and visit the villages of Boipeba and historic Cairu.  This day or afternoon trip, depending on what you want to make of it, will be a serene and enchanting experience and ensure some spectacular photos too!

Dance until the early morning at a beach party on Segunda Praia

Attend one of the best parties in Bahia on Segunda Praia where the beach is lined with caipirinha stalls selling any kind of fruit concoction you can think up, and everyone’s there to let loose and have a good time!  This is after all what Morro is famous for among backpackers and Brazilians alike!

Hike to the Fonte do Ceu waterfall

From the neighbouring village of Gamboa, take an afternoon hike to the beautiful Fonte do Ceu waterfall.  This peaceful walk culminates in a spectacular waterfall in a serene lush tropical setting – a perfect reward for an afternoon of hiking!

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Water sports

Try your hand at one of the many water sports offered in Jeri. Surf the local beaches with world class rentals and company as professionals from all over the world windsurf here. Kite-surfing is also a major hobby though lesson are expensive. From windsurfing, to kite-surfing, to plain old surfing, Jeri has it all!

Dune buggy ride to Tatajuba

If you’re coming from or headed to the West, splurge for a dune buggy instead of the overland truck for the trip to or from Camocim – the scenery is spectacular, from brilliantly white sand beaches and turquoise waters, to lush green oases, and you’ll be saving yourself money by combining transportation and tour costs all in one. This is a great way to arrive in Jeri and will undoubted be one of the highlights of any Brazil trip.

Walk to the Pedra Furada

Take a walk out along the grassy hills to the Pedra Furada, a spectacular rock outcropping. The red of the rock against the turquoise waters makes for the perfect photo op! It’s a Jeri staple, you must walk! Or, if you prefer a more exotic activities, horseback ride! Every backpacker can afford this one!

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Take in the full force of Iguaçú with a boat ride directly into the falls

Be overwhelmed and awe-inspired by the full wrath of the falls with a boat ride directly under the falls. This is definitely the only way to fully experience the sheer power of the water: it allows you to see some beautiful scenery of the falls and the river that you wouldn’t see from the shore, and best of all, it’s an absolute blast! Although this can be done from the Brazilian side of the falls, it’s more common and much cheaper to do it from the Argentine side. It is well worth the money and the views alone are virtual priceless.

Surround yourself with tropical fauna at the Parque das Aves.

This excellent, five-hectare bird sanctuary houses over 800 species of tropical birds of every colour combination imaginable, as well as butterflies, snakes, turtles, caiman, iguanas and more! Located only 300 metres from the entrance to the Parque Nacional do Iguaçu (Brazil), this makes a great stop on your way to the falls. This is a great addition to a day trip to Itaipu if you are staying on the Argentinean side. Doing them both in the same day will save you a double border crossing.

Be amazed by the enormity of Itaipú Dam

Straddling the Brazilian-Paraguayan border, this is the largest hydroelectric plant on Earth! It’s more than 8km long and 65 stories high, and provides a quarter of Brazil’s and 90 percent of Paraguay’s electricity! The sheer size of this place will make your jaw drop in awe! Shorter panoramic viewing tours or longer technical tours are available. It is the man made equivalent of Iguazu!

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Snorkel in the clear blue waters of Ilha Grande.

Gaze through crystal clear waters at tropical fish and marine life in one of the best places for snorkeling in Brazil! The best time of year for this is November to May when visibility can reach up to 15 metres. Try do Macacos Island, the Blue Lagoon and the Green Lagoon. Buy a waterproof camera before arriving on the island though – you’ll save yourself a good bit of money. You will rarely find waters this clear anywhere in the world so don’t miss this when you travel Brazil.

Dive among shipwrecks.

Dive into the past and swim among shipwrecks in the blue waters of Ilha Grande. The waters around the island hold one of the highest concentrations of shipwrecks in the world with 16 ships to explore! The highlights include Laja do Guriri, Ilha Jorge Grego and Ilha dos Meros. Try Elite Dive Center for dive courses and diving excursions with English-speaking guides. This will be one of the most memorable activities on any trip to Ilha Grande.

Hike to secluded beaches.

Trekking options abound on Ilha Grande, varying from 2 to 16km return trips, and are a great cheap but fun activity for the budget traveler! So pick a route that suits you, and set off to explore tropical forest, secluded white sand beaches, and brilliantly clear turquoise waters. It’s often possible to hike one way and catch a boat in the other direction. Explore then jungle without straying too far from the big city, no need to go as far as Iguazu!

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Zip line off the sand dunes

Get your thrills riding the zip lines on some of the sand dunes that take you plummeting down the dunes and drop you in pools of water below! The view on a clear day is one that will take your breath away if the zip line does not! Just ask at any of the Canoa Quebrada hostels for quick directions.

Kitesurf at the mouth of the Rio Jaguaribe

Canoa Quebrada is renowed for its kitsurfing! It’s a great sport to try if you are longing for adventure and something to spice up your travels. Although not exactly a budget option, it is a thrill and worth saving up for! The best time of year is from July to December, although it is possible to give it a try outside of windy season provided there is a bit of wind. Try Kite Holiday or Kite Surf Adventure.

Go traditional: sail a jangada

The water here is stunning and there is no better way to take it all in than from a Jangada. Jangadas are very traditional, and beautifully colourful Brazilian dugout sail boats. A ride in one of these makes for a relaxing and picturesque afternoon, though a lot less adrenaline pumping then the other options in Canoa Quebrada!

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