Brazil on a Budget » Destinations

Salvador

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 07:38:34 +0000

Wandering the streets of the Pelourinho, admiring the decaying colonial architecture, you’ll feel as though you’ve stepped back in time to the 16th and 17th Century! Wander some more, passing rodas de capoeira, listening to thumping African drums, and smelling the wafting odors of aracajé (bean and shrimp fritters), and you’ll feel as though you’ve stepped into a little piece of Africa in Brazil! Here you can find great food, dancing, music, and culture to take your breath away. If you travel Brazil, you should not miss it. It’s not just a vacation spot; it’s a look into Brazil’s sometimes tumultuous past.

Salvador da Bahia is the Afro-Brazilian gem of the Northeast located in Todos os Santos Bay and a favorite of stop in many tourists Brazil vacations. From gorgeous coastline, to nightly capoeira shows and Afro-Brazilian concerts on the streets of the Pelourinho, to mystical Candomblé ceremonies, Salvador offers and enthralling introduction to Brazil’s African and colonial heritage. There’s nowhere else in Brazil, or in the world for that matter, quite like Salvador da Bahia! Not to mention it’s a great place to start travelling your way up Brazil’s coast to places like Praia da Pipa and Canoa Quebrada!

The high cliff that divides the city between Cidade Alta and Cidade Baixa gives the city a majestic feel, with buildings perched along the very edge of the Atlantic ocean and the great Cathedral looking down. Both cities, though particularly the Pelourinho, are renowned for their stunning colonial architecture. The two cities are connected by the famous Elevador Lacerda in which you can travel between the two cities and get a breathtaking view of Brazil’s most lively city. Local’s will tell you its carnival is far superior even to Rio de Janeiro, with a truly authentic feel and participants from all over the world. While the city can be dangerous and you should always be alert, do not be afraid to delve into this Brazilian cultural experience!

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Rio de Janeiro

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 07:34:11 +0000

Few, if any, cities are as stunning as Rio de Janeiro. With its backdrop of tropical forest-covered mountains, fronting brilliantly white sand beaches and deep blue seas, it’s no wonder Rio is known as the Cidade Maravilhosa (marvelous city). This picturesque setting will be sure to snag you some stunning photos and memories. And although the spectacular setting will make you fall in love with the city, it’s the Carioca spirit that will keep you coming back time after time! One thing is certain: no Brazilian vacation is complete without a trip to Rio de Janeiro!

More than anyone else in the world, Cariocas know how to enjoy and celebrate life, from spending an afternoon at Ipanema beach, to catching an impromptu capoeira performance on the street, to dancing samba all night in the Lapa clubs and bars. The city boasts some of the world’s most famous beaches, including Ipanema and Copacabana, as well as numerous less well-known gems such as Leblon and Barra da Tijuca beaches. Although Rio is best known for Carnaval, the city and the nightlife will keep you busy any time of year. Whether you go in search of great beaches, excellent museums, world-class food, adventure sports, or thriving culture and music, Rio will not disappoint. From excellent hostels to high-end hotels, from streetside food vendors to upscale restaurants, Rio de Janeiro has something to suit every budget and taste. Here are some of our top picks for this amazing and captivating city that you’re sure to love!

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Iguazu Falls

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 07:07:01 +0000

275 waterfalls, over 3 kilometres wide, over 80 metres high, wider than Victoria Falls, and higher than Niagara Falls, all set among dense tropical jungle: Iguaçu will inspire awe and amazement in even the most experienced traveler! Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, the falls straddle the Argentine-Brazilian border, with Argentina laying claim to the majority. The falls are a required stop on any Brazilian vacation.

The falls are surrounded by a national park on each side of the border, and, although much debated between the nationals of both countries, both sides are equally awe-inspiring – a trip to Iguaçu wouldn’t be complete without a visit to each side of the falls. (Note that each side of the falls requires a full day.) The Brazilian Parque Nacional do Iguaçu offers a more panoramic view of the falls – 275 separate falls in total -, while the Argentine Parque Nacional Iguazú offers a more up-close experience. The beauty, vastness and sheer enormity of the falls and the surrounding tropical jungle is guaranteed to captivate and amaze you! You can do many activities here, including delving right into the falls themselves by boat! This is definitely a highlight of any trip to Brazil or Argentina!

Note that it is possible to base yourself on either side of the border, either in the larger, more industrialized, Foz do Iguaçu (Brazil), or in the more quaint and quiet Puerto Iguazu (Argentina). Both towns offer good quality pousadas and hostels and equally good accessibility to the national parks. We would recommend, however, choosing Puerto Iguazu, as the price of accommodation tends to be a little lower, and the town, although significantly smaller, has more character and is considerably safer than Foz.

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Morro de Sao Paulo

Sun, 28 Mar 2010 21:47:15 +0000

If you’re looking for the ultimate escape from reality, look no further: Morro de São Paulo is it! Located at the northern tip of Ilha de Tinharé, and set at the convergence of three hills covered in lush tropical forest, perched over bays of brilliantly white sand beaches and turquoise waters, Morro de São Paulo is unarguably one of the most charming and picturesque beach towns in Bahia state. The sand covered streets and the ban on motorized vehicles add to Morro’s charm and isolation. This makes for the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of Salvador for those looking to soak up a little sun and have a lot of fun!

In the high season, the place teems with Brazilian and foreign tourists alike and hosts nightly beach parties that will keep you dancing until the sun comes up. In the low season, there’s just enough nightlife to keep you busy, while the town takes on a distinctly more mellow feel. From the main square, Broadway street leads down to Primeira Praia (First Beach), onto Segunda Praia (Second Beach), Terceira Praia (Third Beach), and so on. Each beach has its own feel, from deserted, to relaxed, to party central, so there’s a beach and a season for whatever you’re looking for! And with a range of hotels, hostels and restaurants to choose from, this place offers whatever amenities you’re looking for. Note that, although there is an ATM on the island, it often doesn’t work, so make sure to bring enough cash for the duration of your stay.

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Canoa Quebrada

Sun, 28 Mar 2010 21:46:50 +0000

Canoa Quebrada is one of the Northeast’s most popular beach destinations and justifiably so. With huge pink sand dunes and craggy cliffs tapering off onto a white sand beach, all fronting azul waters, tons of good quality pousadas and hostels, loads of good restaurants and the best nightlife in Ceará outside of Fortaleza, this place has much to draw travelers here and keep them coming back! It’s one of the must hit beach towns on the North East Circuit rivaling Praia da Pipa and Jericoacoara. When you travel Brazil, at least one of these towns should be on your list!

Besides the spectacular beach, Canoa Quebrada also offers a range of activities to keep you busy should you get ‘beached out’ (as if that could happen!), from kitesurfing, to dune buggy rides, to horseback riding, to jangada sailing. There is a ton to keep you occupied here and many travelers find it very difficult to leave! So beach it all day and party all night because this is the place where travelers relax and let loose in the Northeast!

The sandy cliffs of Canoa Quebrada have enthralled many a traveler and if you want both a stunning beach you’ll never forget and a slew of activities to keep you busy, Canoa Quebrada is the place to go. It’s worth a side trip from just about anywhere!

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Praia da Pipa

Sun, 28 Mar 2010 21:46:26 +0000

Rivaling Jericoacoara for top spot as the Northeast’s best beach destination, Praia da Pipa, or simply “Pipa”, puts up some tough competition. Majestic cliffs covered in tropical vegetation give way to pristine white sand beaches and brilliantly blue waters. Pipa, like most North Eastern beach towns, began as a small fishing village before it transformed into the surfing and beach party mecca it is today. Boasting great nightlife, ample restaurants, and with Praia da Pipa hostels being some of the best around, you will find it hard to leave this tropical paradise. Fill your days with everything from surfing, to hiking, to dolphin watching, and your nights with good food and pumping beach parties. The surfing in particular is some of the most spectacular around, though not the most technical.

Pipa’s lush green countryside quickly descends onto brilliant white sand beaches looking over turquoise waters that look as if they came straight from a movie set. These beaches are also home to some of the best beach parties north of Florianopolis and if you’ve come to Pipa for a good time, you won’t be disappointed. Despite the beach parties for which it is famous, Pipa retains a laid-back, easy-going kind of vibe that will have any backpacker feeling blissfully relaxed. Travelers are hugely diverse, ranging from hippies to surfers, to Brazilian and foreign backpackers, but all come for the fantastic combination of spectacular scenery, plenty of activities, thumping nightlife, great restaurants, and high quality hostels and pousadas. Sound like your kind of place? We’re sure it is, because it’s hard to wrong with beautiful beaches, sky blue waters, great surfing, and fantastic beach parties!

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Ilha Grande

Sun, 28 Mar 2010 21:45:37 +0000

If you’ve ever fancied yourself as a pirate, sailing to tropical islands and hiding among dense jungle (and boys, we all know that you have!), Ilha Grande is the place for you! From a refuge for pirates, to a hub for the slave trade, to a leper colony, to a prison for the country’s most violent and deranged criminals, the island is steeped in eerie history. This is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful spots you can visit on any Brazilian vacation and it is a haven for tourist and locals alike. There are quite a few Ilha Grande hotels and hostels to choose from and plenty of stunning scenery to take in. There are even some great family run pousadas where you can really get a true Brazilian vacation!

Thanks to this unsavory past, however, the island remains essentially untouched by large-scale tourism. Pristine, hidden beaches, beautiful colonial architecture, and lush tropical Mata Atlântica forest will seduce even the most particular traveler. With no cars, no banks and the only access point by ferry from the mainland, this is the perfect place to unwind and get away from it all! Don’t forget to delve into Ilha Grande’s crystal waters and take part in some activities such as scuba diving and snorkeling. The Isle is very easy to access for such a slice of paradise and should not be left out if you travel Brazil! From beautiful natural seascapes to lush jungle you won’t be sorry you fell in love with Ilha Grande.

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Jericoacoara

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 04:55:55 +0000

Jericoacoara, better known as simply “Jeri”, mesmerizes travelers with the perfect mix of beautiful beaches, stunning scenery, abundant activities and pumping nightlife. The village, consisting of six sand streets in all, is sandwiched between the Pôr do Sol sand dune, grassy hills and gorgeous coastline on two sides. For your comfort Jericoacoara hostels are some of the best in North Eastern Brazil and offer a great selection and range. The main beach is a wide, flat sand beach, located next to the Pôr do Sol sand dune, which can be climbed for spectacular sunsets. The other beach, on the north-east side of town, is a beautiful stretch of rosy pink sand, dotted with palm trees, facing turquoise waters and backed by grassy hills.

Jeri boasts world-class windsurfing and kite-surfing and ideal beginner surfing, so there’s plenty of activities to keep you busy. If water sports don’t tire you out, there’s lots of nightlife to keep you up till all hours of the morning! High season (July-August and December-Carnival) can get busy, so it’s advisable to book ahead. Note that the village has no banks, so stock up on cash prior to your arrival. If you’re coming from the East, this is best done in Fortaleza, while coming from the West, this can be done in Parnaíba, Jijoca, Camocim or Barreirinhas. If you travel Brazil, and can get to Jericoacoara, it is a must!

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