The focus of our blog this month is to provide readers with tips for planning travel to South America for this upcoming holiday season. You may have noticed that we’ve already mentioned Brazil a couple of times. Indeed, if you are seeking a sun-drenched escape from chilly northern climates or just looking to put a twist on your holiday celebrations, Brazil cannot be beat.
The list of Brazil vacation destinations is nearly endless, but we’ve chosen 3 places where you can enjoy a sizzling holiday jam-packed with the best of Brazilian culture. (Also see our previous posts on a beach vacation on Ilha Grande and New Year’s Eve in Rio de Janeiro.)
Buzios
Buzios is a coastal paradise, where refugees from wintery conditions can frolic on gorgeous beaches, delight in warm temperatures, and snap dozens of pictures of spectacular vistas – all guaranteed to make your non-vacationing friends jealous. In Buzios, you can also surf, dive, snorkel, windsurf, sail, island hop, sun-bathe, hike, eat delicious food, dance all night, and sleep in charming pousadas (inns) with views of the sea. December through February is when things really get hot, both on the sand and on the dance floor, so it’s important to make reservations for travel to Buzios in advance in order to guarantee your choice of Buzios hotels.
Crystalline waters and forest-fringed white sand beaches are all part of the package on a Brazil vacation to Buzios.
Paraty
Perhaps you prefer a slower-paced alternative? Consider Paraty (pronounced par-a-chee), one of Brazil’s oldest cities founded in 1531 and now lauded by the New York Times as “the most culturally rich destination” on Brazil’s Costa Verde, the stretch of coast between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
On a Paraty tour, you can explore the cobblestoned streets of the well-preserved historical center, which exudes an understated charm. During a full moon, the streets close to the waterfront become flooded when the tide comes up. In town, you can buy cachaça (a liquor distilled from sugar cane and the primary ingredient for a cairpirinha) and browse boutiques specializing in art and handicrafts. The surrounding countryside boasts mountains, waterfalls, nature reserves, and the Gold Trail, the road that once connected Paraty to the inland mining towns that were the source of Brazil’s – or more precisely, the Portuguese crown’s – enormous mineral wealth in the 18th century. And the beaches? They number over 40, each more gorgeous than the next.
Spend your Brazil holidays at Trindade, the former hangout of 18th century pirates and now one of the most popular beaches in Paraty.
Praia do Forte
Traveling with kids? Visit Praia do Forte for a family-friendly, activity-filled Brazil vacation destination. Located 1.5 hours north of Salvador de Bahia, this paradisiacal town enchants travelers with pristine beaches lined with coconut palms, surrounded by tropical rainforest on land and coral reefs in the sea.
Projeto Tamar, an NGO dedicated to the protection of sea turtles, will appeal to children and adults alike; summer is the season when baby turtles hatch and are released safely into the sea. At Sloth Adventure Park (in Portuguese, Parque de Aventura Bicho-Preguiça), adrenaline junkies can zip line through rainforest canopies and bike down mountain trails, while travelers with milder tastes can try their hand at fishing and canoeing. All in all, Praia do Forte is the perfect place to be as idle or as active as you want.
Visit with sea turtles at TAMAR Research Station as part of a Praia do Forte tour.
Start planning your holiday travel with the help of experts at Brazil For Less, specialists in organizing travel packages to Brazil and South America. And as they say in Brazil, boa viagem!
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