From dreamy-hued Instagrams and Tropicália to artistic hubs in beautiful but neglected buildings,get inside the city’s diverse urban sceneCities is.
São Paulo in five words
“Efferverscent chaos of mashed cultures.”
The sound of the city
São Paulo is known as the land of drizzle. Whether harmless showers or heavy storms, it rains quite a bit here. Sometimes it is a problem and some neighbourhoods flood; sometimes it is a blessing because our water system is archaic and we rely on the rain to fill our reservoirs.
What everyone is tuning in to
Although she’s from Rio, Jout Jout is getting people from São Paulo (and all over Brazil) hooked on her super simple yet humorous and smart videoblog. In it she talks about frivolities alongside more serious issues, such as abusive relationships and professional dissatisfaction.
The best venue
In the Centro neighbourhood, there are many beautiful but neglected buildings that have become creative and artistic hubs in the past few years. Farol is one of the most complete and collaborative of these hubs. On different floors of the same building you can find Eduqativo, an institute created to develop new ways of collective education; Líquen, a space for designers finding balance through digital and manual work; Fluxo, a journalism staffroom, dedicated to raw news covered across different platforms; and Balsa, a place for hanging out that has a lovely view from the terrace.
Top of the playlist
Terno Rei is a rising band in São Paulo’s music scene. Their sound is part gloomy, part mellow and they often write about urban loneliness – a subject most Paulistanos can relate to. Later this month they will perform at Primavera Sound Festival in Barcelona.
Favourite local artist
Marina Rheingantz is a young painter who pictures dark and odd landscapes in an almost abstract way. She finds inspiration in memories and images that already exist, from photographic work to the films of Wim Wenders.
The big talking point
In São Paulo, water is an increasingly important issue. In 2014, the city suffered its most severe drought since 1930. Even though it rains a lot – and last February was the wettest month in 20 years – the reservoirs still haven’t filled to more than 5% of capacity.
The look on the street
The look on the street is as diverse as the city itself, but on the whole it’s cosmopolitan and smart, with some lightness and freshness to it – it is a tropical country we live in, after all. And because there can be sun, rain and cold wind in the same day, Paulistanos know how to work their layers.
The best Instagram account
Lane Marinho is a visual artist and crafter with an eye for São Paulo’s best features, capturing beautiful shapes and colours under a dreamy light.
What São Paulo does better than anywhere else …
Immigrant festivals. Whether Italian or Japanese, there are many big traditional festivities held in the city. There is even one festival organised by the Immigration Museum, where immigrant citizens from 20 different countries exhibit their traditional cuisine and culture in order to celebrate São Paulo’s diversity.
The big cultural moment
Most people say the city’s greatest cultural moment was the Brazilian Music festival, which was televised in the late 1960s and has recently inspired a documentary called A Night in ’67. The festival showcased artists from one of the most important and subversive movements in Brazilian cultural history, the Tropicália, including Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil and Os Mutantes – artists who were later censored or exiled.
The best street art
Street art is pretty strong in São Paulo. Whether graffiti or just straight-forward pixação – as we call our spiky hieroglyphic tags – you can find it anywhere. Local artist Daniel Melim’s Mural da Luz, as eye-catching and interesting as it is, may not be the most significant in content – a sort of pop-art deconstruction of an advertisement. But, because of its location and integration with the city’s landscape, it has become one of the most memorable and engaging pieces of street art around.
Brazil, Brazil News, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Art, Inhotim, Art Gallery, Artists, Bernardo Paz, Exhibitions, BrumadinhoArtists pavilions are dotted among the landscape at Inhotim, photo courtesy of Inhotim.
Founded in the 1980s by former mining magnate, Bernardo Paz, Inhotim was originally a home for his private art collection. In 2006 however Paz opened the park to the public and has since turned it into one of the most original cultural experiences in the world.
Hundreds of works are on display from artists from over thirty countries, including Anish Kapoor, Chris Burden, Doug Aitken and Brazilians Tunga, Adriana Varejão and Vik Muniz. Many have been asked to create site-specific works and a number have pavilions dedicated only to their work.
Visitors are advised to take two days to appreciate all that Inhotim has to offer. It is possible to bus around in a golf buggy or to amble between installations, wandering through the countryside coming across works of art. Many are interactive, like for example Olafur Eliasson’s giant, mirrored kaleidoscope that reflects shards of the green surroundings down its barrel or Jorge Macchi’s “Piscina”, a swimming pool inspired by a telephone book which visitors are encouraged to dip in to.
The botanical gardens have over 5,000 species of plants including one of most complete collections of palms in the world. Research programs run alongside conservation efforts and there is a Private Reserve of Natural Heritage which is almost as large as the public area. The surroundings at Inhotim are intrinsic to the experience and the grounds are thoroughly and thoughtfully landscaped to open up new perspectives and compliment the installations.Brazil, Brazil News, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Art, Inhotim, Art Gallery, Artists, Bernardo Paz, Exhibitions, BrumadinhoJorge Macchi’s “Piscina”, which was inspired by the alphabetical tabs on a phone book, photo courtesy of Inhotim.
Paz’s intention is to democratize art and bring it to the masses. By employing much of the local community, running many educational programs for children and putting vast amounts of his own money into it the park he hopes to introduce people to another world and revolutionize how art is experienced.
As he said to the Wall Street Journal in 2013, “People will still have to travel to Inhotim, because it’s impossible to understand it on TV or a computer. It’s all to do with the senses and emotion. Nobody can live without emotion. Teach children to see beauty. Beauty is the first step. People need to organize their needs and desires, that will lead to the new world government.”
Special events run throughout the year, including exhibitions, music festivals, classes and guided tours. On site there are restaurants and cafes as well as shops, though at present there is nowhere to stay. A hotel is under construction but until it is completed visitors can check-in to some of the pousadas in the local town, Brumadinho. Or it is possible to commute out from Belo Horizonte. Buses leave daily from the bus station.
Named the first capital of Brazil, Salvador has a vibrant mix of cultures, where smiles and alegria (Portuguese for “joy”) are everyday currency.
As the locals say, “Sorria, você está na Bahia!” (Smile, you’re in Bahia). Bahia is the most African state of Brazil, home of soul and rhythm, and famous for it’s nightlife.
Whether you’re planning to spend a few days in this exciting city or you’ve just landed and don’t know where to start, here are the top places to go and things to do in Salvador.
Even though the Pelourinho is considered a tourist attraction, you can’t miss it. In the heart of the old city, the Pelourinho is basically a postcard of Salvador. Among the wonderfully restored pastel-colored buildings you can go shopping, see cultural information centers, find heaps of restaurants, bars and see live music.
Founded in 1594 by Portuguese settlers, the historic center of Brazil’s first city got its name from the main square where slaves and criminals were once punished. In 1985, UNESCO named the Pelourinho a World Heritage site.
It’s been a source of inspiration for Brazilian musicians, like Caetano Veloso, as well as international stars, like Paul Simon and Michael Jackson, who recorded scenes of a video clip here.
Colorful buildings in the Historic Center of Salvador, Brazil. Photo credit: Getty Images/Paul Biris
Olodum Rehearsal
While you’re in Salvador, check out an Olodum rehearsal. The Olodum band is a traditional Afro-Brazilian group who have been around since the 70s, and are best known for their annual Carnaval Bloco. The group hosts shows and rehearsals year round, which will easily become a trip highlight for any Afro-Brazilian music lover.
Sunset Over Baía de Todos Santos
As the day comes to a close, find yourself the perfect spot to watch the sunset over Baía de Todos Santos. Elevador Lacerda is a beautiful old art deco elevator, and is easily the most famous spot to watch the sunset. The views are incredible, but it has become a trap for tourists, where local criminals do some of their best work while you’re distracted. Some visitors have reported feeling uneasy, and say they spent the whole time watching their belongings.
Instead, find a nearby restaurant and grab a drink while you enjoy sunset without the worry – or crowds
Enjoy Sunset Jazz at Solar do Unhão on Saturdays in front of the Modern Art Museum (MAM). Local artists play jazz sets with Baian beats from 6pm until the sun goes down. It’s a great mix of live music, with incredible views of the bay, set at the foot of one of the most architecturally famous buildings in the city.
Sunset from Elevador Lacerda. Photo credit: Getty Images/diegograndi
Take a Day Trip to Arembepe Beach
To experience the best of Bahia, you’ve got to get out of town.
Head to the small coastal town of Arembepe, about 27mi (45km) north of Salvador. There’s a small hippie village located close to the city center, where the peace and love generation still sell crafts and locally-grown produce. Locals here choose to live off nature, in mud and straw houses, and without electricity. This community housed Mick Jagger and Keith Richards in the 60s, American rocker Janis Joplin in 1970, and the Novos Baianos for extended stays on several occasions.
The beach is also home to sea turtle conservation projects. From December to February you can see baby turtles make their way into the ocean.
Skip the over-popular coastal village of Praia do Forte in favor of a sleepy fishermans town called Itacimirim, which is just over an hour north of Salvador. Spread along 4mi (8km) of quiet beaches, there are natural pools for snorkeling, ideal diving conditions, fresh water rivers collide with the sea, and a few warm-water surf beaches.
Take a Ferry to Boipeba
Take a step back in time on a day trip to Boipeba. Wake up early in Salvador to catch a two-hour ferry to Boipeba Island.
This small island with four villages is a protected environmental area, where no cars or motorbikes are permitted. All transport is on foot or by farm tractor. On the island you can see native Atlantic Rainforest, salt marshes, sand dunes, extensive mangroves, live reefs, palm-tree lined beaches and a rich ecosystem of plants, sea life and wild animals.
At Moreré there are a few guest houses, bars and restaurants, but no pier for boats to dock. All transport to and from this charming village is by canoe from the main beach.
The largest country in South America, Brazil occupies almost half the continent. Nearly all of it is in the Southern Hemisphere and much of it is tropical, with vast stretches of rainforest filled with exotic plants and wildlife. Its 7,400-kilometer Atlantic coast is lined with golden sand beaches, and its interior is filled with mineral resources. Gold from Brazil’s mines still lines the churches of Portugal, the colonial power that ruled Brazil until 1822. This strong Portuguese influence is evident in Brazil’s colonial architecture, in decorative arts such as the glazed tiles in its churches and convents, and in the language. For tourists, Brazil is both a tropical paradise and an exciting cultural destination with attractions for all tastes, from idyllic beach holidays and jungle explorations to world-class art museums and the pulsing rhythms of Rio’s Carnival.
1 Sugar Loaf, Rio de Janeiro
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The easily recognized emblem of Rio de Janeiro, the rounded rock peak of Sugar Loaf juts out of a tree-covered promontory, rising 394 meters above the beaches and city. Its summit is one of the first places tourists go, for views of Rio and the harbor, and for the thrill of riding suspended in a cable car between Sugar Loaf and the Morro da Urca, a lower peak from which a second cableway connects to the city. Rio’s first settlement began below these peaks, near the long Praia da Urca beach, and you can tour one of the three early forts there, the star-shaped Fort São João.
2 Cristo Redentor, Rio de Janeiro
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With arms outstretched 28 meters, as if to encompass all of humanity, the colossal Art Deco statue of Christ, called Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer), gazes out over Rio de Janeiro and the bay from the summit of Corcovado. The 709-meter height on which it stands is part of the Tijuca National Park, and a rack railway climbs 3.5 kilometers to its top, where a broad plaza surrounds the statue. Completed in 1931, the 30-meter statue was the work of Polish-French sculptor Paul Landowski and Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa, and is constructed of reinforced concrete and soapstone. The eight-meter base encloses a chapel that is popular for weddings. Although this is one of Brazil’s most readily recognized icons, it is often mistakenly called The Christ of the Andes, confused with the older statue marking the boundary between Argentina and Chile.
A mid-point stop on the railway leads to trails through the Tijuca National Park, a huge forest that protects springs, waterfalls, and a wide variety of tropical birds, butterflies, and plants. Several more viewpoints open out within the park.
3 Carnaval, Rio de Janeiro
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Few shows match Rio’s pre-Lenten Carnaval (Carnival) extravaganza for color, sound, action, and exuberance. Make no mistake, this is not just another rowdy street party, but a carefully staged showpiece, where spectators can watch the parades of competing samba dancers from a purpose-built stadium designed by none other than Brazil’s best-known architect, Oscar Niemeyer. Called the Sambódromo, this long series of grandstand boxes provides ringside seats to a 700-meter parade route where dancers and musicians from the competing samba schools strut their stuff in a dazzling explosion of brilliant costumes. If mob scenes are less appealing to you than more spontaneous celebrations (that are equally riotous and colorful), you’ll also find Carnivals in Salvador, Bahia, Recife, and other Brazilian cities.
4 Iguaçu Falls
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At the point where Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina meet, the Iguaçu river drops spectacularly in a semicircle of 247 waterfalls that thunder down into the gorge below. Just above the falls, the river is constricted to one-fourth of its usual width, making the force of the water even stronger. Some of the falls are more than 100 meters high and they cover such a broad area that you’ll never see all of them at once, but you do get the broadest panorama from the Brazilian side. Catwalks and a tower give you different perspectives, and one bridge reaches all the way to one of the largest, known as the Garganta do Diabo (Devil’s Throat). You can cross to the Argentinian side for closer views from catwalks that extend farther into the center of the falls. The two sides offer different perspectives and views, so most tourists plan to see both. The falls are protected by the UNESCO-acclaimed Iguaçu National Park, where subtropical rain forests are the home to more than 1,000 species of birds and mammals, including deer, otters, ocelots, and capybaras.
5 Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro
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Downtown Rio’s most fashionable and famous section follows Avenida Nossa Senhora de Copacabana and is bordered all along one side by four kilometers of white sand and breaking surf. The beach is separated from the buildings and traffic by a broad promenade paved in black and white mosaic in an undulating pattern reminiscent of streets in Lisbon, Portugal. The beach isn’t just for show. It’s also a popular playground filled with sun-worshipers, swimmers, and kids building sand castles whenever the weather is fine. Stroll the streets here to find restaurants, smart shops, cafés, and beautiful old buildings from the days when Rio was Brazil’s capital. One of these, the famed Copacabana Palace, is protected as a national monument. Inside its lobby, you can easily imagine seeing the royalty and film idols who have stayed here.
6 Amazon Rain Forests
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About 20 kilometers southeast of Manaus, the dark Rio Negro waters meet the light muddy water of the Rio Solimões, flowing side by side for about six kilometers before mixing as the Amazon. Boat trips from Manaus take you to this point, called Encontro das Aguas, meeting of the waters. Other boat trips take you into the heart of the rain forests and the network of rivers, channels, and lakes formed by the three rivers. In the Rio Negro, the Anavilhanas Islands form an archipelago with lakes, streams, and flooded forests that offer a full cross-section of the Amazonian ecosystem. You can see monkeys, sloths, parrots, toucans, caimans, turtles, and other wildlife on a boat trip here. Also close to Manaus, the 688-hectare Janauari Ecological Park has a number of different ecosystems that you can explore by boat along its narrow waterways. An entire lake here is covered with giant water-lilies found only in the Amazon region. While in Manaus, be sure to see its famous Teatro Amazonas, the Italian Renaissance-style opera house, designed to put Manaus on the map as South America’s great center of culture.
7 Brasília’s Modernist Architecture
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Brazil’s new city of Brasília was carved out of the wilderness and completed in less than three years to replace Rio de Janeiro as the country’s capital in 1960. The ambitious plan by Lúcio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer became a showpiece of city planning and avant-garde architecture, and it remains today as one of the world’s few cities that represent a completed plan and a single architectural concept. Without the normal mix of residential and business districts, the entire governmental section is composed of major architectural highlights, which are the city’s main tourist attractions. Some of the most striking surround Praça dos Tràs Poderes: the presidential palace, supreme court, and the two sharply contrasting congress buildings, plus the Historical Museum of Brasília and the Panteão da Liberdade (Pantheon of Freedom), designed by Oscar Niemeyer. That architect’s best-known building in the city is the circular Catedral Metropolitana Nossa Senhora Aparecida, whose curved concrete columns rise to support a glass roof. Another of Niemeyer’s landmark works is the Palácio dos Arcos, surrounded by beautiful gardens designed by Brazilian landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx, who worked with Niemeyer on several projects throughout Brazil. The round Memorial dos Povos Indígenas (Museum of Indigenous People) is patterned after a traditional Yąnomamö round house. But many consider Niemeyer’s finest work to be the Monumento JK, a memorial to President Juscelino Kubitschek, the founder of Brasilia. Brasilia has been named a UNESCO World Heritage city.
8 Salvador’s Pelourinho
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The Cidade Alta (Upper Town) of Brazil’s former colonial capital has been named a UNESCO World Heritage site for its exceptional collection of 17th- and 18th-century colonial buildings, the finest such ensemble in South America. Called the Pelourinho, this old quarter is where you’ll find Salvador’s most beautiful churches and monasteries, built at a time when Brazil was the source of Portugal’s riches, and the plentiful gold was lavished on the colony’s religious buildings. The finest and most opulent of the city’s churches is São Francisco, built in the early 1700s and filled with intricate carvings covered in gold. In the choir and cloister, you can see excellent examples of Portuguese tile panels, called azulejos. This was the friary church, and next to it is the church of the Franciscan Third Order. It’s impossible to miss the riotously carved façade covered in statues and intricate decoration. The interior is just as ornate, surpassing even the Portuguese Baroque in its opulent detail.
9 Ouro Preto
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The wealth of Brazil’s state of Minas Gerais in its glory days of the colonial period is easy to imagine from the interiors of the churches in its old capital, Ouro Preto. Entire walls are washed in gold that flowed – along with diamonds – from the mines surrounding the city in the 17th and 18th centuries. Cascading down the sides of a steep valley and surrounded by mountains, Ouro Preto is a jewel of a colonial town, but its steep narrow streets and mountain setting – however captivating for tourists today – didn’t meet the needs of a growing provincial capital. The government moved to the newly built capital of Belo Horizonte, leaving Ouro Preto in its time capsule. The 17th-century Baroque and Rococo churches of São Francisco de Assis and Matriz de Nossa Senhora do Pilar are the best examples, but the entire town is so rich in colonial architecture that Ouro Preto has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The steep streets, so precipitous in places that they become stairways, are lined by gracious colonial mansions, and white churches crown its hills with Baroque bell towers.
10 Pernambuco Beaches
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The crystal waters, tall palm trees, and broad stretches of silver sand are only a few of the reasons why Porto de Galinhas is frequently cited as Brazil’s best beach. For a country with more than 7,000 kilometers of Atlantic coast, much of it sandy beaches, that’s saying a lot. The town stretching along the beach is laidback, colorful, and just the right blend of old-fashioned beach town fun and chic boutiques. Its hotels and resorts lie close to the land instead of soaring in high-rise blocks. Jangadas, picturesque sailboats, will take you out to reef-top pools where brilliant tropical fish swim around your feet in ankle-deep water. You can also take a boat to a lagoon where tiny seahorses swim, and you can scuba dive to explore impressive coral reefs or shipwrecks, kayak in the lagoons and estuary, or buy a fanciful kite from a beach kiosk to fly in the steady breeze. Nearby Maracaipe is popular with surfers.
Porto de Galinhas is just one of the beautiful beaches on Pernambuco’s 187-kilometer coast. Closer to Recife, 17th-century Olinda is a UNESCO World Heritage Site overlooking a popular beach. The main beaches in Recife itself are Praia da Boa Viagem, São José da Coroa Grande, and the Carne De Vaca. Brazil’s other top beaches are
11 Belo Horizonte
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The capital of the state of Minas Gerais gave the pre-eminent Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer his first commissions, and today, these early Niemeyer buildings draw tourists and fans of Modernist architecture to the city. His first major work, which immediately set him apart from conventional architects, was the parabolic-curved São Francisco de Assis church, beside a lake in the Pampulha neighborhood. On the hillside above it, and connected by gardens designed by landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx, is Niemeyer’s earlier casino building, now an art museum. Overlooking the large Praça da Liberdade in the city center is the sinuous apartment building, Edificio Niemeyer, one of his most famous early works. The clean geometric lines of his later Palácio das Artes mark the edge of the Municipal Park, housing the Minas Gerais Craft Center featuring works of contemporary craftsmen. The Postmodern Rainha da Sucata – Queen of Scrap Iron – is another landmark building in Belo Horizonte, this one the work of Éolo Maia and Sylvio Podestá. It now houses the mineralogy museum.
12 Art Museums of Sao Paulo
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São Paulo holds some of the best collections of fine arts in Latin America, and the buildings in which they are housed are architectural landmarks as well. The Museu de Arte, MASP, displays the continent’s most comprehensive collection of western art, with representative works by artists from the Renaissance through modern masters. There are 73 bronze sculptures by Degas and works by Renoir, Manet, Van Gogh, Matisse, Picasso, and Miró. From its beginning, the museum has concentrated on works of mid- to late-20th-century artists, and the building designed by architect Lina Bo Bardi is a Modernist landmark. Oscar Niemeyer designed the Pavilhão da Bienal de Artes in Ibirapuera Park, home to the Museu de Arte Contemporânea. More than 8,000 works of art – one of Latin America’s largest collections of 20th- century Western artists – includes Picasso, Chagall, Kandinsky, Miró, and Modigliani along with major Brazilian painters. Set above Versailles-inspired formal gardens, Museu do Ipirangahouses paintings and decorative arts.
When you think of Brazil, you probably think of Rio de Janeirowith its glamorous Copacabana Beach, vibrant Lapa, and the bohemian quarters of Santa Teresa. We loved our time in Rio, but it wasn’t until we traveled further North, exploring destinations fringing the Northeastern Coast, that we discovered a thriving beach scene, unspoiled nature, deep colonial heritage, and unique succulent cuisine.
If you are dreaming about a trip to Brazil, here are a few of our favourite destinations worth visiting in this part of the country.
1. Salvador
If you are coming to Salvador from Rio de Janeiro (like we did), you’ll find the city to be a shock to the system (but in a good way). For us, its appeal was far beyond the cobblestone streets and colourful buildings of the charming Old Town (World Heritage Site) and the beautiful views of the sun setting over the ocean from the Santo Antônio da Barra Fort.
Coastline in Salvador, Brazil
It was here that we got a chance to sample some amazing Bahian cuisine (aracaje and moqueca are the best ), we learned a bit about the history of the slave trade in Brazil, and got our first introduction to the capoeira dance. If you are looking for a city to delve into Brazilian culture, Salvador is it!
2. Recife
At first glance, Recife didn’t strike us as anything special. Its gritty commercial center, full of high rise apartments and business buildings didn’t inspire us to stick around for too long, but the second we stepped foot on Recife’s long sandy drag known as Praia Boa Viagem, we knew we hit a real hot spot. The beautiful stretch of beach was full of locals and visitors enjoying sun, sand, fresh coconuts, and fried fish and offered a perfect spot to catch the days for a day or five.
3. Olinda
Just half an hour north of Recife sits a pretty little town of Olinda, that in our opinion had more charm and appeal than most other cities in Brazil’s Northeast.
We fell in love with Olinda’s pastel-coloured buildings, winding streets, and beautiful views that emerged once we climbed to Alto da Se, the cathedral square at the top of the town. Street food and souvenir stalls filled the square with buzz and excitement, making it that much harder to say goodbye to this bohemian town and move on.
4. Fernando de Noronha
The island of Fernando de Noronha is Brazil’s best kept secret. It’s exclusive (only 400 people are allowed to be visiting the island at once) and it’s expensive (flights to the island, island fees, food, activities, and accommodation added up to be well over our budget), but there is a very good reason for that.
The untouched nature on the island and surrounding its shores is unlike anything else we have seen in Brazil. Fernando is a haven for active travelers offering a multitude of hikes, snorkeling and diving opportunities, and some of the most beautiful beaches in the country.
5. Morro Branco
The small inconspicuous beach of Morro Branco doesn’t seem to make it onto travelers itineraries. We say that because, during our visit, we were the only foreigners in the sea of local visitors. We knew that we hit a local hot spot when a tour guide taking a group of locals around the area laughed in our face when we asked if his tour was available in English.
Luckily, the topography of Morro Branco’s sandy cliffs radiating in a variety of yellow, orange, and red shades told us everything we cared to know. We walked around the small canyon, running through the heart of the cliffs, completely mesmerised by the views, thrilled to have discovered a spot as unique as this.
6. Jericoacoara
The further North we traveled, the more sand we encountered in Northeast Brazil. Luckily, Jericoacoara, a small town in the heart of the sandy National Park by the same name, offered more than sand. The town was built completely on sand, but walking down its Main Street lined with boutique shops, kite surfing schools, and amazing restaurants, it was easy to forget exactly how remote this place was.
Jericoacoara sucked us in hard. A fishing village turned hippy backpacker town, Jeri had it all. Activities (kite-boarding, surfing, jeep tours, etc), beach, shopping, dining, and a happening nightlife make Jeri an easy place to get stuck in. We almost did.
7. Lençóis Maranhenses
If there was a place worth leaving Jeri for, it was the sprawling sand dune park of Lençóis Maranhenses. Lencpis is an incredible natural phenomenon, a place where sand dominates all, where the horizon is filled with dunes and more dunes, where sheep and goats farm on the tiniest patched of grass, and where beautiful green freshwater lagoons create an incredible landscape. (While offering a much-needed place for a refreshing swim after a long hike up and down the dunes).
Visiting the spectacular destination of the Iguazú Falls is an awe-inspiring and unforgettable experience. Occasionally you may be faced with the great decision of whether to visit the Argentinean or Brazilian side of the Falls. This pleasant problem is because both sides of Iguazú Falls offer their own unique perspective and beautiful panoramas. The area has over 200 waterfalls with some reaching a staggering height of 200 feet (60 meters) making this New 7 Natural World Wonder not one to be missed!
Argentinean Side – Cataratas del Iguazú
The Argentinean side offers a more intimate experience and contact with the tremendous Iguazú Falls. A small open train transports you from the gate to the Falls allowing you to take in the surrounding National Park area and tropical forest. With a number of walking trails throughout the nature reserve you can enjoy walking amongst tropical vegetation, and you may even catch a glimpse of the local wildlife such as Coatis and a wide variety of butterflies. The Upper Circuit consists of bridges and trails that run along the top of the Falls, giving you fantastic views. You can also look down over many of the largest Falls in the area such as the awesome San Martin Falls. Along the Upper Circuit there are 6 lookouts and viewing areas so that you can soak up the sheer power and bask in the amazement of this Natural Wonder. One of the most spectacular parts of this whole are is the unique view of Devil’s Throat. As its ominous name suggests, this mighty and breathtaking Fall consists of fourteen of the highest and most powerful of all the Cataratas del Iguazú. The Lower Circuit of Iguazú gives you a completely different perspective as it leads you to the base of the falls where the tremendous spray is sure to leave you at least a little moistened. You can take advantage of a boat ride to San Martin which is an island separating the Falls as well as the incredible experience of going right up to the base of a several Falls where you will undoubtedly get wet…very wet!
Brazilian Side – Foz do Iguaçu
Fancy seeing it from the Brazilian side? A completely different experience from the Argentinean side, the Brazilian side of the Falls offers more panoramic views of the Falls making for some incredible photographs. Offering an unforgettable overview of Devil’s Throat and the rest of the Falls from both above and below, Brazil’s side of the Falls certainly doesn’t disappoint. You can also get some more up close and direct views of the Devil’s Throat due to a walkway that goes right out to it. Visiting Foz do Iguaçu also has the added extra of being able to go on a panoramic helicopter tour. From this vantage point you are treated to a bird’s-eye view of this stunning landscape and offers photo opportunities like no other. Aside from the helicopter tour, there is a number of rafting tours and other parks such as the Bird Park which is full of exotic jungle and rainforest birds, making the Brazilian side just as incredible as the Argentinean side.
But before you go…
If you can only visit one side, don’t worry as both sides offer an incredible and memorable experience. However, if you are able to visit both sides, try and begin with the Brazilian side so that you are treated to seeing the whole aspect and expanse of Iguazu Falls before getting up close and personal on the Argentinean side. Although the two countries are only separated by the Natural Wonder, for some visitors, it is not as easy as simply strolling over to the other side. It is therefore vital to take note of the Visa and Entry requirements needed for each country. Citizens of Australia, Canada and the United States all need to arrange a tourist Visa to visit the Brazilian side of the Falls. Make sure to check your Visa and Entry requirements for each country and arrange it in time for your visit so that you can enjoy the incredible environment, vistas and awesomeness of this natural and exquisite wonder of the world.
Quick summary of the two sides
The Brazilian side is perfect for a quick visit half or full day tour whereas the Argentinean side can be enjoyed for longer with a full day or more visit to the Falls.
Get up close to the waterfalls in Argentina whereas just as spectacularly you can admire the vistas and panoramas of Iguazu Falls from a distance in Brazil.
In Brazil there are shorter experiences to take advantage of, such as a helicopter tour, various boat tours and the Bird Park. The Argentinean side concentrates on the ecological and environmental aspect and beauty of Iguazu Falls.
One of the world’s most captivating places, Brazil is a country of powdery white-sand beaches, verdant rainforests and wild, rhythm-filled metropolises. Brazil’s attractions extend from frozen-in-time colonial towns to otherworldly landscapes of red-rock canyons, thundering waterfalls and coral-fringed tropical islands. Then there’s Brazil’s biodiversity: legendary in scope, its diverse ecosystems boast the greatest collection of plant and animal species found anywhere on earth. There are countless places where you can spot iconic species in Brazil, including toucans, scarlet macaws, howler monkeys, capybara, pink dolphins, sea turtles and thousands of other living species.
Landscapes & Biodiversity
One of the world’s most captivating places, Brazil is a country of powdery white-sand beaches, verdant rainforests and wild, rhythm-filled metropolises. Brazil’s attractions extend from frozen-in-time colonial towns to otherworldly landscapes of red-rock canyons, thundering waterfalls and coral-fringed tropical islands. Add to that, Brazil’s biodiversity: legendary in scope, its diverse ecosystems boast the greatest collection of plant and animal species found anywhere on earth. There are countless places in Brazil where you can spot its iconic species, which Include toucans, scarlet macaws, howler monkeys, capybaras, pink dolphins, sea turtles and many more.
Days of Adventure
Brazil offers big adventures for travelers with budgets large and small. There’s horseback riding and wildlife-watching in the Pantanal, kayaking flooded forests in the Amazon, ascending rocky cliff tops to panoramic views, whale-watching off the coast, surfing stellar breaks off palm-fringed beaches and snorkeling crystal-clear rivers or coastal reefs – all are part of the great Brazilian experience. No less entrancing is the prospect of doing nothing, aside from sinking toes into warm sands and soaking up a glorious stretch of beach, with a caipirinha – Brazil’s national cocktail – in hand.
Joie de Vivre
Brazil’s most famous celebration, Carnaval, storms through the country’s cities and towns with hip-shaking samba and frevo, dazzling costumes and parties that last until sunup, but Brazilians hardly limit their revelry to a few weeks of the year. Festas (festivals) happen throughout the year, and provide a window into Brazil’s incredible diversity. The streets are carpeted with flowers during Ouro Preto’s Semana Santa (Holy Week), while in the north, Bumba Meu Boi blends indigenous, African and Portuguese folklore. For a taste of the old world, hit Blumenau’s beer- and schnitzel-loving Oktoberfest, the largest outside of Germany. Several cities, such as Recife, Fortaleza and Natal even host Carnaval at other times of year.
The Rhythms of Brazil
Wherever there’s music, that carefree lust for life tends to appear – whether dancing with cariocas at Rio’s atmospheric samba clubs or following powerful drumbeats through the streets of Salvador. There’s the dancehall forró of the Northeast, twirling carimbó of the Amazon, scratch-skilled DJs of São Paulo and an endless variety of regional sounds that extends from the twangy country music of the sunbaked sertanejo to the hard-edged reggae of Maranhão.
From July to September, the dunes of Lençóis Maranhenses National Park become a temporary oasis
Despite the looming threat of climage change , nature is continuing to do some pretty amazing things.
Each year, the sand dunes in Lençois Maranhenses National Park collect water for the first six months of the year – between January and June.
Come July, the valleys of the dunes turn into temporary pools filled with crystal-clear blue water, a phenomenon that only lasts until September.
The seasonal attraction is a stunning sight – the deep blues against the whites of the dunes – and the temperature of the pools can get up to 30 degrees Celsius.
They are located in of Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, on Brazil’s north Atlantic coast.
How do I get to the pools?
From the UK, you would first need to fly to Brazil. The best airport to fly into would be Sao Luiz – where you can currently get flights for September for £688 return. From Sao Luiz, you can travel up to Barreirinhas by land or air which should be your base for seeing the National Park.
From Barreirinhas there are many day trip operators who explore the dunes on jeeps and four-wheel motorbikes. It’s best to go with an official operator as the National Park covers over 600 square miles of land, making it easy to get lost.
When is the best time to visit the pools?
Between July and September is the only time of year the pools appear. Come October, the winds pick up and the pools disappear until the following year.
