De Rio de Janeiro aux chutes d'Iguazu

Between the incredible city of Rio de Janeiro, the superb beaches of the Costa Verde or the splendor of the Iguazu Falls, the South of Brazil offers us lots of beautiful surprises.

Petrópolis :

Only 1 hour from Rio de Janeiro, Petrópolis is a historic city in Brazil. It is mainly known for the Emperor's palace, because yes Brazil has had two Emperors! The city has various historical monuments and many mansions. It is also the brewery region that you can of course visit. The surroundings are also very beautiful as the city is surrounded by mountains.

What are the best things to do in Petrópolis ?

The Emperor's Palace: nice visit, with a beautiful art collection, the gardens are pleasant, : 10 reals - Students : 5 reals, : 10:00-17:00 – Closed on Monday,

Petroplis Cathedral: very beautiful cathedral, under renovation during our visit, so we could not visit it, : Free, : 08:00- 18:00 – Closed on weekend,

Santos Dumont’s House : small museum on aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont and his pioneering work on aviation, : 8 reals - Students : 4 reals, : 10:00-17:00,

Cervejaria Bohemia : brasserie, visit with tasting, shop, bar and restaurant, : 39 reals - Students : 19 reals, : 12:00-17:00,

Municipal Natural Park of Petropolis: park in the city, beautiful walks to do, there are also some hikes to do around the city, : Free, : 08:30-17:00 – Closed on Monday,

What are our good adresses in Petrópolis ?

OYO Hotel Lindoia Pétropolis: basic and clean room, close to the center and amenities, : 25€ /double room,

Padaria & confeitaria Pétroplis : excellent bakery, perfect for breakfast or a sandwich, very popular, : 06:00- 21:00

Our tips for Petrópolis

Interesting stop if you want to learn more about the history of Brazil.

If you want to hike in the surrounding mountains, we advise you to stop at Teresopolis instead.

(by Show Me The Road)

Rio de Janeiro :

As many people before us, we fell in love with Rio de Janeiro. It is simply an amazing city that has a unique geography, making it so special. There is a certain diversity from one district to another, mythical beaches: Copacabana and Itarema, one of the wonders of the world: the Christ Redeemer, many hikes to do with breathtaking views of this splendid city. And of course Rio wouldn't be Rio without crazy parties that last all night long, to the rhythm of samba or Brazilian funk.

What are the best things to do in Rio de Janeiro ?

The Christ Redeemer: one of the 7 wonders of the world, superb view of Rio, we recommend that you go early if you don't want to be in the crowd, there are different ways to get to the top, you can take the train or shuttles. But we recommend the hike that starts from Lage Park, : 27,50 reals if you go through the hike : 08:00-19:00,

Pao de Azucar : another breathtaking view of Rio, you reach it by taking two cable cars, you can also walk at the beginning and take only the second cable car, very beautiful at sunset, : 10,75 €, : 08:00 – 17:00,

Dois Irmaos hike : undoubtedly the most beautiful view of Rio de Janeiro, go to the foot of the Vidigal favela, there take a motorcycle taxi tell him your destination "Dois Irmaos", he will take you to the top of the favela where you will just have to walk 40min to have the most beautiful view of Rio, : Motorcycle taxi: 5 reals - Hike entrance : 5 reals,

Santa Teresa : nice area to walk around, a bit hipster, bars, restaurants, shops, you have a nice view from the "Parque das Ruinas", down the Santa Teresa area you will find the famous Selaron stairs, : Free,

Selaron stairs : the famous famous stairs of Rio, gigantic mosaic, work of the artist Jorge Selarón, : Free,

Copacabana beach : mythical beach of Rio de Janeiro,better the weekend, then you can see all the animation of this beach, : Free,

Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden : very beautiful park, with trees, plants and flowers from all over Brazil and even from elsewhere, very pleasant for walking, : Free,

What are our good adresses in Rio de Janeiro ?

Maria e o Boi : restaurant specializing in meat, very good dishes, in the Ipanema district, : 12:00-23:00

Feira da Gloria : market, food stalls, ideal for Sunday lunch, : Sunday 08:00-14:00

Labuta bar : very popular bar, lots of people on Saturdays, also a restaurant, : 11:30-19:00

Barraca da Fatima : Caipirinhas stand, the starting point of any good evening in the Lapa district, : 11:30-19:00

Street Lapa : very big nightclub, with several rooms and different styles of music: samba, electro, funk, raggaeton, : 80 reals entrance and open bar, : 23:00-07:00 – only on weekend,

Pedra do Sal: every Monday it's samba evening, in the street, caipirinha stands, music, dance, : Free, : Monday night

Our tips for Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro is no exception to the rule, you have to be vigilant, and of course at night only travel by car.

If you can go there at Carnival time it must be crazy!

You must do the Dois Irmaos hike. It is super simple and offers the most beautiful view of Rio.

(by Show Me The Road)

Búzios :

Búzios is one of the many seaside resorts in the region of Rio, there are very beautiful beaches where you can enjoy and relax. The city is quite nice, there are many bars, restaurants and shops. A rather funny little fact, tourism has developed in Búzios thanks to Brigitte Bardot who fell in love with the place.

What are the best things to do in Búzios ?

Walk along the promenade : nice little walk to go through the town and enjoy the seaside,

The beaches : there are many very beautiful beaches to discover in the surroundings, whether large beaches with bars and restaurants but also small coves where you will be alone in the world,

What are our good adresses in Búzios ?

Viva Búzios Flats: flat with kitchen, comfortable and clean, : 70 reals/flat,

Our tips for Búzios

Take the time to enjoy all the beaches

(by Show Me The Road)

Arraial do Cabo :

Arraial do Cabo is another seaside resort of the Rio region. The city is much less pleasant than Búzios, on the other hand the surroundings are magnificent. We loved hiking to reach the different beaches, each one more beautiful than the other. We were also lucky enough to see whales!

What are the best things to do in Arraial do Cabo ?

Trilha Praina X Forno : hike that leads to a very beautiful viewpoint on the Praia do Forno, not very well maintained trail but the walk is not very long, you can then go down to the beach, : Free,

Praia do Forno : very beautiful beach, do it preferably in the morning because in the afternoon it is quickly in the shade, several small bars on the beach, : Free,

Praia do Pontal : super beautiful beach, you can reach it by car, but there is also a small hike from the city that takes you to the beach, this walk offers beautiful views, : Free,

Mirante do Pontal do Atalaia : beautiful point of view, ideal for the sunset, if you are lucky you can see whales, : Free, : At sunset,

What are our good adresses in Arraial do Cabo ?

Bar e Restaurante O Amarelinho : very popular restaurant and bar, offers some local specialties, : 12:00-23:00 – Closed on Monday,

Our tips for Arraial do Cabo

Doing the hikes to access the different beaches is worth it, you will have very beautiful views of the surroundings

(by Show Me The Road)

Ilha Grande :

Ilha Grande is one of the must-sees in the Rio region. It is the largest island in Angra Bay, which owns 365 islands! On the island, the village of Abraao is very friendly and offers all the necessary amenities. The beaches are just beautiful and life is very quiet in Ilha Grande. We loved hiking on this island, whether to reach beaches like Lopez Mendes or other places on the island. The ascent of the “Pico do Papagaio” is crazy and offers an absolutely breathtaking 360° panorama. You will have understood that whether you want to hike or rest Ilha Grande is a great place!

What are the best things to do in Ilha Grande ?

Walk to the Aqueduct : short walk of about thirty minutes, you will come across an aqueduct, a small waterfall and then the beach, : Free,

Pico do Papagaio : essential hike in Ilha Grande, it climbs hard but the view is spectacular, : Free, : Ascent: 3h – Descent: 1h30-45,

Lopez Mendes beach : famous beach of Ilha Grande, you can access it by boat but we recommend the hike which is not complicated and well indicated, : Free, : About 2h,

Dois Rios : abandoned village, there are still soldiers and some inhabitants, two museums to visit and a very nice beach, you can only reach it by foot, "taxi" is only there for locals, : Free,

Hike for adventurers: there is a great loop for those with an adventurous soul. It starts with the hike that joins the beach of Lopez Mendes, where you can enjoy a bit the beach. Then you take the path that leads to "Praia Do Caxadaçao" (on Mapsme), be careful it is easy to get lost it is necessary to have an application with GPS, be attentive to the small knots hung in the trees, then you will reach the village of Dois Rios and from there cross the island via the main road to reach the village of Abraão, : Free, : 26km – 6h45 walking,

What are our good adresses in Ilha Grande ?

Casa da Rê: studio, a bit small but comfortable, with a kitchenette and a balcony, very quiet and friendly host, : 85 reals /studio,

Our tips for Ilha Grande

Doing the hikes to access the different places we really loved walking on this island.

Take the ferry from Angras dos Reis, : 20,50 reals, much cheaper than other boats, : departure from Angras dos Reis at 3:30 on weekdays and 1:30 on weekends – departure from Ilha Grande at 10:00,

Do the long 26km hike only if you know how to orient yourself well, don't do it alone, leave early in the morning, bring a large quantity of water and a flashlight for the end of the day.

(by Show Me The Road)

Paraty :

Paraty is our last stop in Rio State. Paraty is known for its beautiful historic center listed as a UNESCO heritage site. When the tide is high some streets are submerged. The raised sidewalks and the few footbridges make it possible to cross the streets closest to the sea. The city is pleasant to discover, it has a small port, a beach, you can also enjoy the crafts whether in the shops or in the many street stalls present. There are also beautiful things to discover in the surroundings such as the village of Trinidade, or visit the bay and its islands.

What are the best things to do in Paraty ?

Historical center : stroll through the historic center listed as a UNESCO heritage site, enjoy the many shops, bars and restaurants, : Free,

Praia do Pontal : small beach near the historic center, restaurants and beach bars,

Port and boat trip : small port with many colorful boats that take you for tours in the bay, as we didn't do it we cannot give you information on prices,

Trindade : a former fishing village, Trindade is now a charming seaside resort known for its long sandy beaches, such as Praia dos Ranchos or Praia do Cachadaço, an isolated beach with a natural swimming pool, : 45min by bus from Paraty,

What are our good adresses in Paraty ?

Hospedagem Dona Dita: guesthouse a little outside the historic center, clean apartment but a bit dark and damp, dogs on site but they are tied up, : 15€ /double room,

Our tips for Paraty

If you have time the surroundings are very beautiful, it must be worth going to discover them

Accommodation and restaurants in the historic center are of course more expensive

(by Show Me The Road)

São Paulo :

São Paulo, the largest city in Brazil and South America with its 12 million inhabitants. The city is simply gigantic! When you arrive, you immediately feel the richness of the city: clothing, a lot of cosmetic surgery, business men and women, large companies, luxury shops... There are some great discoveries to be made in São Paulo like Paulista Avenue, the districts of Vila Madalena and Pinheiros which are somewhat hipster districts with many graffiti, bars and restaurants but also the Japanese district or the center of the city with its effervescence, its tall buildings and its majestic cathedral. São Paulo has repeatedly reminded us of certain major European cities.

What are the best things to do in São Paulo ?

Vila Madalena and Pinheros districts : nice hipster neighborhoods to walk around, with many bars and restaurants, there are also a lot of grafitis, the most famous place is the "Beco do Batman", : Free,

Liberdade district : Japanese district of São paulo, ideal to enjoy a bit of Japanese gastronomy,

The center : very lively area, with many buildings, a very beautiful cathedral, a theater, the municipal market, be careful because even if the police are present there are many homeless people and drug addicts, : Free, : Not to be done in the evening or on Sundays,

The museum : the city of São Paulo has many museums. We were advised the following: SESC Pompeia, MAC USP (art museum), : Free, : 08:00 – 17:00,

Avenue Paulista : very large avenue, there are big companies as well as lots of shops, there is also the House of Japan which is a very beautiful monument with a beautiful exhibition to discover, : Free,

Ibirapuera Park: if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, Ibirapuera Park is ideal for a quiet walk, : Free,

What are our good adresses in São Paulo ?

Edificio Studio Home Bela Cintra: studio with kitchen and balcony, clean and comfortable, access to the building's swimming pool and gym, there is also a pay laundry, close to Avenida Paulista, the reception staff is not always pleasant and you are not allowed to drop off luggage or stay in common areas after check-out : 30€ /studio,

Restaurante Lamen ASKA : very good Japanese restaurant, specializing in noodles, : 25-30 reals/person, : 11:00-14:00 – 18:00-21:00

Alternativa Casa do Natural : natural products shop, at the back of the shop there is the restaurant with an excellent vegetarian buffet with all-you-can-eat service, : 35 reals/person, : 09:00 – 22:00

Our tips for São Paulo

Be careful in the center of São Paulo, there are a lot of homeless people and junkies, to be avoided in the evening and on weekends.

São Paulo has the largest Japanese community outside of Japan, so it's the perfect place to enjoy Japanese cuisine.

As in any big city, at night do not walk around.

(by Show Me The Road)

Iguazu falls :

What a pleasure to end these 5 months in Brazil with one of the natural wonders of the world: the Iguazu Falls. It's one of the most beautiful and impressive things we've seen so far. The Brazilian side offers breathtaking views of the falls, the Argentinian side takes you closer to the falls through various trails which also allow you to enjoy the fauna and flora.

What are the best things to do in Iguazu falls ?

The Iguazu Falls on the Brazilian side : the park offers very beautiful views of the different falls, at the end you have the right to a small shower when you find yourself facing "Garganta del Diablo", impressive. To get there, you can take the bus from the central station of Foz do Iguaçu it takes 30min, there are also buses that leave from Puerto Iguazu station on the Argentinian side, : 107 reals, : 09:00-16:00 – Closed on Monday,

The Iguazu Falls on the Argentinian side : the park is bigger than the one on the Brazilian side, you have two main circuits that take you closer to the falls, the park is very nice to enjoy the fauna and flora. To get there there are buses from Puerto Iguazu station and also from Foz do Iguaçu, : 4000 pesos, : 08:00-17:00,

Hito Tres Fronteras : point of view on the triple border between Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, : Free,

Itaipu Dam : enormous dam which produces a good part of the electricity of Paraguay and a little of Brazil, : 46 reals, : 08:30-16:00 – Closed on Tuesday,

What are our good adresses in the Iguazu falls ?

Vila Castelo Branco: spacious, clean and comfortable studio, close to the center of Foz d'Iguaçu and 10min walk from the train station to take the bus to the Iguazu Falls or to Argentina or Paraguay, : 20€ /studio,

Hotel Lilian: good hotel in Puerto Iguazu, clean and comfortable room, small balcony, swimming pool, breakfast included but very basic, : 18€ /double room,

Seubar : restaurant in the center of Foz do Iguaçu, offers buffet or different à la carte dishes, good food, popular place, : 11:00-23:30

Seletto Restaurante : restaurant in the center of Foz do Iguaçu, very good varied buffet, with juice and dessert, only for lunch, : 11:00-14:30 – Closed on Sunday,

La Mamma Pastas and Salsas : Italian restaurant, you choose your pasta and the sauce you want, cheaper if you take it away, in the center of Puerto Iguazu : 11:30 – 21:30 from Sunday to Friday

OW Texmex : Mexican restaurant in the main street of bars and restaurants in Puerto Iguazu, good cocktails, friendly welcome,

Ferinha Puerto Iguazu : market with a few bars and restaurants, very popular, : 10:00-23:30 – Closed on Sunday,

Our tips for the Iguazu falls

If you have time, visit the both sides: the Brazilian and Argentinian.

If you meet tourists who have just visited the Falls Park on the Argentinian side, ask them for their entrance tickets. Entrance to the park is half price if you return with your ticket the following two days.

(by Show Me The Road)

Others places in South Brazil :

There are many other places we didn't have time to explore, but we would love to do it next time :

Teresopolis (Rio)	Guaruja (São Paulo)
Ilha do Cardoso (Parana)	Ilha do Mel (Parana)
Antonina (Parana)	Morretes (Parana)
São Francisco do Sul (Santa Catarina)	Florianopolis (Santa Catarina)
Campo Grande (Mato Grosso)	Bonito (Mato Grosso)
Porto Alegre (Rio Grande do Sul)