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This post is a partnership between Rio de Janeiro by Cariocas and While in Brazil. In this particular article you’ll be introduced to 10 amazing and worth-visiting places other than the Wonderful City and on our page you can check out the post about 10 unmissable things to do in Rio de Janeiro!
First, let me introduce myself! My name is Amanda Fontanelli and I’m the person behind the blog and Instagram page called While in Brazil! I am Brazilian but I currently live in the US and I started this project during quarantine, as I always liked traveling around my home country and I was missing it so much! I came to realize that there is not much information in English about the country outside of Rio, and not many people know what else is there to see in Brazil. So I decided to create While in Brazil as a way to instigate foreign tourists to know more about the country. At our blog you’ll not only get to know the beautiful places to visit in Brazil, but also learn about our culture, food, music, films, and much more! If you want to learn more, click here for the blog and here to check our Instagram account!!
Getting back on the topic, it was so difficult to narrow this list down to only a few places! But here are:
10 destinations other than Rio that you have to visit in Brazil
1) Fernando de Noronha
Fernando de Noronha (or just Noronha) is an archipelago located in the Atlantic Ocean about 340 miles east of Brazil’s coast. Known for its white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters, this paradisiacal place ranked for years on Trip Advisor as having the most beautiful beach in the entire world, Baia do Sancho! On top of the breathtaking landscapes, the whole island of Noronha has a laid-back vibe and a neighborly feeling that adds up to the experience. To learn more about this paradise, visit our posts here.
2) Manaus and the Amazon Forest
Manaus is the capital of the Brazilian state Amazonas, which encompasses most of the Brazilian Amazon Forest. Manaus is a metropolis in the heart of the tropical forest and it serves as base city for the ones visiting the rainforest. However, Manaus itself is also a great destination! An energetic city with a mix of colonial buildings, nature and amazing food. Make sure to visit the meeting of waters between Negro and Solimões rivers, swim with the pink dolphins and eat tambaqui and açaí!
3) Salvador
Salvador is a vibrant city and capital of the state of Bahia and the first ever capital of Brazil! Bahia is the most African state of Brazil, home of rhythms like Axé and samba, old colonial buildings, eccentric markets and amazing nightlife. You have to visit the Pelourinho (the city’s historic center), the Lacerda elevator (the first urban elevator in the world), the Modelo market and the Barra lighthouse. You can’t leave without trying acarajé, seeing a capoeira fight and buying a Bonfim ribbon!
4) Colonial towns of Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais in English would be translated to General Mines and that’s because the region was famous for having many gemstones in the 18th and 19th century. Filled with cities that belong to the Unesco Heritage, walking down the cobbled streets equals to a history lesson! Tiradentes, Ouro Preto, Mariana, Congonhas and Diamantina are the main cities to visit! Besides the many churches and charming little corners, you can’t leave the region without trying some of the best foods in Brazil: tutu mineiro, pururuca piglet, torremo and chicken with okra are some of the best things ever! Oh, and don’t forget the amazing pão de queijo (brazilian cheese bread). Yum!
5) Bonito
Bonito (beautiful, in english) is a very appropriate name to this place. Chrystal-clear rivers, bright and colorful fish and lush forest forms a natural playground that impresses everyone who visits it. Located on Pantanal, a rich biome, Bonito is the place for ecotourism, especially because the place is highly preserved by Brazilian authorities, due to its biodiversity. Be sure to visit the Lagoa Azul cave, dive or snorkel on Rio da Prata and visit Pantanal area.
6) Jericoacoara
On the 1980s, Jericoacoara was unknown to tourists and its inn served hammock as beds! Today, the beautiful village of white dunes and blue waters is on the top of the list of Brazilian’s vacation spot. Enjoy the beach on the sunbeads by the lagoons of Jijoca and Tatajuba and at night select on of the beach parties! Although the number of tourists increased, in particular in the last 10 years, Jericoacoara still has that hip feeling that makes people want to com back!
7) Florianópolis
This island is the capital of the southern state of Santa Catarina. The whole state’s coast is breathtaking but Florianópolis has it all: fisherman villages, wild beaches and crazy nightlife. Oh, and everything else a city of 500 thousand people has! Don’t forget exploring the entire island instead of just staying on the city center and eating at the public market.
8) Lençóis Maranhenses
Lençóis Maranhenses are a sea of sand. Their unique characteristic is the sand dunes with about 7500 blue lagoons in between them! The National Park was created to preserve an area of 598 mi² due to its ecosystem and biodiversity. Thank God for that! An unforgettable experience is to marvel yourself at the sunrise over the dunes and maybe even have a breakfast picnic in the sands. For more on this heavenly place, check out our post here.
9) Iguazu Falls
They are higher than Niagara Falls and twice as wide. 450,000 cubic feet of water thunder down every second from 275 cascades spread through 1,7 miles – it is the largest waterfall system in the world! They are definitely worth the trip and should be in your N-things-to-visit-before-dying list. Besides the waterfalls, the park has many other features like the Bird Park and camping at an indigenous village. For more, check out our post here.
10) Recife and Olinda
Recife and Olinda are sister cities with rich culture and historical relevance in Brazil’s history. Recife is urban and alive and birth place of many famous Brazilian artists. It’s also home to the cheerful rhythms of frevo and maracatu, to the world’s 3rd most beautiful street and to Galo da Madrugada – already considered the largest carnival block in the world! Olinda is in itself a landmark and such a cute place! Founded in the 16th century, the city has a small town vibe and its historical center is a giant open-air history museum. Due to its relevance, the city center was declared a World Heritage site by Unesco. Both are lovely sights and to learn more about them, take a look on our post here.
Did you like these suggestions from While in Brazil?
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