Brazil

spunkymonkey

Active Member
Im off to Brazil for two weeks in November on holidays. Flying in and out of Rio. I havent booked anything yet but planning on spending a couple of nights in the Cope Cobanna Palace.
Would ideally like to spend half the time on beaches and/or nice hotels and then half the time travelling around, not too far from Rio though.

Just wondering if anyone has been before and would have any suggestions for places to stay, areas to go to, beaches to visit, restaurants, clubs and bars etc etc.

Thanks.
 
Hi, I'm from Rio and I can give you some tips.

If you want to stay at Copacabana Palace, check the website first, www.copacabanapalace.com.br. It's one of the oldest and it's the fanciest hotel in Rio. But be prepared, a hotel room is very expensive. A room with the view from the Ocean won't cost less than 553 €.

Around Rio you could visit these cities:
1) Beaches
- Búzios (2,5 hours drive East from Rio) - is the typical fisherman village, with good nightlife, cozy hotels and hostals, beautiful beaches. Website with info in English http://www.buziosonline.com.br/home/english/
- Angra dos Reis (3 hours drive West from Rio) - it's more of a boat-island place, you won't find beautiful beaches on the continent, but if you rent a boat, you'll discover very beautfil unhabitated islands and it's perfect for diving. Website with info in English http://www.angra-dos-reis.com/ingles/index.htm
- Paraty (next city West from Angra dos Reis) - fisherman's village, built in colonial style dated from the 18 th century. Not many beautiful beaches, but you can always take a boat or walk to very beautiful places. Website www.paraty.com.br (it has info in English).

2) Mountains
If you want to check different landscapes than beaches you can try some cities in the mountains like
- Petrópolis - 65 km from Rio, it's worth for a day trip. I didn't find a website in English, but you can check info about the city at wikpedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petropolis.

3) Nightlife - there aren't great clubs in Rio, but in November, unofficial Summer has already begun, and you can check for special events that happen during the high season. I would recommend you to go to 00 (Zero zero) for house music, which is an open-air club. Check for these special parties: Delírio, Rio E-music Festival, Groove Attack, Chemical Music Festival, B.I.T.C.H. Party, all are excellent events and you have a good chance of one of them happening at the time you'll be here.
At "Circo Voador" there are some good eletronic music events, but you have to check the agenda for the "Circo Eletrônico" event.

If you need more info, pm me and I'll be happy to help you.
 
Conrado, thanks very much. Thats really helpful.
I will have a look around the websites you suggested and let you know how I get on. Thanks again.
 
Brazil: my favourite place on earth (well, actually tied with Ibiza). Conrado is right - Rio's nightlife is not as great as one might think. My theory is that the party happens on the beaches during the day so people are too tired from the sun to go out all night. Sao Paulo has a much better club scene, but it severely lacks in beauty.
I always stay at the Copacabana Palace - my home away from home. It is expensive and the beach is not the best (Ipanema and Leblon are better). Check out Marina All-Suites hotel in Leblon. They have a hip bar/restaurant called Bar d'Hôtel. I never go to Rio without at least one night at '00' - I love the place. You can also check out 'Sky Lounge'. Buzios, Angra dos Reis, Parati and Ilha Grande are beautiful beyond belief. Further north up the coast (about a 2hr flight from Rio) is the small fishing village of Trancoso that has fantastic rave parties on the beaches. There is a slight Ibiza vibe to the place. And what beauty!!!
And the best thing about Brazil is its people: by far the nicest and friendliest anywhere (and I have traveled extensively). I just spent two weeks in Ibiza with four Brazilian friends and no one matches party enthusiasm as they do (particularly at La Troya's Brazil night last week)!
Have fun!
 
spunkymonkey said:
Conrado, thanks very much. Thats really helpful.
I will have a look around the websites you suggested and let you know how I get on. Thanks again.

Hello! You still off to Barcelona or was it all a hoax? :D

I have to be honest, I went into a panic whilst reading your email because the boss came in...and I accidentally deleted it *oops*. :roll:

All my Barcelona buddies are out of town this week so I can't really grab any tips for you and most of the clubbing we did whilst there was based around the outdoorsy Sonar festival back in June. :?

Apparently the one to head for is La Terrazza but I have a sneaky feeling it may have closed down.

...Rio as well then??? Christ you're a proper little jet setter aren't you? 8O
 
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