Whether you’re sunning yourself next to the beautiful people on Ipanema Beach, admiring the spine-tingling views from Sugarloaf Mountain or dancing samba in the ocean of colour on your Rio Carnival Tour, it’s hard to deny that Rio de Janeiro deserves its moniker, the Cidade Maravilhosa (Marvellous City).
Unbeknown to many tourists, however, Brazil’s most exciting metropolis is also the capital of Rio de Janeiro state, a region dotted with quaint colonial towns, classy beach resorts and gorgeous tropical islands.
When the big, bustling city gets too much, look no further than these laid-back gems, which are all within easy reach while you are on your Rio stopover tour and are sure to further your appreciation of this stunning part of the world.
Buzios
Until the mid-1960s, Buzios was just a simple fishing village on a peninsula jutting into the Atlantic Ocean. Then Brigitte Bardot breezed into town with her Brazilian boyfriend and things were never the same.
The relaxing town of Buzios
The French actress told her friends about Buzios, who told their friends, and it’s now Brazil’s most glamorous seaside resort, a kind of Latin American Saint Tropez.
Affluent Cariocas (Rio city folk) have second homes here and flood in for weekends and public holidays, filling many of the peninsula’s 20-plus beaches, up-market seafood restaurants and trendy clubs such as Pacha and Privilege.
Of course Bardot is everywhere as she even has her own promenade names after her. The walkway leads to the charming old village of Praia dos Ossos (Bones), which is sprinkled with cute little cottages, humble pousadas (guesthouses) and family-run shops and diners.
It’s close to the peaceful, secluded Azeda and Azedinha coves, where I spend the best part of two days snorkelling in the calm, warm, crystal clear waters, slouching in a deck-chair, reading books and drinking mango juice freshly squeezed by cheerful vendors trading out of old fishing boats. It’s a world away from the often-frantic vibe of Copacabana but definetly worth a visit to Buzios.
Ilha Grande
With no ATMs or cars, Ilha Grande (the Big Island) is the perfect place to get away from it all – although you don’t have to endure Robinson Crusoe-like living conditions to enjoy it.
The main port, Abraao, backs on to a village with all the necessities – hotels, hostels, restaurants, cafes and tour agencies. But away from there I found numerous blissfully peaceful and photogenic spots.
Ilha Grande offers plenty of fabulous beaches, plus enough adventures to satisfy your inner wanderlust.
Ihla Grande
A network of trails hugs both the coastline and delves into the mountainous interior, matted with lush Atlantic rainforest. Hiding in the undergrowth are hummingbirds, monkeys, toucans and sloths – as well as waterfalls and mangroves.
You can enjoy a three-hour trek to the spectacularly desolate Lopes Mendes beach, a long arching curve of sand that squeaked as I walked on it and where I waded into the sea to ride warm, gentle waves back to shore.
Some of the island’s treats are only reachable by boat, including a couple of lagoons blessed with vivid green and blue tones.
Despite its beauty, Ilha Grande has a dark history. It was used as a penal colony for much of the 20th century and in the distant past it was a slave trafficking centre and pirate hub.
Myriad myths and legends are attached to the island, the most famous of which concerns a shipwrecked pirate named Jorge Grego.
Though there are several variations to the story, the most popular states that in a jealous rage, he killed his daughter and her lover and spent the rest of his life solemnly roaming Ilha Grande before burying his treasure.
Some people still look for this loot on their Ilha Grande tour, others just prefer to relax.
Chimu Adventures offers many tours Brazil. All of our tours are fully customisable, check out our website for details.
