By Jenna Francisco
Brazil Travel Expert, about.com
Brazil is a haven for beach lovers. Boasting approximately 4500 miles of coastline, Brazil has a seemingly infinite number of beautiful beaches.
Most beaches have calm, warm water, making an excellent place for
swimming, sunbathing, and water sports such as snorkeling, kite-surfing,
and wind-surfing. For visitors heading to Rio de Janeiro, it's easy to
create a beach lover's vacation in Brazil:
The Costa Verde
Just
outside Rio de Janeiro, the Costa Verde is every beach lover's dream.
This stretch of coastline gets its name "the Green Coast" for the lush
green mountains of the Mata Atlântica (Atlantic Forest) that
hug the coast west and south of Rio. This highway makes the perfect
place to explore Brazil's beach scene due to the high concentration of
pristine beaches.
Ilha Grande
The first stop should be Ilha Grande,
an island off the coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro. Known for its
beautiful beaches and lack of development, this island makes a good
place to unwind and enjoy nature.
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Once you've arrived in Angra dos Reis, you can
take a boat from there to Ilha Grande, where you'll arrive in Vila do
Abraão, the island's largest town. Cars are not allowed in town, giving
it a laid-back vibe.
Paraty
One of Brazil's best known beach towns, Paraty
doesn't actually have any good beaches but is an excellent place to
start while explore the many nearby beaches. The best way to explore the
islands that dot the waters off Paraty is by boat. You can do this as
part of a small group tour or ask for someone to take you. The many tiny
islands show no trace of development and therefore provide perfectly
clean, idyllic beaches where you will often be the only visitors.
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Paraty
is also one of the oldest cities in Brazil. Its white stone houses with
colorful trim and cobblestone streets echo the town's past as a
settlement of early colonial Brazil.
From good restaurants and souvenir shops and colonial style churches
and cozy guesthouses, Paraty is a comfortable and convenient place to
base your beach vacation.
Trindade
Just 30 miles down the road from Paraty is Trindade,
a lesser known beach town that can be visited as a day trip from
Paraty. There's little development here besides simple cafes serving
fresh-caught fish with rice and beans and some basic pousadas (guesthouses).
Trindade
is worth visiting not only for its quiet, relaxed atmosphere, but also
for the naturally-formed swim holes that are created by the boulders
that dot the beach. Hiking trails will take you up into the forested
hills for excellent sea views. Trindade is also a good place to visit
nearby waterfalls--just ask the locals where you can find the cachoeiras.
Picinguaba
Farther down the road just after entering the state of São Paulo is the tiny fishing village of Picinguaba.
The village's population is just several hundred, and the town is
actually protected as part of the state park, so development will never
spoil the beauty of this place. Quiet, pristine beaches and friendly
locals await, and there is a cooperative of local artists where you can
view local craftsmanship and maybe find some unique souvenirs.
Logistics
You
could easily spend several days exploring Ilha Grande, Paraty,
Trindade, and Picinguaba. They can all be reached by car, and the
beautiful drive from Rio down the coast is truly one to remember. The
local bus system is an option for those who do not have or rent a car.
Buses go from Rio de Janeiro to Angra dos Reis (the city where you can
catch a boat to Ilha Grande) and Paraty. Once in Paraty, you can take
the local bus to Trindade.
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The most common accommodation options are pousadas, guesthouses that are typically family-run and include a nice breakfast and clean, comfortable rooms.
