Brazil Things to Do

Basking in permanent summer a mere 4 degrees south of the equator as it crosses northeastern Brazil, Canoa Quebrada has been a premier sun and splash spot for those in the know ever since the 1970s. Only a couple of hours away from Fortaleza, Canoa Quebrada offers visitors a lush, unique landscape of perfect palms and shifting sands, ideal for land- or sea-based activities such as swimming, rafting, kitesurfing, paragliding, horseback riding, biking, and adventures by dune buggy.

Rafting, hiking, skydiving, zip-lining, snorkeling, rappelling—if its adventure you’re looking for, Brazil’s got it in spades. Dominating the continent of South America at over 3.2 million square miles (8.5 million sq km) in area, Brazil packs in a continent-sized selection of varied topography—from dense rainforests to verdant mountains to arid coastal deserts—which means non-stop adrenaline-inducing excitement, no matter where you’re located in the country.

Turquoise water and sandy cliffs bring beach bums to one of Brazil’s most exclusive strands, Pipa Beach. Called Praia da Pipa in Portuguese and located a mere 52 miles from the northeastern city of Natal, Pipa Beach is surrounded by a verdant ecological sanctuary boasting thousands of animal and plant species, while the beach itself has been drawing expert surfers and suntanners since the 1970s.

When people think of Brazil, they don’t usually think of it as a family-friendly destination. Sun-splashed adult playground is what initially comes to mind, but throughout South America’s largest country, kid-friendly attractions and accommodations abound. You just have to know where to look.

Situated halfway between the northeastern coastal cities of Natal and João Pessoa in Brazil, the lovely stretch of beach called Barra de Cunhaú calls visitors from around the globe, all year round. Straddling an estuary where the Curimatau River meets the Atlantic Ocean, Barra de Cunhaú features shady mangrove forests and stands of wind-whipped palm trees. A fishing village-turned-shrimping haven, Barra de Cunhaú is the perfect place for a day trip from Natal for swimming, kayaking, sunbathing, and seafood snacking.

One of the most popular “in-crowd” beaches in the world with one of the most difficult-to-pronounce names, Jericoacoara (jerry-kwa-KWA-ra)—b.k.a. Jeri—is a little slice of paradise on the northern coast of Brazil. This tiny, isolated fishing village about 190 miles northwest of Fortaleza, with spectacular beaches and soaring sand dunes, has been a backpacking hotspot since it first appeared on the Washington Post’s best beaches list back in 1984.