Brazil Things to Do

With some 7491km (4644mi) of fabulous Atlantic coastline, it’s no surprise that Brazil has dozens of spectacular surf spots to explore. While it is best known for its sandy-bottomed beach breaks, Brazil boasts plenty of rocky points, flowing rivers, and even epic volcanic islands that offer splendid surf conditions for every taste.

The Brazilian Coast is also home to some of the world’s most famously festive cities and surf towns, offering everything from nightlife and fine dining to a plethora of other water sports (kite surfing, anyone?) to keep you busy when the swells stop rolling in. Or, you could lose yourself in one of the richly rain-forested protected areas, getting back to nature in every way possible.

Life in Brazil, it sometimes seems, is one endless beach. The nation’s remarkable Atlantic Coast runs with incredible diversity some 7,491km (4,644mi), famously “from Chui to Oiapoque,” according to the popular parlance of the shore. While these wondrous riches of sun, surf and sand are a boon to both the Brazilian and the long-term tourist, travelers with limited time and resources may find it hard to choose.

With that in mind, here are seven “Best Beach Town in Brazil” contenders, presented for your consideration.

There is a slender and impossibly scenic sliver of perfect white beaches extending out into the calm, crystal blue sea, just three hours south of Rio de Janeiro. It is called Arraial do Cabo. While Brazilians will make a weekend of visiting this still affordable slice of paradise, known for its exquisite vistas and exceptional diving, few foreigners yet make the trip.

Well, if we are speaking of human visitors.

The relatively cool (20°C/68°F) water and astounding underwater topography attract all sorts of wildlife to these shores. Several grottos, steep cliffs, and two shipwrecks—the Teixeirhja which sank in 1932, and the Brazilian warship Dona Paula, lost in 1827—provide the perfect home to anemones, starfish, green sponges, sea horses and pink corals.