Trip IdeasFodor's Brazil, 5th Edition
Free shipping with any guidebook purchase
About This Book
Fodor’s. For Choice Travel Experiences.
Fodor’s helps you unleash the possibilities of travel by providing the insightful tools you need to experience the trips you want. Although you’re at the helm, Fodor’s offers the assurance of our expertise, the guarantee of selectivity, and the choice details that truly define a destination. It’s like having a friend in Brazil!
·Updated annually, Fodor’s Brazil provides the most accurate and up-to-date information available in a guidebook.
·Fodor’s Brazil features options for a variety of budgets, interests, and tastes, so you make the choices to plan your trip of a lifetime.
·If it’s not worth your time, it’s not in this book. Fodor’s discriminating ratings, including our top tier Fodor’s Choice designations, ensure that you’ll know about the most interesting and enjoyable places in Brazil
·Experience Brazil like a local! Fodor’s Brazil includes choices for every traveler, from shopping in São Paulo’s chicest boutiques and exploring hip neighborhoods to the best beaches outside of Rio, and much more!
Fodor’s Brazil includes choices for every traveler, from cruising through the rain forest of the Amazon to shaking your groove thing at a samba show in Salvador.
·Indispensable, customized trip planning tools include “Top Reasons to Go,” “Word of Mouth” advice from other travelers, and tips to help save money, bypass lines, and avoid common travel pitfalls.
·Brand new maps and full color photos.
Visit Fodors.com for more ideas and information, travel deals, vacation planning tips, reviews and to exchange travel advice with other travelers.
Fodor’s helps you unleash the possibilities of travel by providing the insightful tools you need to experience the trips you want. Although you’re at the helm, Fodor’s offers the assurance of our expertise, the guarantee of selectivity, and the choice details that truly define a destination. It’s like having a friend in Brazil!
·Updated annually, Fodor’s Brazil provides the most accurate and up-to-date information available in a guidebook.
·Fodor’s Brazil features options for a variety of budgets, interests, and tastes, so you make the choices to plan your trip of a lifetime.
·If it’s not worth your time, it’s not in this book. Fodor’s discriminating ratings, including our top tier Fodor’s Choice designations, ensure that you’ll know about the most interesting and enjoyable places in Brazil
·Experience Brazil like a local! Fodor’s Brazil includes choices for every traveler, from shopping in São Paulo’s chicest boutiques and exploring hip neighborhoods to the best beaches outside of Rio, and much more!
Fodor’s Brazil includes choices for every traveler, from cruising through the rain forest of the Amazon to shaking your groove thing at a samba show in Salvador.
·Indispensable, customized trip planning tools include “Top Reasons to Go,” “Word of Mouth” advice from other travelers, and tips to help save money, bypass lines, and avoid common travel pitfalls.
·Brand new maps and full color photos.
Visit Fodors.com for more ideas and information, travel deals, vacation planning tips, reviews and to exchange travel advice with other travelers.
Table of Contents
Planning Your Trip
About This Book ............ 7
What’s Where ............ 8
Quintessential Brazil ............ 14
When to Go ............ 16
If You Like ............ 17
Brazil
Chapter 1: Rio de Janeiro ............ 19
Orientation & Planning ............ 20
Exploring: The Beaches ............ 26
Exploring: The Sights ............ 32
Where to Eat ............ 52
Where to Stay ............ 67
Nightlife & the Arts ............ 82
Sports & the Outdoors ............ 91
Shopping ............ 95
Rio de Janeiro Essentials ............ 103
Chapter 2: Side Trips from Rio ............ 109
Orientation & Planning ............ 110
The Blue Coast ............ 113
North of Rio ............ 122
The Green Coast ............ 127
Chapter 3: São Paulo ............ 137
Exploring ............ 143
Where to Eat ............ 156
Where to Stay ............ 170
Nightlife & the Arts ............ 179
Sports & the Outdoors ............ 187
Shopping ............ 190
São Paulo Essentials ............ 196
Chapter 4: Side Trips from São Paulo ............ 203
Orientation & Planning ............ 204
The North Shore ............ 206
Inland ............ 213
Chapter 5: The South ............ 223
Orientation & Planning ............ 224
Paraná ............ 226
Iguaçu Falls ............ 239
Santa Catarina ............ 250
Rio Grande do Sul ............ 268
Chapter 6: Minas Gerais ............ 287
Orientation & Planning ............ 288
Belo Horizonte ............ 292
The Colonial & Gold Towns ............ 307
Minas’s Parks ............ 325
The Mineral Spa Towns ............ 329
Chapter 7: Brasília & the West ............ 335
Orientation & Planning ............ 336
Brasília ............ 341
Goiás State ............ 359
The Pantanal ............ 367
Chapter 8: Salvador & the Bahia Coast ............ 383
Orientation & Planning ............ 384
Salvador ............ 388
Side Trips from Salvador ............ 411
The Cocoa Coast ............ 422
The Discovery Coast ............ 425
Chapter 9: The Northeast ............ 431
Orientation & Planning ............ 432
Recife ............ 434
Natal ............ 450
Fortaleza ............ 457
Fernando de Noronha ............ 470
Chapter 10: The Amazon ............ 473
Belém ............ 481
Side Trips from Belém ............ 495
Between Belém & Manaus ............ 499
Manaus ............ 514
Side Trips from Manaus ............ 529
Chapter 11: Adventure & Learning Vacations ............ 531
Cruises ............ 534
Learning Vacations ............ 535
The Outdoors ............ 537
Sports ............ 540
Understanding Brazil ............ 547
Brazilian Portuguese Vocabulary ............ 548
Brazil Essentials ............ 557
Getting Started ............ 558
Booking Your Trip ............ 561
Transportation ............ 566
On The Ground ............ 570
Index ............ 577
About Our Writers ............ 592
Close Ups
What’s Your Beach Style? ............ 33
Gay Rio ............ 44
Favelas ............ 47
Carnival in Rio ............ 86
A Bit of History ............ 113
A Bit of History ............ 146
The Hardest Word to Translate ............ 154
Recipe: Coxinha de Galinha ............ 168
King Ronaldo ............ 188
Shopping for Essentials ............ 193
Os Bandeirantes ............ 218
The Mata Atlântica ............ 233
Brazilian Wine ............ 278
A Bit of History ............ 291
Eating Like a Mineiro ............ 300
Finding a Gem ............ 314
Brazilian Baroque ............ 323
A Bit of History ............ 340
The Method to the Madness ............ 345
The Making of a Capital ............ 352
Otherworldly Visitors ............ 373
The Brazilian Savanna ............ 375
A Bit of History ............ 387
Spiritual Salvador ............ 397
Afro-Brazilian Heritage ............ 403
Tour Operators ............ 544-546
Carnival in Salvador: Brazil’s Wildest Party ............ 409
Capoeira: The Fight Dance ............ 410
Beach Savvy ............ 425
Eating Bahian ............ 427
Brazil’s National Dish ............ 444
Off-Season Carnivals ............ 454
A Bit of History ............ 477
Health in the Amazon ............ 479
Tales from the Mist ............ 489
Ford’s Impossible Dream ............ 510
A Vanishing People ............ 519
Chico Mendes: Rubber Tapper & Environmental Pioneer ............ 522
Elusive El Dorado ............ 527
River-Village Excursions ............ 528
Maps
Brazil ............ 12-13
Rio de Janeiro ............ 24
Copacabana ............ 28
Ipanema & Leblon ............ 30
Centro & Environs ............ 34
Flamengo, Botafogo & Urca ............ 41
The Lush Inland ............ 48
West of Downtown ............ 51
Where to Eat in Rio de Janeiro ............ 54-55
Where to Stay in Rio de Janeiro ............ 68-69
Rio de Janeiro State ............ 112
The Blue Coast ............ 115
North of Rio ............ 123
The Green Coast ............ 128
São Paulo City ............ 140-141
São Paulo Centro ............ 144
Liberdade, Avenida Paulista & Bixiga ............ 149
Parque Ibirapuera ............ 153
Where to Eat in São Paulo ............ 158-159
Where to Stay in São Paulo ............ 172-173
São Paulo State ............ 205
The North Shore ............ 207
Inland ............ 214
The Southern States ............ 227
Paraná ............ 228
Curitiba Setor Histórico ............ 231
Foz do Iguaçu ............ 242
Puerto Iguazú ............ 243
Santa Catarina ............ 264
Rio Grande do Sul ............ 268
Porto Alegre Centro ............ 272
Minas Gerais ............ 290
Belo Horizonte ............ 294
Colonial & Gold Towns ............ 308
Ouro Preto ............ 316
Mineral & Spa Towns ............ 330
The West ............ 338-339
Brasília ............ 342-343
Goias State ............ 359
The Pantanal ............ 369
Salvador & the Bahia Coast ............ 386
Salvador ............ 390-391
Salvador Cidade Histórico ............ 395
Side Trips from Salvador ............ 412
The Cocoa Coast & the Discovery Coast ............ 424
The Northeast Coast ............ 435
Recife ............ 437
Fortaleza ............ 461
The Amazon ............ 476
Belém ............ 485
Side Trips from Belém ............ 496
Between Belém and Manaus ............ 500
Manaus Centro ............ 516
About This Book ............ 7
What’s Where ............ 8
Quintessential Brazil ............ 14
When to Go ............ 16
If You Like ............ 17
Brazil
Chapter 1: Rio de Janeiro ............ 19
Orientation & Planning ............ 20
Exploring: The Beaches ............ 26
Exploring: The Sights ............ 32
Where to Eat ............ 52
Where to Stay ............ 67
Nightlife & the Arts ............ 82
Sports & the Outdoors ............ 91
Shopping ............ 95
Rio de Janeiro Essentials ............ 103
Chapter 2: Side Trips from Rio ............ 109
Orientation & Planning ............ 110
The Blue Coast ............ 113
North of Rio ............ 122
The Green Coast ............ 127
Chapter 3: São Paulo ............ 137
Exploring ............ 143
Where to Eat ............ 156
Where to Stay ............ 170
Nightlife & the Arts ............ 179
Sports & the Outdoors ............ 187
Shopping ............ 190
São Paulo Essentials ............ 196
Chapter 4: Side Trips from São Paulo ............ 203
Orientation & Planning ............ 204
The North Shore ............ 206
Inland ............ 213
Chapter 5: The South ............ 223
Orientation & Planning ............ 224
Paraná ............ 226
Iguaçu Falls ............ 239
Santa Catarina ............ 250
Rio Grande do Sul ............ 268
Chapter 6: Minas Gerais ............ 287
Orientation & Planning ............ 288
Belo Horizonte ............ 292
The Colonial & Gold Towns ............ 307
Minas’s Parks ............ 325
The Mineral Spa Towns ............ 329
Chapter 7: Brasília & the West ............ 335
Orientation & Planning ............ 336
Brasília ............ 341
Goiás State ............ 359
The Pantanal ............ 367
Chapter 8: Salvador & the Bahia Coast ............ 383
Orientation & Planning ............ 384
Salvador ............ 388
Side Trips from Salvador ............ 411
The Cocoa Coast ............ 422
The Discovery Coast ............ 425
Chapter 9: The Northeast ............ 431
Orientation & Planning ............ 432
Recife ............ 434
Natal ............ 450
Fortaleza ............ 457
Fernando de Noronha ............ 470
Chapter 10: The Amazon ............ 473
Belém ............ 481
Side Trips from Belém ............ 495
Between Belém & Manaus ............ 499
Manaus ............ 514
Side Trips from Manaus ............ 529
Chapter 11: Adventure & Learning Vacations ............ 531
Cruises ............ 534
Learning Vacations ............ 535
The Outdoors ............ 537
Sports ............ 540
Understanding Brazil ............ 547
Brazilian Portuguese Vocabulary ............ 548
Brazil Essentials ............ 557
Getting Started ............ 558
Booking Your Trip ............ 561
Transportation ............ 566
On The Ground ............ 570
Index ............ 577
About Our Writers ............ 592
Close Ups
What’s Your Beach Style? ............ 33
Gay Rio ............ 44
Favelas ............ 47
Carnival in Rio ............ 86
A Bit of History ............ 113
A Bit of History ............ 146
The Hardest Word to Translate ............ 154
Recipe: Coxinha de Galinha ............ 168
King Ronaldo ............ 188
Shopping for Essentials ............ 193
Os Bandeirantes ............ 218
The Mata Atlântica ............ 233
Brazilian Wine ............ 278
A Bit of History ............ 291
Eating Like a Mineiro ............ 300
Finding a Gem ............ 314
Brazilian Baroque ............ 323
A Bit of History ............ 340
The Method to the Madness ............ 345
The Making of a Capital ............ 352
Otherworldly Visitors ............ 373
The Brazilian Savanna ............ 375
A Bit of History ............ 387
Spiritual Salvador ............ 397
Afro-Brazilian Heritage ............ 403
Tour Operators ............ 544-546
Carnival in Salvador: Brazil’s Wildest Party ............ 409
Capoeira: The Fight Dance ............ 410
Beach Savvy ............ 425
Eating Bahian ............ 427
Brazil’s National Dish ............ 444
Off-Season Carnivals ............ 454
A Bit of History ............ 477
Health in the Amazon ............ 479
Tales from the Mist ............ 489
Ford’s Impossible Dream ............ 510
A Vanishing People ............ 519
Chico Mendes: Rubber Tapper & Environmental Pioneer ............ 522
Elusive El Dorado ............ 527
River-Village Excursions ............ 528
Maps
Brazil ............ 12-13
Rio de Janeiro ............ 24
Copacabana ............ 28
Ipanema & Leblon ............ 30
Centro & Environs ............ 34
Flamengo, Botafogo & Urca ............ 41
The Lush Inland ............ 48
West of Downtown ............ 51
Where to Eat in Rio de Janeiro ............ 54-55
Where to Stay in Rio de Janeiro ............ 68-69
Rio de Janeiro State ............ 112
The Blue Coast ............ 115
North of Rio ............ 123
The Green Coast ............ 128
São Paulo City ............ 140-141
São Paulo Centro ............ 144
Liberdade, Avenida Paulista & Bixiga ............ 149
Parque Ibirapuera ............ 153
Where to Eat in São Paulo ............ 158-159
Where to Stay in São Paulo ............ 172-173
São Paulo State ............ 205
The North Shore ............ 207
Inland ............ 214
The Southern States ............ 227
Paraná ............ 228
Curitiba Setor Histórico ............ 231
Foz do Iguaçu ............ 242
Puerto Iguazú ............ 243
Santa Catarina ............ 264
Rio Grande do Sul ............ 268
Porto Alegre Centro ............ 272
Minas Gerais ............ 290
Belo Horizonte ............ 294
Colonial & Gold Towns ............ 308
Ouro Preto ............ 316
Mineral & Spa Towns ............ 330
The West ............ 338-339
Brasília ............ 342-343
Goias State ............ 359
The Pantanal ............ 369
Salvador & the Bahia Coast ............ 386
Salvador ............ 390-391
Salvador Cidade Histórico ............ 395
Side Trips from Salvador ............ 412
The Cocoa Coast & the Discovery Coast ............ 424
The Northeast Coast ............ 435
Recife ............ 437
Fortaleza ............ 461
The Amazon ............ 476
Belém ............ 485
Side Trips from Belém ............ 496
Between Belém and Manaus ............ 500
Manaus Centro ............ 516
Check hotel rates and airfares around the world