Posting Again...any info on Macae, Brazil..100+ miles north of Rio?
 

I received no answers when I first posted this several months ago. Is there anybody on this forum who can help? My grandson just took a teaching/coaching post in a private International Prep School where the petro industry seems to thrive at .the Campo oilfields offshore. Just some general information about the town. We've spent time in Manaus, Rio and Iguacu...and may visit grandson in the fall. The guide books have little or nothing to offer in this regard, nor does the Internet.

Thank you.

stu tower

I have never been to Macae but in my travels to Rio I often meet people who work in the oil fields. It doesn't seem to be a tourist type place like many cities in Brazil you won't find in a guide book. But if you look on a map you will see that Macae is very close to Buzios which is a very good/big tourist town. If I wanted to visit someone in Macae, I would stay in Buzios and rent a car and travel to Macae daily to visit him and have him come to Buzios to visit me. Looks like it's about 15 minutes away and very easy driving.

I am from Rio, but I have never been to Macae. People say that it is a city of turistical potential, but the oil industry let the tourism apart. I will just translate what I could find about touristical info for Macae in wikipedia in portuguese.


Macae River: protected area,

Pico do Frade: the highest hill of Macae (1.429 meters), 56 km from downtown. Nice to rockclimbing and trekking. You can contact a guide in town.

Peito do Pombo: hill (1120 m), next to Sana, hidden beauties of nature, including untouched waterfallls.

Lagoa de Imboassica (lake): a former ecological santuary, now used to sports and outdoors activities.

Praia do Pecado (beach): ideal for surf, bodyboard and fishing.

Praia dos Cavaleiros (beach): where you can find the best restaurants. Ideal to swin and fishing. Hosts several competitions during summer.

Praia Campista (beach): open and rough sea, whre you can fish or windsurf.

Prainha do Farol (beach): only 120 meter long, with transparent water, ideal for swiming and fishing. There are located the ruins of the old lighthouse (built in 1880).

Praia de Imbetiba (Praia de Cocotá) (beach): not ideal for swim, but good for jogging and walks.

Praia de São José do Barreto (beach): favorite for the fishers of the zone.

Lagoa de Jurubatiba (lake): dark water, due the presence of roots, clean and transparent. You can swim, but fishing is not allowed.

Arquipélago de Sant’Anna: 3 islands, ideal for leisure and fishing. The home of migratory seagulls that come from Northe American in winter time.


Corredeiras de Glicério: river, ideal for canoeing.


Cabeceira do Sana: forest, waterfalls, camping areas, rafting and extreme sports.


Parque de Exposição Latiff Mussi (pavillion): concerts, rodeo, fairs.

Igreja de Sant’Anna (church): from 1630, located on a hill from where you can have a complete view of the city.

Solar de Monte Elísio (building): dated 1852, neo-classic, particular wooden stairs.


Forte Marechal Hermes (fortress): dated 1761, to defend the brazilian coast from the pirates. Guided visits allowed.


Farol de Imbetiba (lighthouse):



I hope that can help a little bit. You might consider going to Brasil from April til June or from September to November. December-March is too hot, July-August is cold and not that pleasant.

Hi. It's ironic you should mention that your grandson recently took a position at a school in Macae. I happen to be looking into a teaching job at that same school. I was hoping that you could possibly put me in touch with your grandson so that I could get firsthand accounts from him about what the school/area are like. Is there anyway this might be possible? If so, please e-mail me. My address is [email protected]

Amethyste Marie: E-mailing you tonight...I'll be hearing from Shane, my grandson tomorow...some coincidence. What part of Canada are you from?

Stu Tower [email protected]

I have just emailed both of you Amethyste Marie and Shane's grandparent with a question about Macae? I hoep you are able to reply to me. I also have realtives in Canada Ontario.

szn...yes, I replied by email...
stu tower

He
re are links that will give you more information.

Canadian who taught in Macae
http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog...ake2/tpod.html

International School ISM
http://www.ismacae.com/index.html

Expat Woman who lived there
http://old.expatwoman.com/profiles.p...outh%20America

Macaé gets very little press outside of Brazil and very few foreigners are likely to visit unless they have business there, it really isn't a tourist destination. It does have the highest per capita homicide rate in all of RJ state but you probably didn't want to hear that.

Tower, I was just doing research and stumbled across your post about Beppu, Japan during occupation after WWII. My son found a "treasure" that someone was throwing away- he rescued a box that contained personal mementoes from Camp Chickamagua along with names of several people who signed a small pennant. (There is a roll of film negatives---I can't wait to see if I can get them developed to see if they are from then). I am assisting him on researching all this--do you mind taking the time to email me? I can send pictures of what he found along with the names to see if you knew these people. The fellow was in Company "L". History (especially WWII)is my son's favorite subject. My email address is [email protected].

I think dondiega was too optimistic about road time from buzios to macae. I think about 45 minutes would be more conservative. Anyway its still a reasonable commuting time for your grandson to visit you in Buzios, if he's got a car. The other way around by bus its really unconfortable. Or you can hire a car service in buzios.

As others said, nothing to do or see in macae from a touristic point of view. Lodging can be more expensive than in buzios.

If you need assistance to arrange transportation and lodging in buzios, please visit our website at www.trip2rio.com or email us at [email protected]

I lived in Macae for 20 years before moving 25km down the road to Rio das Ostras 2 years ago.

Macae is not a tourist location, but it is a central location for visiting other places. neritaoeras lists most of the local attractions. It is however an "Oil city" as a result there is plenty of accomodation available ranging from zero to 4 Star.

Crime is a problem, the high murder rate are the locals getting rid of each other visitors are not affected. As your visiting your grandson its unlikely you will be visiting the main crime areas. Just take the same precautions you would visiting Rio.

Buzios is more like 60 - 75 minites away, driving is not a pleasant experience - the roads are full of holes, a lot of heavy traffic and the locals all seem to have a wish to join Ayrton Senna. So I would advise staying in Macae or Rio das Ostras.

Shopping in Macae is poor, for the size of the place, and tourist shopping is non existent.

statler100955,
I have taken up job offer in Macae for a year. Am totally alien to this part of the world, appreciate if you could advice on places to stay and transportation between Rio das Ostras and Macae. Should be arriving in Sept. Thanks.
Spirits76.

I've been through Macae and no major traffic nor did it look horrible. But I think any foreigners who visit better be careful and cautious at all times. Even if you are driving, you can be stopped intentionally for potential ambush.
Look up the American (who lived in Brazil for 7 years), that left Buzios of all places in Jan 2010, driving his rental car, and there was supposedly a large object in the road; he had to stop & get it out of the way, he was then robbed (maybe he resisted); the end result is he will never see his 2 young daughters again as he was murdered.
Due to his and my experiences, I actually prefer to be with a Brazilian I trust than to drive alone.

Again, no problems for me with a Brazilian and I appear Brazilian at 1st glance and never had any problems in the states while driving cross country 3 times in my life.
Would I go back to Brazil? Yes, & other foreigners I know will too even with their red tape and potential crimes. There is just something about the place.

Thank you to all who responded...thread lasted quite a long time..wh would have guessed it. At any rate, Shane is back in the states..had a local journalism job offer he couldn't refuse. He thorughly enjoyed his time in Macae and the school was excellent and a good experience for him. Besides, his mom is ailing and he wanted to be closer...and oh yes, his one-time girlfriend is back in the picture. After having taught in China and now Brazil..he is happy to be back here in California, loves his job in Ventura...and we love having him back!

Stu tower

See my email to you

This thread by tower is from several years ago.