Going to Brazil for the first time w/ parents. Looking for relaxing & fun vacation for a total of 10 days. Currently planning on staying in Rio but want to see Buzios as well. Any advice on Buzios? We may go thru a planned trip (www.riohiking.com) for 2 days. Is it better to go on our own? If so, how should we get there? car/bus? Which beach to stay at, etc.? Any help would be appreciated.
Thx!

I have been to Buzios several times in the past several years and I took a taxi because I didn't want to waste time on a bus or hassle with a bus. The taxi is more money of course between $75 to $100 each way but I believe its worth it. You can do this on your own very simple and you can arrange it in Rio by asking different taxi drivers for the best price going and coming, have him pick you up to. There are several beaches of course and I stayed on a very nice one which is Sao Fernandez in the Collana Park hotel you can find it on the Buzios websire buziosonline.com or blameitonrio4travel.com also Geriba beach looks good but more of a surfers beach, Sao Fernandez is very relaxing and laid back with restaurants and chairs to hang out in.

dondiega- what area/hotel do u recommend staying in buzios for 3 single guys? (close to nightlife, bars,restaurants)..also are wknds better than weekdays?..going to Rio/buzios mar 6-14..tks

Trlvan, Downtown Buzios Rua das Pedras is where all the action is and since you are going after Carnival then the weekend would be better for nightlife. Expect tourist from Brasil and other Latin American countries especially Argentina. Look at buziosonline.com and stay close to downtown if you want so you can walk home at night even though I noticed many taxis during the night when I stayed at beach Sao Fernandez which is about a 25 minute walk to downtown. You guys might do good on the surfer beach Geriba and rent a dune buggy to go back and forth, thats the way alot of young people do it.

thx ill have a look...anyone know how much a bus/van costs from Rio to Buzios?..thx

The bus from the bus station from downtown Rio is called the Rodoviario (not sure about spelling but close). This is where you can get the bus to Buzios and it is cheap, I never took it but I would imagine it is about $15 - $20 a person, that is my guess plus you have to take the bus to the Rodoviario from where ever you are staying and then the bus will drop you off at a central point in Buzios not near your hotel depending on where it is. If you took a taxi for $100 that would be $33 a piece. Also there is van service that may be advertised on the buzios website and also your hotel could hook you up but remember if there are 3 of you they will charge per person where maybe a van can be $25 per person then you would only save $8 per person by not taking a taxi. It is just much easier to take taxi but it is more money especially for 1 person but for 3 than not much difference, maybe.

I just took a look at the buzios site and spotted 3 hotels very close to downtown that are not too expensive, this one I once stayed at and it was ok: Pousada Mandrogora, Langouste and Chimere.