Brazil is the largest country in South America, and our Americas specialist, Ollie, discovered just how much it has to offer (spoiler: there’s a lot). From boat rides and unspoiled beaches in Bahia to game drives in the Cerrado, Brazil has something to satisfy every traveller. Eager to learn Ollie’s favourite dish, what surprised him about the country and his tips and tricks for a perfect getaway? Read on…
Where did you visit?
During my 16 days in Brazil, I visited a diverse collection of locations: Sao Paulo, Brazil’s most populous city; the Marau Peninsula and the beach town of Trancoso in Bahia; the beautifully well-preserved colonial town of Paraty; the colourful Rio de Janeiro; Brasilia, the country’s capital; and the Cerrado, a tropical savannah region in eastern Brazil.
Image by Alix Pardo.
What did you get up to?
While in Bahia, I made the most of the coast and surfed along its shores before enjoying a boat trip to Camamu Bay to explore its waterfalls, beaches and small towns. Further south, I wandered through the car-free streets of Trancoso’s historic Quadrado, a grassy square in the town centre, before continuing down the coast where I marvelled at Rio de Janeiro’s Sugar Loaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer on a full-day tour. I even brushed up on my cachaca (sugarcane spirit) history in Paraty. Finally, in the Cerrado, I embarked on a game drive with Oncafari (a feline conservation team) and saw the maned wolves that the BBC filmed for Planet Earth III.
What made your trip special?
This was my first trip back to Brazil since backpacking in 2005, so revisiting some of my favourite places was really special. It was also fun to discover new things, such as deserted beaches on the Bahia coast and delicious regional dishes you can’t find in Europe. Getting off the beaten track in the Cerrado was also great and made a welcome change to the hustle and bustle of city life.
Did you learn about any hidden gems?
Bahia’s Marau Peninsula has unspoiled beaches, laidback towns and unpretentious bars that most Brazilians have never heard of. Pousada Trijuncao, the lodge I stayed at in the Cerrado, was another hidden gem. It had an amazing safari feel, and they work with the Oncafari team, which focuses on conserving the maned wolf – around 80% of guests get to see them.
What’s your favourite thing you ate?
Every morning, I tucked into pao de Quejio (Brazilian cheese bread). These are small, baked cheesy balls of bread made from tapioca flour, eggs and cheese – simple but delicious. Moqueca, a Brazilian stew made from white fish, tomatoes and coconut, was also irresistible. If drinks count, I’ve got to include the Jorge Amado, a cachaca and passionfruit cocktail I enjoyed in Paraty.
What new things did you learn?
I learnt some basic – but essential – Portuguese, something everyone should brush up on before they visit.
What can’t be missed?
Bahia’s beautiful beaches. The long stretches of golden sands overlooking the Atlantic Ocean are to die for. If you’re not prone to seasickness, don’t miss out on a boat trip from Paraty to one of the hidden beaches or bays. They’re only accessible by boat and are gloriously crowd-free.
Did anything surprise you about the destination?
How vast Brazil is – one foot on the map can take eight or nine hours to drive. A big country means lots of variety, and the diversity of the people, customs, food, scenery and wildlife blew me away.
What’s a top tip you’d give to clients?
Don’t try to squeeze it all into one trip. Take your time to really get to know individual places rather than scratch the surface of everything. It’ll make for a more enriching experience, promise.
Header Image by Alix Pardo.
