Brazil Review: My Impression of My Trip

I am going to start a new category on the blog, it will be “Country or City Reviews,” because I want to share my feelings about the city or country I am going to visit. In this article, I will give my Review of Brazil.

 

Review of Brazil

General Brazil Review: (2013 / 2016 / 2019 / 2020)

Cities visited: Rio de Janeiro, Ilha Grande and Angra dos Reis / Curitiba, Salvador do Bahia, the Iguazu Falls / Manaus and Belem / Sao Paulo, Porto de Galinhas, Florianopolis

Length of stay: 7 days / 3 weeks / 1 month / 3 months /

I stayed for a short period, so my comments and opinions, which are only mine, should not be generalized.

 

My opinion on :

• Opinion on safety in Brazil :

When I went to Ilha Grande, which is an island located 3 hours from Rio, I always felt safe. In Rio de Janeiro, I always went out accompanied in the evening and I didn’t really have any major problems, but from what I noticed, there are neighborhoods where you should avoid walking alone at night (a friend of mine had problems coming out of parties in Lapa, the nightclub district). During the day, there is really nothing to fear and at night you should take a taxi home. Be careful of thefts on the beaches (friends had their belongings stolen) and payment by credit card, other friends had large sums of money withdrawn without knowing it.

• Opinion on budget in Brazil :

Brazil is more expensive than I thought. The entrance to Sugarloaf Mountain or the Christ the Redeemer statue costs a little more than 30 euros. Food is cheaper than in Paris, but still moderately priced, expect about 10 euros for a meal at a restaurant. Transport is affordable. Less than one euro for a bus ticket, about fifteen euros for the Rio – Angra dos Reis trip. Hostels at 15 euros with breakfast remain very affordable.

• Opinion on my accommodations in Brazil :

I stayed at Lemon Spirit in Leblon. The staff is great and very friendly. They have an amazing caipirinha and an environment conducive to meeting people, as there are many travelers. One thing that surprised me in Brazil is the hostel doors (2, in Rio and Ilha Grande) which are not locked, but there is a locker you can lock. The downside is that organized tours are a bit expensive, but the price of transfers to other places such as Ilha Grande or Paraty is reasonable.

Step	To see	Duration
Rio de Janeiro	Christ, Copacabana, Sugar Loaf, Lapa	4-5 days
Iguaçu Falls	Brazilian + Argentine side	2-3 days
Salvador de Bahia	Pelourinho, samba, capoeira	3 days
Amazon (Manaus)	Forest, river cruise	4-5 days
Lençóis Maranhenses	White dunes + lagoons	3-4 days
Florianópolis	Beaches, surfing, cool life	3-4 days
Paraty	Preserved colonial village	2-3 days

• Opinion on lifestyle and living environment in Brazil:

On Ilha Grande, it was very calm and relaxing. In Rio, I spent most of my time in neighborhoods near the beach and did not feel the poverty. Even when I visited a favela, I found that people were happy when we bought something from them and welcomed us into the restaurant. I went to the Rocinha favela and felt very comfortable. It’s less “ghetto” than people think, although there are favelas where I wouldn’t even venture.

Update: 2016 // added opinions on Curitiba, Salvador de Bahia, and Iguazu Falls

Curitiba in the state of Parana: I stayed there for 2 days. It is a city in the state of Parana that can be a stop between Iguazu Falls or Florianopolis if you are heading towards Sao Paulo or Rio de Janeiro. It is a fairly quiet city in Brazil where the main attraction is the botanical garden which is quite pretty. Recommended time: 2 days / 1 night.

Salvador de Bahia: I stayed there for 3 days. It is a city with a lively tourist center where there is always a lot of atmosphere during the day, the center is a place where it is easy to walk with quite nice architecture. Once outside the city center, you see that the city is quite clean and relaxed, be careful with your personal belongings. Near Salvador, there are very beautiful beaches. Recommended time: 4 days / 3 nights if you want to visit the beaches.

Iguazu Falls (Parana): I stayed there for 3 days. They are among the 3 largest waterfalls in the world along with Victoria and Niagara. It is a place you must not miss in Brazil, you will be amazed. You can go to the Argentine side (Puerto Iguazu) in one day if you wish. There are also several nature reserves you can visit if you have time. Recommended time: 3 days / 2 nights.

Update 2019: Manaus, Belem,

Manaus in the state of Amazonas: I stayed there for 2 months (1 month in 2019 and 1 month in 2020). It is a unique city because it is a large city in the state of Amazonas in the middle of the forest with several million inhabitants. There are very few foreign tourists in this city, you will definitely be exotic in this city, the main means of access are by boat and plane. I stayed here several months to perfect my Portuguese but as a tourist, you will not stay long. Recommended time: 2 days / 1 night.

Belem in the state of Para: I stayed 3 days. Honestly, Belem is the city that left me with the least memories in Brazil although there are things to visit like the Ver-o-Peso market or the botanical zoo park. I found it less nice than Manaus for example where I attended better parties and had better accommodation for the same price. I went to Belem just after Manaus because I had a cheap flight to Lisbon to return to Paris. Recommended time: 2 days / 1 night.

Update 2020: Sao Paulo, Porto de Galinhas, and Florianopolis

Sao Paulo in the state of Sao Paulo: I stayed 5 weeks. It is the largest city in Brazil and one of the most populated in the world. However, the city’s tourist appeal is limited. Here, you come to Sao Paulo for work, to live, or to take Portuguese classes, which I did, and also to see the nightlife. Recommended time: 2 days / 1 night.

Florianopolis in the state of Santa Catarina: I stayed 5 days. If you don’t like big cities, you can choose to live here without problem at the beginning of the year. It is a pleasant place to live with lots of nature and beautiful beaches. You can hike around the lake or nearby or go to the beach in the north or west of the island. I really had a crush on this place. The city center is quite ugly compared to the rest of the island. Recommended time: 5 days / 4 nights if you want to visit the various beaches.

Porto de Galinhas in the state of Pernambuco: I stayed 5 days here. It is a seaside town located an hour from Recife. You can go to the natural pools or take a guided Jeep tour through the many beautiful beaches around. It is a place quite popular with locals in the region and a fairly safe place. The town is quite nice because there are many representations of chickens or hens (galinhas in Portuguese, hence the name of the town) such as statues and artworks. The town is well themed.

What to do in Brazil: My opinion?

• My favorite place in Brazil:

The island of Ilha Grande, with its beautiful beaches and hikes.

The South Americans I met (Argentinians, Mexicans, and Brazilians), always very warm and friendly. I went to a boat party, where you have a party on a boat around the island.

The magnificent and incredible view of Rio, New Year’s Eve on Copacabana beach is exceptional.

 

 

• What I did not like about Brazil:

Public transport times are very long (2 hours to get from the airport to Leblon or from Leblon to downtown on days when traffic is heavy).

My inability to communicate in Spanish or Portuguese even though I managed to get by.

You really have to be careful at night and take a taxi or travel during the day and not flaunt your wealth.

 

• Do I see myself living in Brazil:

I could stay there for a few months as a traveler, but I don’t see myself living there at the moment because I don’t speak the language. If I could speak Portuguese, I think I would really enjoy it.

Update 2019: I reread what I wrote and I can tell you that indeed, when you speak Portuguese, everything is easier and you want to live and stay here. I also assume that if you have a European salary, everything is simpler.

 

• What you need to know about Brazil / Additional information:

Outside of Rio, it is more difficult to find people who speak English, but you can always manage.

Traveling is more difficult and moving around is more expensive than in Asia, but it remains very doable, just be patient.

• What I missed and would have liked to do in Brazil:

Watch a soccer match.

Take some samba lessons.

Go hang gliding in Rio.

Ride a bike and explore the city.

• Places to visit or things to do in Brazil:

See the statue of Jesus (It’s a bit touristy), but the view is incredible.

Contemplate the view of Rio from Sugarloaf Mountain.

The botanical garden, it is not as good as Sydney’s, but it’s worth it.

Watch a match at Maracanã, I didn’t have the chance to do it, but according to feedback from others, it’s an experience to have. The day I wanted to go, it was raining and that discouraged us, as we had walked for several hours.

Listen to Brazilian music.

Visit some favelas and stroll through the many neighborhoods of Rio (Santa Teresa, Copacabana, Lapas, etc.).

For the broader context, where to go in South America gives the complete overview. Chapka insurance is recommended given the rural areas and the Amazon. And traveling safely covers the right reflexes in Rio and Salvador.

Conclusion of my opinion on Brazil:

I really liked the places in Brazil where I went and I really want to return for a longer stay with at least better Spanish, since I don’t speak Portuguese. My perspective was that of a person who stayed one week and I really want to learn more.

Update 2019: Honestly, Brazil is a unique country, I rank it in my top 3 travel destinations to live or to travel. Brazilians are truly unique people where as soon as you can speak Portuguese, you will open doors that are not open to tourists. Even if you don’t speak Portuguese, Brazilians are curious to get to know you. I regret none of my stays here and every time, I want to come back.