Discover Brazil Beyond Football (Soccer)
Looking for a combination of sea, nature and outdoor activities in a country where you can wake up to after flying overnight? Where the time zone is the same or
one to two hours difference depending on where you live in the United States?
Brazil may be your answer. This sprawling land is the largest country in South America and the fifth most populated in the world.
Sao Paulo, the biggest city is just
10 hours 55 minutes flight from Chicago and
eight hours 38 minutes flight from Miami. Both cities offer
non-stop flights right to Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport.
Come discover Brazil beyond football (soccer) with Travelmath, where we will take you to the best place for surfing, kite-surfing, island hopping, walking on cobblestone streets and dining with the locals in a 17th century building.
Surfing, beach and surfing school
Hawaii and California may have great waves for surfing but according to National Geographic, Florianopolis Brazil is best for Young people looking to burn the candle at both ends – with great surf during the day and vibrant nightlife after dark.
Surfing is available year round in Florianopolis. Barra da Lagoa beach is suitable for beginners. Joaquina beach is suitable for advanced surfers. Praia Mole, Galheta, Mozambique and other surrounding areas like Santinho, Morro das Pedras, Praia Brava and Matadeiro offer world-class surfing paradise and trained surfing instructors.
Joining a community of surfers or getting surf lessons from the locals may be the best options to learn about Brazilian culture. There are several surf clubs in Florianopolis.
Mozamba Surf House located at the Red River State Park (Florestal do Rio Vermelho) and Mozambique beach provides a personal guide and a homely atmosphere for a relaxing Florianopolis vacation including surf lessons.
Mozambique beach is the longest beach in Florianopolis at 14 km long (8.6 miles). The area is ideal for surfing, fishing and kite surfing. Mozambique beach is also known as Praia Grande and being part of the state park makes it one of the most eco-friendly places to go to in Florianopolis.
Mozamba Surf House provides accommodation, surf lessons, breakfast, transfers from bus station or airport for a price of R$1900 per person for 4 days and the price gets cheaper with a party of 4.
Visit their website for updated information on tours, services and prices at
GoTripTV.com.
Kite surfing in Florianopolis is not as popular as the northern part of Brazil. Generally it is cheaper to kite surf Florianopolis. The best time to kite surf in Florianopolis is during spring time- in the months of September through November.
To convert Brazilian real into US dollars, simply use
Travelmath’s currency converter. R$1900 is about $842.
A
one hour seven minutes flight will take you from Sao Paulo to the surfing paradise city of Florianopolis. The driving time is about
seven hours 12 minutes depending on the time of the day and traffic.
History, fishing and island hopping
Paraty is another beach paradise in Brazil. Located just
four hours 23 minutes drive from Rio de Janeiro, Paraty is the place Brazilian go to for a short break. This place will transport you to Portuguese colonial buildings, cobblestone walkways with unique drainage systems in the middle.
Every month during a full moon, seawater rises from its normal levels and pours into the Historic District. This is one of the unique things about this beautiful well-preserved historical town. Paraty was once a major port to transport gold from Brazil to other parts of the world.
Today Paraty is a relaxing beach destination lined with boats for hire. You can either take a five hour private or group boat tour around the bay to different islands and beaches. Or hire a private schooner for a day at the bay to sunbathe, dive and swim in the crystal clear water or enjoy the Atlantic coastal fauna and flora in Paraty in the islands only accessible by boats.
The Historic District offers ample places to dine on every budget. Fresh seafood is readily available in this coastal town. To dine at historic district try
Banana da Terra for paella or other seafood dishes.
For some who prefer to dine outside of the town area, Kontiki Restaurant is located in the small island of Ilha Duas Irmas, just a short boat ride from town. The restaurant opens daily for a short time, from 12-5 pm. It provides free transportation from the quay. The restaurant stays open if you make an advanced reservation and have a group of 10 or more people.
Need more information about Brazil? Here are 3 of our articles:
5 Things to Do in Sao Paulo
5 Things to Do in Rio de Janeiro
Rio Carnival: 5 Travel Safety Tips in Rio de Janeiro
