Traveling to Brazil by myself was equally one of the most exciting and terrifying decisions I’ve ever made. Brazil has an incomparable allure, from the postcard landscapes of Rio to the music and culture of Bahia. After traveling to Rio de Janeiro, Salvador da Bahia and Sao Paulo, I ultimately found its people to be some of the friendliest on the planet.
I booked my round-trip flight from Boston to Sao Paulo with Delta, and stayed at Hotel Unique in the Jardim Paulista neighborhood. Jardim Paulista is the green area of Sampa (Sao Paulo’s local nick-name) and home to Parque Ibirapuera (Sampa’s Central Park). The best shopping, dining and nightlife can be found in here, and the Hotel Unique offers the best vistas in this metropolis.
The hotel is a steel semi-circle resting on its arch with the flat cross-section facing the sky. The flat surface houses a pool and outdoor club area, busy until the wee hours of the morning with Sao Paulo’s elite.
I rarely left the Jardim neighborhood of Sao Paulo, since that’s where all the action was. The Paulistas (citizens of Sao Paulo) of Jardim are trendy, sophisticated and love to have fun. I met a few locals on Rua Frei Caneca that were more than happy to introduce me to fun nightspots. After three electrifying days in Sao Paulo, I packed everything in my oversized room and said “tchau” to Sao Paulo and “oi” to Salvador.
Unlike Sao Paulo, Salvador’s international airport is very close to downtown and the beach. I deplaned and checked into Hotel Cocoon within a half-hour. Set on Jaguaribe beach, the hotel is accented by Afro-Brazilian art and soda-can upholstered furniture. It was immediately clear that Bahia’s overall vibe was much more laid back than Sao Paulo.
Salvador is a two-level city with two distinct areas aptly named ‘The Upper City’ and ‘The Lower City.’ There is a Colonial Portuguese elevator that descends alongside a cliff connecting both parts that can be accessed for $R .05 (Real is the currency of Brazil).
The neighborhood of Pelourinho is the quintessential cityscape of Salvador’s Colonial churches and architecture. I attended a free concert of traditional Afro-Bahian music in the amphitheater of Pelourinho which occurs every Tuesday night. Swaying and stomping to the samba beat of “Mas Que Nada” in sync with the palm trees in the exact location of Michal Jackson’s filming of “They Don’t Care About Us” was an experience that words cannot describe.
Rio de Janeiro was my next stop. Touching down in Rio offered clear views across the Copacabana of Corcovado (Christ the Redeemer) and Pao de Acucar (Sugarloaf Mountain). The amount of excitement on the plane was unparalleled, and almost every passenger tried to catch a glimpse through the windows.
The most popular area to visit in Rio is the South Zone, which encompasses Botafogo, Copacabana, Lapa, Leblon, and Ipanema. Ipanema was my beach of choice, made famous by the Bossa Nova classic “The Girl from Ipanema.”
Its rooftop marble infinity pool and mirrored balconies over Ipanema make Hotel Fasano a regular resting spot of Madonna, Beyonce and Alicia Keys. Like any other Philippe Starck design hotel there is a luxury and quirkiness here that creates a unique distinction.
Cariocas (the people from Rio) seemed generally energetic and life-loving throughout my entire experience. My time there revolved around nights of dancing until sunrise, observing Corcovado, challenging Sugarloaf, and exploring Botafogo – home to one of Rio’s best futebol teams. From the Friday night street parties of Lapa to the cuisine at the churrascaria (Brazilian steakhouse), Rio glistens with its vast opportunities for fun.
Two hours from Rio by bus is a small, quaint fishing village named Buzios, made famous by Brigitte Bardot for her trips there in the 1960’s to visit her Brazilian beau. I love it for its lazy, sleepy beaches during the day and its high-end shopping, dining and nightlife after sunset.
On my way out, I was fortunate enough to encounter several World Cup opening parties – which can only be described as insane.
Next time – yes, there will be a next time – I plan to visit Florianopolis and Fortaleza, two coastal cities in the south and north, respectively. My hunt for another cheap flight has already begun.
Note to US citizens: You need a tourist visa for entry into Brazil. Most are valid for up to 5 years with multiple entries, $130.
© Cheapflights Ltd (Story and photos by Joshua Clark)
