Recommended Nights: 2
Recommended Hostel: Lime Time Hostel
Sao Paulo One of the biggest cities in the world, with almost 20 million people, Sao Paulo is a huge modern city and also the economical and financial heart of Brazil if not Latin America.
You need to see this impressive city with your own eyes to truly understand it's size and the best way to take it all in is by heading to the 'Edificio Italia' observation floor. 'Avenida Paulista' and its skyscrapers offers a great walk through the city, past big shops and nice restaurants.
Sao Paulo has the rush of a big city but it also offers nice walks and tranquil places to get away from it all. For instance, the Ibirapuera Park is a big place for a pleasant walk and it also has good museums to visit. In this park you can appreciate some of the buildings designed by Oscar Niemeyer, a well known modern Brazilian architect that was also involved in the design of Brasilia. Paque do Carmo is another amazing park, and also the biggest in the city.
Sao Paulo is a great place for admiring Brazilian art as there is always a great variety of events and shows for all tastes. You can visit the MASP (Sao Paulo Art Museum) located on the Paulista Avenue and featuring a great European art collection and frequent modern art and photography events. Pinacoteca del Estado is also a good spot, as it holds more than 4000 Brazilian paintings from the 19th century to present times. MAM & MAC (Museum of modern and contemporary art) has more than 5000 works of art and there are usually many exhibitions.
Due to its intense and varied immigration waves, Sao Paulo has many interesting neighborhoods to visit. For example "Liberdade", the Japanese district, that holds many interesting asian shops and buildings. The Mooca is the Italian district and a really attractive area.
Sao Paulo has a beautiful Cathedral, the "Catedral da S", an icon of the city located in the nice "Praa da S", the historical square. There are also many historical buildings that are worth a visit. You can see Patio do Colegio, an old Jesuitic school, the municipal Theatre of Sao Paulo and the Estao da Luz, a beautiful old railway station.
You can also visit one of the biggest attractions in Brazil: the football (soccer) stadium. Sao Paulo has hundreds of stadiums, and its a good idea to enjoy a football match. Corinthians and Palmeiras are the most popular teams and their games provide enough enthusiasm to truly admire Brazilian football.
Recommended Nights: 3+
Recommended Hostel: Hostel Backpackers Sharehouse
Florianopolis is one of the most popular backpacking destinations on the southern coast of Brazil. Many backpackers arrive here from other parts of Brazil and find it really worth spending a few days to enjoy its great beaches. "Floripa", as it is otherwise known, is a big island connected to continental Brazil by a famous bridge called Hercilio Luz.
Florianopolis is also the name of the city found on the island, which hosts nice hostels and restaurants. But the most interesting part of the island are the more than 40 outstanding beaches that promise fun and relaxation for backpackers. In the north part of the island you can visit the popular 'Ingleses', a wide beach filled with nice bars and frequent parties. You may also wish to visit Jurer Internacional, one of the most visited beaches and Canasvieiras with its calm sea and a great nightlife.
Inside the island youll also find two marvelous lakes called Lagoa do Peri (fresh water) and Lagoa da Conceio (salted water), as well as nice dunes and small islands. Ilha do Campeche is a great island that can be reached by boat from Florianopolis. Its beautiful nature and clear water are perfect for snorkeling and diving. If you are not shy around nudity and naturalist beaches then dont hesitate to visit Praia Galheta. Its a calm and comfortable area. Finally, the best beaches for surfing are Praia Mole and Praia Joaquina on the Eastern side of the island, Ingleses do Vermelho in the Northern part, and campeche in the Southern part.
There are also many incredible places off the island on continental Brazil that are great to visit. In the north you should try bombas and bombinhas, two beautiful beaches where it is possible to enjoy snorkeling, diving and surfing. Cuatro islas is also a tremendous place to consider for surf lovers.
If you go south of Florianopolis, there are many other interesting places to visit. For example Garopaba, a striking bay with nice beaches great for surfing. Close to Garopaba there are two stunning beaches with incredible nightlife called Ferrugem and Praia do Rosa. Enjoy their great bars and parties and youll never forget your visit to this part of Brazil.
Dont be surprised if you decide to stay more than what you have planned in Florianopolis. The great beaches invite a longer stay, and with Green Toad Bus we'll help you have the best backpacking experience in Brazil.
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