Recommended Nights: 2
Transport Mode to Next Sector: Executive Bus
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+
Rio de Janeiro 'Cidade maravillosa' (marvelous city) is one of the most exciting cities for backpacking in Brazil, if not the world! But what is so great about it? Well everything! Rio is located in a beautiful bay on the atlantic coast and is surrounded by mountains and nature. It has awesome beaches such as Ipanema, Copacabana, Barra da Tijuca which combine dark blue water, rocky islands and wild forests. Partiers shouldn't miss the famous Carnival and great nightlife, especially in Lapa.
The two most famous mountains of Rio are Sugar Loaf and Corcovado. The Sugar Loaf is located close to the main beaches and there you can enjoy a nice view from the summit, which you get to by taking a cable-car. Corcovado Mountain supports the Christ Redemptor, the icon of Rio which you can see from almost any part of the city and you can get to it by train or taxi. It is a fantastic experience, both to see the magnificence of the statue and the beauty of the city from above.
One of the most fantastic experiences in Rio is its Carnival. It is celebrated the last days of February or the first days of March, and it definitely transforms the life of the city. The streets are full of colours and lights and you can feel the joy and happiness of people everywhere. The fantastic Sambodromo, where the 'escolas de samba' perform and compete is the heart of the carnival. The previous Friday, the city council gives the keys of the city to the 'King Momo', a character that represents the figure head of the carnival, and this is the official beginning of the celebration. The carnival lasts five days and is an unforgettable experience.
Rio is a big city with excellent beaches that make it so special. The most famous Copacabana and Ipanema are in great location, surrounded by hostels and shops, and great views of the 'morros' (mountains) nearby. Theyre also usually visited by celebrities from Europe and the USA. But there are many more beaches to visit like Barra da Tijuca or Prainha.
If you like soccer then you shouldnt miss the Maracana. This enormous stadium was built for the 1950 world soccer championship. Every weekend you can see one of the local teams and enjoy one of the best football leagues in a country that breaths the game.
There are many interesting museums like National library, the National Arts Museum and many more. Also the Botanic Garden is one of the best in existance. You can also visit some of the impressive buildings designed by the brazilian modernist architect Niemeyer, including the Cathedral of Rio and the MAC (Contemporary Art Museum) in Niteroi.
Rio de Janeiro features many other attractions, so plan to spend a few days backpacking in Rio de Janiero, as some find it too hard to leave.
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