Buzios – Where Brazilians Go For Fun in the Sun
Want to check out the beach scene in Brazil, one of South America’s fun-in-the-sun-capitals? While your dreams of sunny shores and club-thumping hits in Brazil may take you to the shores of Rio de Janeiro, I’ve got a better suggestion for you: the sun-drenched paradise of Buzios.
Why Buzios?
Well, for one, it’s not Rio. 
It is in the state of Rio De Janiero, but it’s about 1.5 hours to the east of the city. While an easy day trip or weekend break from Rio, I’d suggest you skip the Rio experience and just head here. While the Sugar Loaf and other iconic parts of Rio city are lovely, the fact that a massive motorway runs between the hotels and beach really ruins the whole experience for me. But there’s nothing but beach bliss in Buzios.
Buzios is a peninsula with over 20 beaches, each having its own distinct qualities. Some of them are rocky, others a fine golden sand. But all of them share the warm as bath water ocean and you can almost always find an empty strip of sand to call your own.
Buzios the city also has plenty of boutique shops, great restaurants, and a little touch of the classic Brazilian nightlife to make it a well-rounded destination. Everyone has their favourite beach after they come to Buzios (I’m keeping mine a secret 
), so go and see for yourself.
Buzios by Boat
If you can tear yourself away from your beach blanket and fresh coconut juice straight from the fruit itself, take one of the many schooner tours that leave from the main dock in Buzios town centre. You don’t need to book ahead but your hotel can request a booking for you if you are wanting a specific departure time.
The schooner tour is great because not only will you get fresh fruit and cocktails while you sail around the peninsula, there’s also a swim stop – so you can get out and explore one of the tiny, rocky islands. And its probably obvious but from the boat are some unreal photo opportunities.
Food and Drink
Buzios has some high-brow dining but with exchange rates like they are, they’re still reasonably priced. You’ll find pay-per-kilo restaurants here as well as the churrascaria (Brazilian steakhouses) that now seem ubiquitous in other countries. And don’t miss the seafood – fresh, as you’d expect, and good quality nearly everywhere.
Wash it all down with Brazil’s national drink, the caipirinha – a cocktail concoction of cachaça, lime, sugar, and lots of ice. If you don’t like cachaça, you can also order a capiroska, which is the same but with vodka. These come cheap and in mass quantity everywhere so you won’t want to be seen without one.
What are you waiting for?
Buzios is a where the Brazilians go when they want some time in the sun. What better testimonial can you have than that? Remember that this is the southern hemisphere, so high season is approx. November til March. You can travel outside this time to save, but it can get a bit rainy between January and March.
Photos by laszlo-photo, mawel, Leo Antonioli
Andy Hayes is the managing editor of Sharing Travel Experiences. Featured in Newsweek, the Wall Street Journal, National Geographic Traveler, and other major publications, he travels for up to seven weeks at a time and spends the other seven right here with you. Follow him on Twitter, @andrewghayes.
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September 20th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
I’m definitely up for a bit of autumn sun – I’m reaching for the sunglasses and sun cream as we speak.
September 20th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
@Heather Would you like some fresh coconut juice with that?
September 20th, 2009 at 8:19 pm
I loved our days in Buzios, made sure to go back on my second trip, and will go back again most definitely. A day of adventure, exploring, beautiful beaches and quiet surprises around every corner:
My first trip:
http://thetaoofme.wordpress.com/2008/09/02/buzios/
My second, with part of the day in Arraial do Cabo, ending up in Buzios:
http://thetaoofme.wordpress.com/2009/05/11/arraial-do-cabo/
For swimming and snorkeling, I would return to Arraial do Cabo, and hope to get there again when I go next month. It is a much smaller town with less to choose from in restaurants, hotels and pousadas, so for those reasons Buzios has much more to offer if you prefer getting out on the town.
I loved reading this post, it brought back great memories of spending time in such a beautiful place.
September 21st, 2009 at 3:50 pm
that place looks amazing..and there’s no hordes of tourists! sign me up!
September 22nd, 2009 at 11:00 pm
I´d like to correct the recipe for the caipirinha drink. It doesn´t take soda in it. It´s made of squeezed lemon, sugar, cachaça or vodka and lots of ice cubes. hummmm
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:53 pm
@Lulucian7 – Thanks for pointing that out! Just too caught up in the memories. I’ve updated the recipe. Saude!
December 22nd, 2009 at 12:59 pm
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December 23rd, 2009 at 10:56 pm
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January 19th, 2010 at 12:49 am
I loved my time in Buzios while I lived in Rio. In fact I’ve been meaning to write up about Buzios, Parati, and Petropolis. If you ever find your way in Buzios again I highly recommend The Mix Bar. Great music and locals, in fact many times other bar owners would close up early to hang out at The Mix Bar. Its a small little place but has a great crowd and opens up to the beach in the back.
January 19th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
And Buzios is a great place for a monkey
March 6th, 2010 at 12:37 am
Buzios is at the top of our travel list for an upcoming trip to Brazil.
Does anyone know if it’s safe/easy to travel there from Rio by bus? I.e. is the bus terminal in Rio safe? Also, is it safe to carry cash for 2 hotel nights if our hotel doesn’t accept credit cards?
Thanks in advance for the advice…and the great forum. If anyone wants to throw out other favorite places, be my guest! I’ll can provide a few when we get back!
March 9th, 2010 at 3:53 pm
Hi Belinda – I’ve sent you an email with some tips – you’ll be fine, just keep your wits about you.