Welcome to the Next Stop: Brazil Blog

If you want a Friday night that feels local, one of my favourite free Forro events in Rio de Janeiro is held each Friday in the neighbourhood of Laranjeiras. Every Friday, Praça São Salvador fills up with live forró, dancing, and a crowd that is mostly Brazilian with a handful of foreigners. The vibe is welcoming, wholesome, and attracts people of all ages. About the Friday night forro in Laranjeiras, Rio de Janeiro 💃🕺 📍 Praça São Salvador, Laranjeiras 🕕 Free dance class

If you are in Rio de Janeiro during the World Cup, you are in for a treat. Even if you're not into football (soccer), the atmosphere is not to be missed. Brazilians create some of the best crowds in the world. They cheer, sing, support their team from start to finish, and are genuinely fun to be around. The energy during a World Cup match is something special, whether you're watching with locals at a neighbourhood bar or in the middle of a packed street party. If you're wonde

Rio de Janeiro itself a city full of things to do. Nevertheless, if you live in Rio or are visiting for a longer trip, you may start itching for a weekend getaway. Like Rio itself, the surrounding area has countless opportunities for adventure, from mountain ranges to beaches, to delightful historic towns. Along the coast, areas like Região dos Lagos and Ilha Grande are perfect for boat trips, snorkelling, and beach hopping. Inland, mountain regions such as Visconde de Mauá a

Just like the city of Rio de Janeiro itself, the surrounding state is diverse and full of exciting things to see and do. If you are looking for a day trip to take a break from the city, there is really something for everyone. If you feel like an active trip, you can can spend the day hiking to waterfalls and swimming in freshwater pools in Serra dos Órgãos National Park, take a tandem hang gliding flight from Pedra Bonita and land on the beach, or go surfing in Saquarema. If

Ilhabela has a large number of beaches to explore. For most visitors, choosing where to go is less about finding the “best” beach and more about understanding differences in access, water conditions, and facilities. Some beaches are easy to reach but more developed and busy, while others have clearer water and fewer people but require more time and effort to access. Most beaches are located along the west coast near the main road, while others require a longer drive, a boat

São Paulo is one of the largest cities in the world and is often associated with concrete, traffic, and a focus on food and nightlife. But that only reflects the urban experience, and fails to acknowledge how quickly the landscape changes when you leave the city center. Within a couple hours, the city opens into protected Atlantic Forest, mountain ranges, and beautiful stretches of coastline that remain relatively undeveloped. This contrast is what makes day trips from São P

São Paulo sits within one of the most geographically diverse states in Brazil, but many of its most interesting landscapes are just beyond the range of a day trip. The state of Sao Paulo includes Atlantic Forest, mountain ranges like the Serra do Mar and Serra da Mantiqueira, river systems, and pristine coastline with dozens of islands to explore. Whether you are living in Sao Paulo or just passing through, taking a weekend getaway gives you the chance to breath some fresh

Standing in front of Iguazu Falls is a humbling experience. The sound carries before you see it, and the system of waterfalls stretches far beyond your line of sight. It is one of the most visited natural sites in South America, and for many travellers, a highlight of their trip to Brazil and Argentina. But do you need to take a tour guide to visit the falls? The short answer is no - you do not need a tour guide to visit Iguazu Falls, neither in Brazil nor Argentina , but in

Finding great vegetarian and vegan food in São Paulo is easy, with the city offering one of the widest ranges of plant-based options in Brazil. While traditional Brazilian cuisine still centres around meat, São Paulo’s size and diversity mean there are entire neighbourhoods filled with vegan restaurants, vegetarian buffets, and cafés that cater specifically to plant-based diets. This guide brings together a selection of reliable options across the city, from fully vegan rest

Finding good vegetarian and vegan food in Rio de Janeiro is easier than it used to be with more and more people in the city opting for a plan-based diet. While traditional Brazilian cuisine is centred around meat and seafood, there is a growing number of restaurants across popular neighbourhoods like Ipanema, Botafogo, and Copacabana that cater specifically to vegan and vegetarian diets. This guide brings together a selection of reliable options across the city, from fully v

Recife , often referred to as the Venice of Brazil, is a city shaped by its rivers, which wind through neighbourhoods before meeting the Atlantic Ocean. It is also a historic centre of colonial Brazil, where pastel coloured buildings sit beside modern high rises, and music spills out into the streets. In the epicenter of Pernambuco culture, you'll find frevo dancers with colourful umbrellas, hear Maracatu music on the streets, and enjoy long lunches of arrumadinho, fresh gri

São Paulo is Brazil’s largest city and its economic capital. It is a place where street art covers entire city blocks, world class museums sit beside food markets that have been operating for nearly a century, and neighbourhood botecos fill up every evening with people sharing beer and finger food. Unlike Rio de Janeiro , São Paulo is not a beach city. What it offers instead is diversity, and one of the most dynamic food scenes in Latin America. In a single day you can admir

Choosing where to stay in Rio de Janeiro can shape your entire experience of the city. Rio is not a place with one central tourist district. Instead, each neighbourhood has its own rhythm, atmosphere, and lifestyle. Two areas might look similar on the surface, but feel completely different once you arrive. Along the coast, neighbourhoods such as Copacabana , Ipanema , and Leblon revolve around the beach. Life moves between the sand, the promenade, and the local neighbourhoo

Ilha Grande feels a world away from the busy cities of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo . There are no bridges, no airport, and no roads connecting it to the mainland. To reach the island, everyone arrives the same way. By boat. The journey itself is part of the experience. After leaving the mainland, the water quickly turns deep blue and the forested mountains of Ilha Grande come into view. Within minutes you begin to see quiet beaches, small fishing boats, and the jungle cover

Rio de Janeiro is a city defined by both its geography and rhythm. Granite peaks rise directly from the ocean and neighbourhoods spill down the hillsides. Daily life moves between the beach and the botecos - where someone busts out a guitar and a drum. One thing leads to another and before you know it you're dancing in the street with new friends and a caipirinha in your hand. In one day you can stand beneath Christ the Redeemer , ride a cable car up Sugarloaf Mountain , swim

Each year, the result of the Carnaval do Rio de Janeiro is decided inside the Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí , where the city’s top samba schools compete for the championship title. The Sambadrome, inaugurated in 1984 and designed by Oscar Niemeyer , is a purpose built parade avenue measuring approximately 700 metres in length and holding around 72,000 spectators during the main parade nights. The competition features schools from the Grupo Especial, the highest division of Ri

Brazilian Carnival is one of the world’s most vibrant, chaotic, and colourful festivals, known for its energetic street parties ( blocos ), samba parades, and extravagant costumes. One lesser known, but important, part of Carnival fashion is the abadá . If you're planning to attend a Camarote , a closed bloco, or other private events, you'll need to understand what an abadá is and how you can (and can't) customise it. What is an Abadá? An abadá is a brightly coloured branded

Everyone has heard of Brazil's top destinations: Rio de Janeiro . The Amazon . Iguazu Falls . However at 8.5 square kms, almost the size of the United States, Brazil is a huge and highly diverse country. In 2026 the most interesting trips are happening in Brazil's top up and coming destinations. Across the country, smaller beach towns and national parks are gaining attention as travellers look for places that feel undiscovered. From windy beaches in Rio Grande do Norte to wat

Rio de Janeiro , while best known for its stunning beaches, samba, and Carnival parties , also hides some of the world’s most incredible hiking trails. Surrounded by lush mountains and Atlantic rainforest, ocean, and bays, these trails provide an incredible way to see the natural beauty of Rio de Janeiro while also encountering some of its local wildlife . This post will show you ten unforgettable hikes that every active traveler will love, that you can do while visiting in R

Shakira is set bring her iconic "Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour" to the sands of Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro on 2 May 2026, for a spectacular free concert. This show is part of the "Todo Mundo no Rio" initiative, aimed at boosting the local economy. Madonna performed at first edition of the event in 2024, which attracted 1.6 million people. Lady Gaga brought her iconic show "Mayhem on the Beach" for the program's second edition in 2025, attracting 2.1 million peop