Backpacking Brazil

Travel backpacking tips for Brazil

What is a young traveler like you looking for on his journey to the immense Brazil? Beaches, sun and a nice tan? Answers for introspective questions? Or just a hot Brazilian boyfriend/girlfriend? Sure enough, it can be all about this before landing. But as soon as your feet touch Brazilian grounds, you realize that there's so much more to that... It's not just the sun that gives you that sensation of bodily heat - warmness is actually all around and it's perceived by all your senses! The natural optimistic Brazilian attitude won't let you fall too deep on your internal state, and your convictions of meeting a Brazilian sex bomb will soon become a strong will of communicating with the world!

'Eu sou de todo o mundo/ E todo o mundo é meu também' (I belong to the world/And the world belongs to me) - these lines from a very famous song from Tribalistas (a Brazilian music band) can sum up what your mood during your trip in Brazil will be... Regarding your experience, well, it'll be most likely a great opportunity to meet other Backpackers like you, to Rave about everything that is Brazil-related and be Amazed by the traditional food, to stay in Zillions of cheap hostels and visit some Incredible spots, and to sing that well-known song from Terry Gilliam's film Brazil Lalalalalalalala...!

Your travel experience in Brazil wouldn't be the same if you weren't traveling as a backpacker. It is only natural to see random tourists just laying in the sun all day, lazing around between their five stars hotel and the beach and living their packaged holidays. But backpackers know that the most important things that one can get from traveling are real travel experiences. So it doesn't matter if you don't have a pool in your hostel or if there aren't any spas around - nothing compares to a dive in the ocean and to a good and chilling Caipirinha by the sunset. Thus, the low-cost philosophy actually equals high-profitable travel experiences for your life! To venture to Brazilian destinations with a feeling of sneaking backstage and witnessing and participating in the real life with local people is the ultimate lifetime experience! If by any chances you happen to be a trendy backpacker though, who actually doesn't have a heavy backpack but a very light trolley and cannot leave the laptop at home, don't feel like a fish out of the water; in the seas of backpacking there is also space for young classy travelers - the so-called flashpackers. The fact is that with Havaianas - the flipflops that everyone wears in Brazil - you can't really tell who's the prince and who's the pauper!

You'll be amazed with what Brazil has to offer you when it comes to party! And we all know what the combination for a great party is - yes, that's right, good music and delicious exotic food! Well, Brazilians are expert in that. Your ears will get a good treat by listening to Caetano Veloso - considered by many as the Brazilian Bob Dylan - and his sister Maria Bethânia, by the Bossa Nova-ish Gilberto Gil, the eccentric Rita Lee and the crazy alternative electro rockers CSS (which stands for Cansei de Ser Sexy, meaning 'I got tired of being sexy') just to name a few... Then there's always the famous samba and all the mayhem of Carnival. So take your feet of the ground, like Brazilians say, and celebrate the most colored and rhythmic party in the world! Of course, after such dancing frenzy your stomach will start to roar. But you're in safe hands here. In almost every corner shop you can find a range of salty snacks called salgadinhos. Anywhere you go, there's always a great dish called feijão com arroz (beans with rice) waiting for you. It is very popular and basic at table. The national dish, though, is feijoada, a meat and bean stew - very heavy for your belly but also very yummy for your tummy. If you are looking for something lighter, just try some tropical fruit like mango, papaya, guava, orange, passion fruit, pineapple, among others. The Brazilian cuisine reflects the country's mix of native people like Amerindians, Portuguese, Africans, Italians, Spaniards, among others, so there's a lot more to discover!

After all this food, sure enough, you're going to start worrying about calories (especially if you are a girl), terrorized with the idea that your new Brazilian bikini won't suit you anymore. Relax. How do you think Brazilians stay fit? The answer is sports. Try football on the beach, volleyball or even capoeira, a sort of fight/dance where the main target for a beginner is not to break a leg.

Where to stay? Don't worry about that! There are zillions of cheap hostels in Brazil, and HostelsClub.com makes it very easy - and cheap, of course - for you to book your holiday! This website is focused on budget travellers like you!

After picking the right hostel(s) for you, it's time to look for the ideal spots and make your must-see list. Rio de Janeiro is a wonderful and wild city with a lot of sights, whilst the busy São Paulo is recognized for its nightlife and is known as the exotic New York. Absolute highlights of the former are Cristo Redentor (a giant statue of Christ), the Sugarloaf Mountain and Copacabana beach. Then there's the capital, Brasilia, which is something that you just can't miss! This city is quite a paradox when compared with all the other colourful and vivid places in Brazil; it is too cold, modern and planned for a country that is famous for its passion, old traditions and authenticity. But that's exactly why you have to see it! To enjoy nature and relax, visit the scenic breath-taking waterfalls in Iguaçu. Finally, you cannot leave this wonderful country without taking a trip down the Amazon river on a boat, booking a wildlife trip to Pantanal, which includes friendly animals (not) such as anacondas, crocodiles and piranhas, or spending the night in a cute little town called Paraty.

Although Brazil is a cocktail of cultures and traditions, you can be sure of one thing: you will always feel at home! Discover this country's core of joy, passion and love and return home full of amazing experiences and saudades (nostalgic feeling), sighing and singing 'Brazil, lalalalalalalala'...