Búzios, Brazil
WHY: There are 23 beaches on the five-mile-long Búzios
Peninsula, a stylish seaside haunt favored by Rio’s elite and
jet-setting celebrities. (Leonardo DiCaprio and Gisele Bündchen are
among the A-listers who’ve been spotted here.) Búzios’s close proximity
to Rio—about two hours by car—make it easy to hit the beach before or
after catching the action at the 2016 Summer Olympics (August 5-21).
Each beach has its own vibe and charms. West coast beaches such as
João Fernandes, Brava, and Tartaruga typically have calm, clear waters.
The surf is wilder on the east coast, which faces the open ocean. Geribá
Beach, a favorite of Watertown, Massachusetts, resident Jeff Poulos,
offers both big surf (on the west end) and gentle wave action (on the
east end). “Geribá was a perfect way to spend a relaxing day—a real
family-friendly beach with far more locals than [visitors] from abroad,”
says Poulos, who visited in early 2016. “We loved the long stretch of
sandy shore, clear water, and beautiful view.”
WHERE: Búzios is located on the southeastern Atlantic coast of
Brazil, about two hours northeast of Rio. The Búzios Peninsula includes
the three main communities of Manguinhos, located closest to the
mainland; Armação de Búzios, located mid-peninsula; and Ossos, at the
northern tip. The closest international airport is Rio Galeão, located 12 miles north of downtown Rio de Janeiro.
HOW: From the airport, take the private Viação 1001 bus to Armação (the main Búzios bus stop). Or book a private airport transfer (reservations
required) directly to your hotel. Travel around Búzios on foot and by
taxi, shared minibus, and tourist trolley. Use the ubiquitous water
taxis to hop between west coast beaches.
STAY: Pousadas (basically, Brazilian
bed-and-breakfasts) generally offer a more local and laid-back vibe (and
lower rates) than beach resorts. Walk to Geribá Beach from Pousada Corais and Conchas,
a 28-room inn with four small pools and activities and a play area for
kids. There’s also a supply of chairs and umbrellas guests can tote to
the beach.
EAT: Splurge on a luxurious lunch in bed at Rocka Beach Lounge and Restaurant overlooking
Brava Beach. There’s table seating inside and on the patio, but the
most coveted seats (reservations required) are the comfy daybeds set up
on the beach. Lounge and listen to the waves while dining on fresh
seafood such as local oysters, Arraial do Cabo squid, and the grilled
catch of the day.
DON’T MISS: Take an evening stroll along cobblestone Rua das
Pedras (Stone Street), Búzios’s famed pedestrian promenade and prime
people-watching spot. Sip a caipirinha—Brazil’s signature cocktail made
with cachaça (distilled sugarcane juice), lime, and sugar—and soak in
the scene at one of the promenade’s open-air bars.
NEED TO KNOW: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) recommends that pregnant women not visit Brazil this summer due to
the risk of microcephaly, a serious birth defect of the brain linked to
the Zika virus. Most people infected with Zika will not get sick;
however, the CDC recommends that travelers to Brazil take steps to
prevent mosquito bites. For tips on preventing Zika and for the latest
travel advisories, regularly check the CDC’s webpage “Travelers’ Health: Zika Virus in Brazil.”
FUN FACT: French film star Brigitte Bardot played a leading
role in transforming Búzios from a sleepy fishing village to a
fashionable seaside resort. In 1964, the actress and her Brazilian
paramour hid out in Búzios for three months to escape the prying lenses
of the paparazzi. Bardot’s rave reviews of the idyllic beaches put
Búzios on the radar of the rich and famous. Locals honored her with a
statue, located on the Orla Bardot Boardwalk and close to the movie
theater Gran Cine Bardot.
HELPFUL LINKS: Búziosonline
