Things to Do in Brazil

The city of Manaus is home to a busy commercial and cruise port, but luckily for visitors the port itself is right downtown. This means you can make the most of even a short stop in Manaus without spending too much time getting back and forth to and from your ship.

How to Get to Manaus:

As mentioned, the Port of Manaus is right in the downtown area, so once your ship gets in it is as simple as walking into the city center to enjoy the sights. Not all the attractions are downtown, of course, but from central Manaus you can take a bus or taxi to outlying destinations you might want to visit - like some of the river beaches or museums.

One Day in Manaus:

Because central Manaus is within walking distance of the port, it is easy to spend a day exploring the city center on your own. You can visit the beautiful Teatro Amazonas opera house, pick up some souvenirs at the Mercado Municipal and learn about the indigenous populations at the city's history museums. Getting to points that are further away, like the Natural Science Museum or the popular river beaches, would be easier with a tour so that you don't need to figure out transportation or worry about getting back to your boat in time if you are visiting from a cruise. If your stop in Manaus is at the end of your cruise, you can also book an Amazon tour. The two rivers that meet at Manaus form the Amazon, and boat tours leave regularly from the city.

Port Information:

The local language in Manaus is Brazilian Portuguese, and the currency is the Brazilian Real. You will need to exchange your money for the local currency, and be prepared to have smaller bills - many vendors cannot make change for large denominations. Note that although the port is within walking distance of central Manaus, the weather is typically very hot and humid, so be sure you have sunscreen and maybe a hat to protect yourself on your walk.

Praia do Forte is an area of spectacular biodiversity less than two hours by bus from Salvador. 

Like many beach towns in Brazil, Praia do Forte was once a small fishing village that became known for its beautiful stretches of coastline, diverse ecosystems, and wildlife.

Now a bustling eco-resort, Praia do Forte’s stunning beach and surrounding ocean and jungle is the main drawcard for visitors who come to relax and take advantage of the many adventure activities and whale & turtle watching.

Praia do Forte's high reef is well exposed at low tide, leaving warm pools of colorful fish and natural baths to loll about in. The area’s wide variety of marine life makes it an ideal spot for snorkeling and diving.

Over seven different species of sea turtle live in the surrounding waters. It's worth visiting the TAMAR project to see them in their natural environment and learn more about the project’s conservation work.

Petropolis was the mountain getaway for the imperial court, popular in summer when the coast became hot and muggy. Nestled 3,000ft (800m) high in the  Serra dos Órgãos it is a few degrees cooler than at sea level.

It’s a kooky place as the rainforest is filled with European alpine architecture and the gorgeous Museu Imperial would not be out of place in Austria.  Other buildings of note include the cathedral, which offers excellent views from the steps and the glasshouse (Palacio Cristal) imported from France for Princesa Isabela’s orchids.

Along Rue 16 de Marco there are lots of eateries and Rua Theresa is known for clothes shopping. If you’re after more strenuous activities you can also hike and mountain bike in the surrounding mountains.

Located on the southwest end of Sao Conrado Beach, Pepino Beach rounds into a picturesque cove, with lush vegetation and the granite mountains of Pedra da Gavea and Pedra Bonita rising behind it.

But besides being a lovely strip of sand, Pepino Beach is most commonly known as the landing spot for Rio’s hang-gliders and paragliders. Adrenaline-seekers jump from a platform atop Pedra Bonita before gracefully landing at Pepino Beach, and those interested in watching these daredevils in flight can get a perfect view on the water.

Wedged between Ipanema and Barra da Tijuca, Sao Conrado and Pepino beaches are usually less crowded alternatives to the famous shores of Copacabana and Ipanema. With plenty of white sand, gorgeous views and crashing waves sometimes suitable for surfing and boogie boarding, Pepino Beach is a great place to kick back and enjoy a day on the shore.

Pelourinho is Salvador’s original colonial center and was Brazil's first slave market. Its name is derived from the post or pillory that African slaves were tethered to and whipped by their Portuguese overlords.

Despite containing the largest concentration of Baroque architecture in the Americas, Pelourinho was a seedy no-go zone until the mid-1980s largely due to drugs and prostitution.

Since being declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985, Pelourinho has been restored to some of its former glory along with plenty of restaurants, bars and open-air cafes from which to sit and drink in the colorful and architecturally rich surrounds.

Located in the far west of Rio, Recreio dos Bandeirantes is a beach seldom visited by tourists. The waterfront area houses a quiet, upper-middle class neighborhood that bears the same name and is most commonly referred to as just ‘Recreio.’ Although the 12+-mile (20-km) stretch of sand from Barra da Tijuca to Reserva Beach to Recreio Beach is uninterrupted, the part that is officially considered Recreio Beach begins just southwest of Reserva and northeast of Pontal Rock (Pedra do Pontal), a recognizable granite rock that rises high out of the ocean at the shoreline.

Less busy and crowded than the South Zone beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana, Recreio embodies Rio’s laidback, active, surfer lifestyle. Locals love the area for the wealth of outdoor and water activities, from waterfront running paths and beach volleyball to paddle-boarding and surfing. Recreio Beach is one of few places on Rio’s massive beachfront where the waves are consistently small and gentle, perfect for beginner surfers.

To get a great view of the long stretch of sand from Barra da Tijuca to Recreio das Bandeirantes, it is possible to climb Pontal Rock. At low tide, visitors can walk right up to the rock and reach the top in about 10 minutes. There’s a short but steep portion where a cord is installed to help hikers ascend.

It might not be Carnaval time in Rio but it is always Carnaval time at Plataforma. This lively Brazilian restaurant is where to get your fix of razzle and dazzle all year round.

The colorful show tells the story of Brazil's history (with Portuguese, Indian and African influences) through song and dance (including samba), with a highlight being the Brazilian drums. The finale involves a sparkling parade of outfits reflecting the yellow, blue, green and white of the Brazilian flag.

The show is family friendly although it does end sometime between 11:30pm and 12:30am, so not for the 'early to bed' crowd.