[BUZIOS, BRAZIL] — Buzios is the perfect Brazilian beach town. It was a small fishing village until Bridget Bardo put it on the map in the 60s. Since then it has become a world-wide destination, mostly because of its perfect bay and surrounded by 23 amazing, pristine beaches. Here’s a quick overview of what to do in Buzios and where to stay in Buzios.

Only 173km from Rio, only about 2.5 hours drive, it has become a favorite resort for the fashionable, with a quaint little cafe-line downtown village, villas dotting the coastline. I was there for a few nights way back in 2004, before digital cameras, so I only have bad scans from old print film, so forgive the photo quality.

I was just here for a few nights, taking schooner rides to the distant beaches every day and then walking into town to find something fun to eat.

I don’t have a lot of recommendations other than to just make sure Buzios is one of your stops in Brazil.

There are great beaches within walking distance of town, but the best ones are just a schooner ride around the bend (see below). There are dozens of amazing beaches.

The downtown Rua das Pedras has all sorts of open air shops and cafes. Just hear there every night until you see a place that looks fun to duck into.

Go For an All Day Schooner Cruise

The absolute best thing to do is to book a full or half day schooner cruise. It’s a blast and The Thing To Do in Buzios. Refitted schooners leave regularly to go poke along the coast, stop for schwimbobs in the emerald green waters, snorkel or swim into beach bars for beers and bites. It’s so much fun.

The crews are fun, cranking Brazilian music that every single person knows the words to, swooning and swinging and smiling to the lilting and soothing rhythms. Serving fresh fruit, Caipirinhas. If you want see the living version of “good vibes”, jump on a schooner. So many people, of every age and socioeconomic situation, all smiling and swaying in the sun.

God, it’s so much fun.

The water is so clear and emerald green, it looks like the green on the Brazilian flag.

Check All The Boutique Hotels

Casas Brancas

When I stayed at the sweet Casas Brancas way back in 2004, it was the not only the toast of Buzios, or Brazil, but considered one of the the first really hip boutique hotels in the world — boutique hotels were just blossoming then. It was on everyone’s It List.

It was perfect in every way. Small and intimate. Cool design. A great location, walkable to downtown, amazing views of the bay of Buzios, perfectly positioned for sunset views of the boats and islands in the bay. They’ve since kept upgrading the hotel and keeping ahead of design. Check their website here and how cool it still is.

— Last Visited 2004, Post Updated December 2024 —

More Information on Buzios

There’s not a lot of info in English about Buzios. There just aren’t that many articles in travel magazines. Here’s the NYTimes article about Buzios that brought me here and Casas Brancas. As you can see, it’s from 2003 and there hasn’t been an article since.

Here’s the TripAdvisor page for Buzios. And a guide from Cosmo. And a Fodor’s Guide to Buzios.

 

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