Recos for brazil, oh and a place I forgot to mention

  I Totally Forgot to Mention Cabo Frio

Okay wait—how did I forget this?

One of the best parts of the trip was when I went to Cabo Frio, this insanely pretty white sand beach. The sand was soooo soft and super white, and even though it was crazy hot outside, the sand didn’t burn your feet at all?? I don’t know how that works but I’m not questioning it.

The water was warm and literally crystal clear. Like, you could see straight to the bottom, and the vibe there was so chill. People were dancing everywhere, everyone was super nice, and it just felt like paradise.

BUT—of course there had to be something annoying 😂

Some random lady doing henna tattoos came up to me and did this tiny little drawing on my hand without asking. Like, I blinked and she was already halfway through it. Then she had the nerve to charge me 240 reais for it?? For a mini scribble. I almost choked. It was such a scam but I paid it because I didn’t want a whole scene in the middle of the beach 🙄 Lesson learned.

Still… Cabo Frio was so worth it. Definitely a must-see if you ever go to Brazil.

Reccoooss

If you’re planning a trip to Brazil—do it. It’s honestly one of the most beautiful, exciting, chaotic places I’ve ever been to. But I won’t lie to you—there were some not-so-great parts too. So here’s my honest list of what to expect, what to avoid, and what you 100% shouldn’t miss based on my recent trip:

 First Thing: The Air is Humid AF

As soon as you step out of the airport, get ready—it’s HOT, and the air is super humid.

Go to Búzios. Trust Me.

If you want beach-town vibes, cute streets, amazing sunsets, and a mix of chill + party energy, Búzios is the place. The beaches are close to each other, the water is clean and warm, and it’s just overall a beautiful, peaceful place.

pro tip: Check your hotel room before you commit to staying. My first room smelled so bad I couldn’t sleep. I asked to change and got a better, bigger one with no smell—and it totally changed the trip.

Rent One of Those Open-Top Cars

They’re small, fun, and perfect for exploring the area. I just drove around randomly and ended up discovering so many cool spots.

 Visit Multiple Beaches (But Watch Out for the Ants)

The beaches are all around 20 minutes from each other, so it’s super easy to visit several in a day. They were honestly all stunning—warm, clear water, fun crowds, music, dancing, and just good vibes all around.

Don’t Miss the Town at Night

I didn’t realize until my second night that just a few streets down from my hotel there was a whole street full of life—restaurants, shops, food from different countries, people dancing and singing, and just this amazing energy.

So yeah—don’t waste your nights. Go out, walk around, explore. You’ll find something new every time.

ALSO: Don’t Skip Cabo Frio!

I almost forgot to mention this place, but Cabo Frio was one of the highlights.

About Rio de Janeiro…

So here’s the thing—Rio has cool stuff, like Christ the Redeemer (amazing view), the colorful stairs (Escadaria Selarón), and tons of great photo spots. I even stayed right in front of Copacabana Beach.

But... I won’t sugarcoat it. It was really dirty. The streets smelled like pee almost everywhere, there was trash on the beach, and everything was way more expensive than Búzios.

I had a really uncomfortable experience where I left a restaurant and some poor kids and an old woman ran off with my takeout food. I didn’t even care about the food—they clearly needed it more—but it still caught me off guard.

Also, I was offered weed and other drugs multiple times just walking around. It made me feel kind of unsafe, and honestly, I wish I’d spent those extra days back in Búzios instead.

Final Tips:

✅ Go to Búzios (and Cabo Frio)
✅ Pack light clothes, sandals, and lots of sunscreen
✅ Rent a small car and explore
✅ Don’t ignore local food markets and night streets
✅ Be careful with random vendors (especially henna tattoos)
✅ Visit Rio, but maybe don’t expect a paradise