The most beautiful natural sites to discover Brazil

The natural pools are one of the major tourist attractions of the Alagoas coastal fringe. Natural pools 1 km from the coast are formed at low tide. They can be reached by jangada, a kind of boat, here with motor, in 15 minutes. The waters are translucent and the place is not invaded by tourists. It really feels like diving into waters forgotten by civilization. Take a mask and a snorkel to dive near the reefs. The best ones are in Praia do Toque and São Miguel.

The beach is part of the Cariocas lifestyle and ritual; it is everywhere, very easily accessible and the ideal climate is a standing invitation to go to relax there. It is therefore the social exit by excellence, the place of appointment for families and their friends, the crossroads of encounters and inflamed discussions. We're bronze and swimming, obviously. There is a surf, fitness, beach or volleyball, or jogging. There's a walk there, lunch, there's a drink, there's a lot of fun. The beaches are of course more satisfied during weekends and fériés, but they are almost never deserted. They are crowded during the summer, the Ipanema/Leblon beach can welcome nearly one million (!) people during the busy days in the heart of January!

Each beach has subdivisions called «postos», the town's nageurs stations, planted on average every 700-800 m. These are very important benchmarks, which include social categories of Cariocas, almost implicitly, according to their affinities: so the posto 6 (Copacabana) is that of the pensioners… and the fishermen, the posto 7 (Ipanema) is dedicated to surfers, the 8 posto (Ipanema) is very family, the "8 and a half" (opposite the rue Farme de Amoedo) is the gay rendezvous point, the posto 9 is the hype and bobo of Rio beaches (with the beach) from Pepê, in Barra, and its surfers body-buildés)… You can find the posto that suits your expectations!

From north to south of a coast that is more than 40 kilometres long and has a total of 24 beaches, you will meet:

Ramos: This is the big (and beautiful, if it was not polluted) beach of La Zona Norte de Rio. An artificial lake was created by the municipality to allow residents of this disadvantaged area to refresh without having to take 2 hours of bus to go to the more crested (and less polluted) beaches of Zona Sul.

:: The beach, like all those within the bay of Guanabara, is polluted, and one only has to walk or make sport in its magnificent Aterro by Burle Marx, a great national landscape. Aterro, land won on the sea, was to be a major peripheral road artery linking Zone Sul in the city centre along the coast. But thanks to the hard work of sensible planners, the project of a huge park parallel to the route of the road was accepted. The work was entrusted to the best artist in this field, and Burle Marx drew a true gem. Curves, trails, parks, weave trees, jogging trails, tennis or football grounds, and, on the edge, beach dancing. Often a from tourists, this park of Flamengo is a pleasant place to stroll.

Botafogo: It is also very busy because it is polluted, despite the superb view of the Sugar Loaf and a magnificent cove housing the yacht club of the city. A little soccer and volleyball on the sand nevertheless.

:: The small beach of Urca, at the foot of the morro of the same name, would be exquisite if it was not regularly unsuitable for bathing. The view on Botafogo Bay is worth a look. Stop at the Garota de Urca, the famous beach bar to enjoy it.

Praia Vermelha: The Vermelha beach (red, is the blood of the Indians massacred by the Portuguese conquistadors in the th century) is a haven of peace between the morro of Urca and that of Eea, immediately following the exit of Guanabara bay. You will be able to relax after taking advantage of the rise at the top of the Sugar Loaf, and even soak the feet (but not more, bathing is not very recommended…).

Copacabana and Eea: Copacabana, the most famous and mythical beach in the world! It is attended by Cariocas, tourists and itinerant sellers. It is one of Rio's main attractions. It's filled with small barracks, sipping a coco for 2 or 3 R $, and bordered on the other side of Atlântica, coffee-restaurants living by and for tourism. If it lost its most chic beach title in the city to Ipanema, it nevertheless remains a forced walk. Over 4 km, you will benefit from good waves of waves, because the current can be strong. On Sundays, traffic is forbidden on Atlântica avenida and runners, cyclists and rollers get there! The Eea portion, at the end of the Copacabana beach (postos 1 and 2) is certainly the best corner of the bay: the beach there is wide, water often cleaner than elsewhere on Copacabana, we are at the foot of the Morro Morro, almost in the green, and traffic there is much less. A test!

Ipanema: The Ipanema beach (and the rock point of the same name, which means "harpooner" - of whales- in Portuguese) is located at the beginning of Ipanema Bay, facing the posto 7. She's happy with surfers and body. On the left of the rock, the little wild beach of Diabo (the devil), known as the constant remous. From the top of the rock, a beautiful view of the neighborhoods of Ipanema and Leblon, with the Two brothers, (must irmãos) in the background.

Ipanema and Leblon: Like Copacabana and Eea, they are actually only one beach, separated in the middle by the Lagoa Canal. Ipanema is today the most chic beach in the city, even though it differs in the bottom of Copacabana, except perhaps the waves, a little stronger (Ipanema wants to say "bad water" in Guaraní language). The beach is really being stormed, almost every weekend of the year, as the sun points its rays. Prefer Leblon beach if you are agoraphobe - although the waters are often slightly cleaner than in Ipanema or Ipanema. Don't forget to order your folding chair (cadeira) and your umbrella (cobra-floor) from one of the many barracas (tents) planted on the beach, and test a cool acai or the famous Hotels (nothing to see with the newspaper, it's chips or sweet sweet for the drink, although a little fat!). At the end of Leblon beach, the Belvédère do Leblon lookout at the beginning of the Avenida Niemeyer, which bypasses the morro of the Two brothers, is a perfect place to sip a coconut by taking advantage of the panorama.

:: Beautiful beach portion on the right of São Conrado. It's also the arrival area for the gliders that start from Pedra Bonita (see Sport).

Barra da Tijuca: With its 18 km, the largest Beach in Rio. Water is much cleaner than Copacabana or Ipanema. The beginning of the beach is called Pepê, which is the most connected and dense corner. Good surf spot (and kite surfing) also. Further south, the beach of Reserva, opposite the Ecological Reserve separating Barra from the Recreio district, is more wild and less populated. At the end of Barra, the beach of Recreio and its rocky promontory is very popular with families.

:: It's a wonderful little cove, just a few miles after Recreio beach, considered the best surf spot in Rio. A nice fish restaurant at the end of the lookout, ideal for recovering from its emotions in the turbulent waves of Prainha.

:: It is the most southerly beach in the city of Rio, very wild, surrounded by the mountains and the Mata Atlântica. Wild and beautiful… but about an hour by car from Ipanema!

It is the last beach on the north coast accessible by car, one of the most famous because it offers a panoramic view. White sand and green panorama. Some dining options. A walk (with guide) leads to praia da Fome from this beach in 3 hours of hiking.

You can admire the famous lagoon immortalized by the songs of Caetano Veloso or Dorival Caymmi. At the Abaété lagoon fishermen raise their nets by singing in the morning, but the place lost its charm (neither lavandiers nor feasts) and would even have become ill-famed, which makes us a very found morality: we cannot be and have been!

A trail that starts on the edge, which rises and goes down many times for an hour, with a break on the beach Praia do Saco.

Access by Ferme farm; several possibilities for travel. Trails, Natural pools, waterfalls. Farm products and crafts.

Panoramic view of the Amazon forest.

About half an hour from Catraia in an aluminum boat, the Santo Antônio waterfall is 20 m high. This typically Amazon forest is worth a look.

A large central park, with a mini zoo, an athletics track, an auditorium.

Saturday, agricultural fair, organic products;

On Sunday (a. m. to p. m.) there is the Brick da Redenção: it is a fair of crafts, antiques where you can find everything. Also music, gastronomy and street theatre. Very popular outings with locals.

A dozen coconut trees ployés by western trade winds are looking at fishing houses and green water.

It is one of the busiest parks in the city.

It covers almost 390 hectares and is one of the largest urban fragments of Atlantic forest in Pernambuco. Dois Irmãos State Park is considered one of the main centres of in situ nature conservation in the country. Its exuberant ecosystem is home to free-living plants and animals, such as sloths, marmosets, coatis, capybaras and several birds. It is a botanical and zoological garden and an environmental education centre. Guides accompany visitors on the trails (remember to make reservations).

The cave is 403 m long and is worth a detour!

This cave of 650 m long and 18 m deep is surprising by the space of its rooms, very high and luminous and the aesthetics of its stalactites is particularly beautiful. From Belo Horizonte, take 2 hours of bus.