There's not much to see in Belo Horizonte, except for those who like the architecture of Niemeyer. On the other hand, it's the perfect departure point for a tour of the historic cities.
The sixth largest city of Brazil has an excellent reputation. Despite often being avoided by tourists who prefer the colonial cities in the State, the capital of Minas Gerais doesn't lack interest.
My suggestion
Known across Brazil for being the capital of bars (botecos in Portuguese), I advise you tospend a night in Belo Horizonte to confirm the reputation of the mineiros and try the local cachaça.
Amélie Perraud-Boulard
Seasoned Traveller
3
There's not much to see in Belo Horizonte, except for those who like the architecture of Niemeyer. On the other hand, it's the perfect departure point for a tour of the historic cities.
My suggestion
I advise you to go to Belo Horizonte on the weekend. Flights and hotels are much cheaper then.
Between Itacaré in the north and Canavieras in the south of the State of Bahia, the Cocoa Route is becoming one of the must-see locations for those travelling to Brazil. On the 180km that separate the two cities, visitors will discover large farms where the manufacture of chocolate chips is at the heart of the activity, mangroves and a primary forest, "Mata Atlantica".
The fifth city of Brazil, situated in the north-east of the country, is generally forgotten by tourists. Despite a reputation that is sometimes a little rough, the city which unites large avenues, tall buildings and old colonial buildings, has something to charm you. In the surroundings, the city of Olinda and the beaches of Porto das Galinhas are much more popular among tourists.
Although the reputation of the Rio carnival may have faded, it's not the only city in Brazil that knows how to party. The proof is in Salvador de Bahia, the capital of Nordeste where rumba rings in every street corner.
Second city in the North of Brazil with over 1.4 million inhabitants, Belem de Para is an industrial port situated on the Amazon river 100km from the Atlantic Ocean. First town colonised on the Amazon, the town is full of traces of its colonial past.