Around Rio
Beaches and coves in Búzios, turquoise water in Arraial do Cabo, imperial palaces in the mountains of Petrópolis: three easy getaways from Rio.
Destinations
Búzios, Arraial do Cabo, Petrópolis
Recommended stay
2 to 4 nights
Best time to go
Year-round
Airports
Rio de Janeiro
Sea or mountains
A few hours from Rio, two very different moods: by the sea, the beach peninsula of Búzios, with its dozens of beaches, and Arraial do Cabo, with some of the clearest turquoise water in Brazil; in the mountains, Petrópolis, the emperor’s former summer retreat, in the cool air of the Serra.
They work well as an extension of a few days before or after Rio.
Plan on two to three nights in Búzios to enjoy the beaches, with a day trip to nearby Arraial do Cabo, and a day or an overnight stay for Petrópolis. These getaways combine easily with Paraty and Ilha Grande, south of Rio, for a trip between sea and mountains.
Where and when to go
Map
When to go
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Months
By the sea
The Lakes Region, northeast of Rio.
Búzios
A peninsula with many beaches and coves, plus Rua das Pedras with its restaurants and nightlife.
A former fishing village made famous by Brigitte Bardot in the 1960s, Búzios has some twenty beaches: Geribá, popular with surfers, or more sheltered coves such as Azeda, Azedinha and João Fernandes, ideal for snorkeling. A schooner trip lets you discover several of them in a single day. In the evening, Orla Bardot and Rua das Pedras come alive with restaurants and bars.
Ideal for: couples, friends, relaxing
Access: about a 2.5- to 3-hour drive from Rio
Arraial do Cabo
The turquoise waters of the Lakes Region: white-sand beaches, coves and one of the best dive sites in Brazil.
Nicknamed the “Brazilian Caribbean”, Arraial do Cabo owes its clear water to an upwelling of cold currents off the cape. A boat trip takes you to Praia do Farol on Cabo Frio Island, often named among the country’s most beautiful beaches, to the Gruta Azul and to the Prainhas do Pontal do Atalaia, two coves below a lookout. Its waters, rich in marine life, also make it one of Brazil’s diving capitals.
Ideal for: beaches, diving, day trip from Búzios
Access: about a 2.5- to 3-hour drive from Rio, 1 hour from Búzios
In the mountains
The Serra dos Órgãos, north of Rio.
Petrópolis
The imperial city, with the Imperial Museum, the cathedral and a cooler climate.
Built up in the 19th century around Emperor Pedro II’s summer palace, Petrópolis has kept its canal-lined avenues and its mansions from the imperial era. The Imperial Museum, housed in the former palace, displays Pedro II’s crown, and the neo-Gothic cathedral holds the emperor’s tomb. You can also visit the Crystal Palace and the house of Santos-Dumont, the aviation pioneer. The surrounding area, around Itaipava and Serra dos Órgãos National Park, offers mountain pousadas and hiking.
Ideal for: history, day trips
Access: about a 1.5-hour drive from Rio
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