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This
list of hotels, pousada's (bed and breakfasts), hostels,
and guest-ranches, and tours is my personal selection
list. I am constantly updating it. Note that this list
does not begin to list all that are available, just the
ones we have checked out and highly recommend.
Visited
- recommended |
Highly
recommended |
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Capt.
Donald
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Note
that we at Andetur Brazilian Travel Club take a personal
interest in each and every one of our members and clients,
and we want them to really enjoy their stay in Brazil
and come back, and tell their friends.
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If
you don't find an area of your interest on this list yet,
request information .. we'll get it for you and add to
the list.
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We'll
start the list with the northeast of Brazil .. our home
base and particular area of interest.
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REGIONS
OF BRAZIL
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NORTHEAST |
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This
city of 607,000, Natal is located on the northeastern tip of Brazil, and
the state is best known for its beaches. The two most popukar are Ponta
Negra and Pipa (about 60 km south of town). Ponta Negra was a relatively deserted
stretch of sand dunes south of town (except on weekends, when the
dunes are hopping with crowds) but is fast developing into a city with the city; 'in-town' is the Praia do Maio,
a broad beach protected by a reef and the star-shaped 16th-century
Fortaleza dos Reis Magos (Fort of the Magi). The lighthouse of Mae
Luiza affords great views of Natal and the surrounding beaches.
Because of its distance from other major areas in Brazil, many tourists, especially from the United States, don't
know about or visit Natal, even though the city was a US base during WWII. Plan three nights to a week there if
you're a beach lover; otherwise, one or two nights will be plenty.
Natal
is the 'home base' of Andetur .... Edna's (my wifes) home town.
Our offices are located in the center of Cidade Alta (the main center of town).
The
pousadas, hotels, and beaches along the coast of Rio Grande do Norte are listed
on separate pages as follows:
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Rent
Beach Houses (Villas) by the week
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NEW!
Proposed Schooner Project will offer cruises along the northeast coast and to Fernando de Noronha
See our tours to Fernando de Noronha
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Natal,
located in the center of the Northeast coast, is the
ideal starting point for those who want to get to know
this region. Genipabu, Pipa, Fernando de Noronha, João
Pessoa, Recife, Olinda and Fortaleza are all accessable
from this city. The beaches of white and warm sands
are synonymous with "carefree" and "recreation".
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Known
as "the city of sun", Natal offers the most
for tourists in the northeast. The temperature is comfortable...
an average of 26º C... with a constant breeze and sunny
days. According to NASA, the air here is considered
to be the most pure in the Americas.
LIVE
WEATHER
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SAFARI
TYPE LAND ROVER TOURS
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| Fortaleza |
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Fortaleza,
the capitol of Ceará is a sprawling city of 1.8 million people and capital
of the State of Ceará, and provides access to some 540
km of some of the finest beaches in all of Brazil.
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In recent years, the city of Fortaleza has undertaken many civic improvement projects, and some downtown areas that were formally dilapidated or even dangerous have been transformed into attractive waterfront promenades, café districts and artists hangouts. The beachfront and neighboring streets are alive year-round and far into the night with outdoor cafés, handicraft stalls, dance clubs, bars, and street vendors.
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Details
of the Beaches
This
coastal city has several outstanding beaches to the
north and south, but avoid the polluted beaches in town.
Facilities are adequate. The seafood and local music
are excellent. It's a good place to shop for Brazilian
handicrafts. Aside from a few museums and the mausoleum
for Castelo Branco (a military president), there really
isn't much to see or do.
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 Port
of Entry
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The coastal
city of Recife (pop. 1,297,000), on the Golden Coast of northeastern
Brazil, presents a contrast of colonial and modern buildings. Called
the Venice of Brazil for its canals and bridges, Recife is dirtier
than the Italian version (but not by much).
Plan two nights
to see the three main regions of the city (spread out over islands
and peninsulas connected by bridges-the older parts of the city
are nearest the ocean). Recife has a number of interesting museums,
including ones devoted to clay, sugar, trains and subjects such
as slavery, archaeology and geography. There are also 17th- and
18th-century churches with beautiful woodcarvings and gilded altars.
Take time to browse at the Casa da Cultura (an old prison turned
shopping mall), or shop for Brazil's finest ceramic tiles at the
Brennand Ceramics Workshops, just outside of town (there are also
many startling sculptures there).
Recife has
a fantastic Carnival that rivals those in Rio and Salvador. Several
half- and full-day excursions can be made, including ones to Olinda;
Cabo (20 mi/30 km south-beaches at Gaibu, a fort and a museum);
the Island of Itamaraca (30 mi/50 km north-good beaches, a 17th-century
Dutch fort and one of the oldest churches in Brazil); Sao Jose da
Coroa Grande (65 mi/110 km south-beaches and good scuba); and Caruaru
(85 mi/135 km west-a figurative-arts center with big markets Friday-Sunday
and smaller markets on other days). Tours to traditional sugarcane
plantations outside Recife are also available.
Olinda (pop.
389,000) has some of the best-preserved colonial buildings in Brazil
(UNESCO has declared it a "monument to humanity"). The
city's architecture reflects both its Portuguese and Dutch heritage
(the Dutch invaded and occupied the area in the 17th century). We
think the best way to see Olinda is on foot. Stroll its 16th- and
17th-century cobblestone streets, past colonial houses, shops, churches
and markets. There are frequent festivals in town-the best known
is Carnival. Olinda is usually seen as a day trip from Recife.
SAFARI
TYPE LAND ROVER TOURS
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A seldom-visited,
mountainous archipelago off the northeastern coast, Fernando de
Noronha is a year-round destination that offers quiet beaches, good
diving, great surfing and snorkeling, and a laid-back atmosphere.
The landscapes and seascapes are diverse and beautiful: The islands
were declared an environmental reserve in 1986. There are 17 fortresses
on the islands (the principal one being Forte de Nossa Senhora dos
Remedios), but the main reason to go there is relaxation. A week
will not be too long for those who think this sounds appealing.
The Hotel Esmeralda
(built by the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II) was the only hotel;
but now there are many pousadas ... small bed and breakfasts in private
homes .... advance reservations are essential.
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This
is striking city (pop. 2,300,000), Brazil's longtime colonial
capital, and lies on beautiful Santos Bay (Bahia De Todos
os Santos).
A strong
African influence derives from the slaves brought to work
in the sugar cane fields more than 400 years ago. Salvador
is divided into an upper and lower section, and the enormous
Lacerda elevator, which goes from one level to the other,
affords outstanding views. Multicolored homes, red-tiled
roofs, a great market, twisting and narrow cobblestone streets,
great beaches, terreiros (cult worship houses) and about
300 churches make this an excellent place to stay for two
or three nights. No tour of the city is complete without
seeing the Igreja de Sao Francisco-although relatively plain
on the outside (as are most Portuguese churches in Brazil),
the inside is covered in gold leaf and is as ornate as it
is beautiful. Also visit the Farol da Barra (a 16th-century
fort overlooking one of several sites claiming to be the
original spot where Portuguese navigator Cabral's party
landed in Brazil) and the Igreja do Bomfim, where believers
from across the state go to worship and celebrate (don't
miss the Room of Miracles, where believers leave reproductions
of body parts in need of miraculous healing-you'll be amazed
by the number of plastic arms, legs, heads, hearts and lungs
dangling from the ceiling).
Shopping
is good on Rua Alfredo do Brito and exceptional at the Mercado
Modelo (good African and Brazilian souvenirs).
Pelourinho,
one of the oldest areas in town, has colonial architecture
and a pillory (where slaves and prisoners were tortured).
Other reminders of the city's past can be seen at the Museu
de Arte da Bahia (17th-century antique displays) and the
Museu Abelardo Rodriques (colonial paintings).
The
city's culture is celebrated in the Museu da Cidade (Yoruba
tribal displays), the Afro-Brazilian Museum (African displays),
and the Carlos Costa Pinto Museum. Try to attend a candomble
ceremony, which illustrates the lively African religious
culture found in the city, and watch capoeira, an amazing
combination of martial arts and African folk dance (don't
take pictures of the participants unless you are willing
to pay for the privilege). Salvador also has a great Carnival
celebration, though it's not as flashy as the one in Rio.
North
of Salvador is the fishing village of Praia do Forte, which
borders the Sapiranga Ecological Reserve. The reserve protects
one of Brazil's last stands of Atlantic rain forest. Itaparica,
a lush island 12 mi/19 km southwest, has several nice beaches
and a great view of Salvador across the bay. The Sao Joaquim
Ferry makes the 45-minute crossing several times daily,
but be sure to reserve a space in advance-Salvadorans like
Itaparica, too.
Note:
Salvador has more than its share of poverty and crime. When
you're having a soda or beer in an open bar or cafe, be
prepared for beggars with cups or glasses to ask you for
a drink. Crime directed at tourists is a problem, particularly
in Pelourinho after dark or the sparsely populated beach
areas. Avoid the temptation to change money on the streets
at attractive rates - you'll be inviting trouble.
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Northern
Coastal States - BELEM and the Amazon 
My son
Richard (Ricky), graduated from the University in Belem as a professor of physical education. Ricky might
be persuaded to personally escort tourists visiting Belem.
He operates a small gym and is very active in as a physical education trainer.
Although not an 'official' guide, he was raised in Belem,
speaks perfect English and knows the city well.
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Port
of Entry
The large
port city of Belem (pop. 1,245,000) is a good base for half-day
river cruises to get a closer look at jungle, birds, dugout
canoes and Brazilian fishermen. (These short cruises are really
intended for people who aren't headed farther up the Amazon
on longer cruises.)
Belem
itself has enough of interest to justify a two-day stay: the
18th-century Basilica de Nossa Senhora de Nazare; the Goeldi
Museum (a combination of zoo, botanical gardens, aquarium
and a good ethnology museum); some old French-style mansions
in the Cidade Velha (Old Town); and the Teatro da Paz, which
was graced by Anna Pavlova and other famous performers at
the beginning of the 20th century. The Ver-o-Peso Market is
special: Among the fruit and vegetable stalls, you'll find
vendors selling crocodile teeth, dried boa constrictors and
voodoo charms (go early in the morning to see the most action).
If possible,
attend a batuque ceremony (batuque is a religious sect known
for its colorful costumes and interesting music).
Not far
from the city is the Ilha de Marajo, an island the size of
Switzerland at the convergence of the Amazon and several smaller
rivers. The island's ranches accept guests July-December.
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Port
of Entry
Sao Paulo
is where nature's jungle gives way to concrete one. It's the
largest city in South America and the third largest in the
world. This ethnically diverse megalopolis of 16,000,000 is
the financial, commercial and industrial center of Brazil.
It is also rich in culture, parks and museums. But don't go
expecting to see a beautiful city like Buenos Aires or Rio.
While there are lovely neighborhoods in Sao Paulo, it seems
as if everything is made of concrete-even the fire hydrants!
The real reason to go is to sample its wide variety of international
restaurants, fabulous shopping and very active night life-Sao
Paulo is one of the very few places in the world where you
can get stuck in a traffic jam at two in the morning.
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Andetur
Representative Vania Nunes
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The Pantanal
is one of the world's great wildlife reserves. A trip there
should be booked through an adventure tour operator-only a
very small part of the area has any tourism infrastructure
(or towns, for that matter). Andetur only recommends the best
operators and guides.
The Pantanal
abounds with birds (especially waterfowl), and because the
terrain is largely open, it's easier to spot some animals
in the Pantanal than farther north in the jungles of the Amazon.
Fishing is excellent, with more than 350 varieties of fish,
some weighing up to 175 lb / 80 kg. The reserve has alligators,
deer, armadillos and capybaras (the world's largest rodent).
Unfortunately, poaching has endangered some of the animals,
and anteaters, jaguars and otters are no longer commonly seen
(although they're said to be making a comeback).
The
best time to visit is during the breeding season (July-September).
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Located
near the junction of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay, Iguacu
Falls (pronounced eeh-gwa-SUE) is a must-see: It may be the
greatest waterfall in the world. There are 275 cataracts in
all, stretching 2 mi/4 km from bank to bank and reaching a
height of 300ft/90 m. The falls, on the Parana River, are
best seen October-December and March-May. We suggest flying
from Rio or Sao Paulo as early as possible, overnighting at
the falls, then flying to another destination the next evening.
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OTHER
SOUTH AMERICAN HOT SPOTS
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Web
Sites
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South
American Explorers Club
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Portuguese
English
