Buzios
The Lowdown
While people from around the world head to Rio for its beaches, "Cariocas," as Rio residents are called, head to Búzios, only 106 miles (170 km) away, for their long-weekends. Búzios is a perfect place to worship the Brazilian sun and sea. Once the preserve of pirates and slave traders, the peninsula of Búzios, northeast of Rio de Janeiro, is today the haunt of the rich and famous who flock to the city to enjoy the 24 beaches in the vicinity. The peninsula is a beach resort with an active night life and buzzing restaurant scene. The west coast beaches offer calm, clear waters while the east coast ones, facing the open sea, are a bit rougher and draw surfers and water sports enthusiasts. Rua das Pedras winds through the town centre and features shopping, restaurants, bars and active nightlife.
