Brazil's Hidden Secret, Buzios

The little town of Buzios is just two hours north of Rio de Janeiro on some of Brazil’s most premier coastline. Buzios is a peninsula that juts out into the Atlantic, and forms many beaches, some of which have terrific surfing, while others have calm and sheltered waters. Some of the beaches are busy nearly all year-round, while others are seldom ever visited.

Buzios was a whaling and fishing town until the 1960s, when the French actress Brigitte Bardot visited it and propelled it to worldwide fame. Bardot had been staying with her boyfriend in Rio de Janeiro, but could not go outside of her hotel because she was been stalked by the paparazzi. She decided to make a deal with the press, allowing one journalist to interview and photograph her during her stay in Brazil. She and her boyfriend snuck out of their hotel and headed for Buzios, where they spend the rest of their holiday in relative seclusion. Bardot enjoyed the little town so much that she stayed for months after, and returned after many years to vacation there.

Since the sixties, the beachtown has transformed into an exlusive, high-end resort town. Perhaps due to the posh celebrity influence of Bardot, Buzios is now the summer home of many celebrities, both of Brazilians and those outside the country. It is not uncommon to see famous Brazilian soccer stars enjoying a casual game of futbol on the wide, sandy beaches. Fancy resorts, manions, and villas line the foothills.

There are lots of bikini boutiques, French and seafood restaurants, bars that are open late into the night, and other trendy spots that locals and travelers both enjoy. Because of the exclusive nature of the town, and also because of its location outside of Rio, the town is often well-attended during the high season, but is never very crowded, at least not like on the beaches of Rio.

Several of the 25 or so beaches of Buzios are quiet and secluded. Canto, Ferradura, and Tucuns are the best for those who really want to get away from it all. It’s also possible to take a catamaran or schooner tour around the peninsula, stopping at various island, beaches, and coral reefs to dive, snorkel, or fish.