Armacao de Buzios
Armação de Búzios (often shortened to just Búzios) is a coastal city in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro.
Travel to Buzios, visa requirements
Buzios is 176km from Rio de Janeiro and 600km from São Paulo. Buses connect the city to those capitals and neighboring cities (especially Cabo Frio)
Get around
Buzios attractions and sightseeing
- Beaches - Azeda, Azedinha, João Fernandes, Forninho, etc.
- Rua das Pedras - restaurants, shopping and nightlife
City tours
- Boat trips through the beaches
A 3 hr schooner trip goes round the beaches and out to an island. Fresh fruit is served, and it often stops for an optional swim in the ocean near the beach, and then stops at the beach, itself. More than one company provides such tours, and they are easy to find. Just go out on the long dock from downtown and people will be there promoting the next trip with flyers, or go into any of the local travel agencies. It cost 30 Real in May 2006
- Scuba diving
There are 2 excellent and certified scuba diving instruction schools, which both do daily trips for beginners and experienced divers. They are across the street from each other on the main street by the beach downtown.
- Surf Lessons at Geriba beach (Video: http://www.buziosvideos.com/thebeaches)
There are about 10 surf schools that teach all ages, as well as one girls' surf school, "Surfer Girls".
- Annual Jazz Festival
Goes for 4 days around 22 July every year. I have been 3 times. About 6 of the nightclubs and the pagado have live jazz music throughout the night. Most of them are free throughout the festival (a few require reservations).
Shopping, Buzios souvenirs
Alfredo's Arabic bikini shop on the beach side of the main street downtown is an excellent store for homemade bikinis. Many shops are locally owned, and a chat with the owners can reveal a lot of great connections and recommendations around town.
Many casual fashion stores are in the area. One thing to be aware of is that pants are usually sold by waist size and not by length. You are expected to have them altered to your size, and the store may very well not provide that service. If you do not know the language, it may be difficult to get it done. Suggestion: do not buy the pants until you have secured the service.
Across the street is an internet café that will let you hook up your notebook or Vonage phone for per hour fees (around BRL$6/hour), or use their computers.
Good restaurants and cheap meals
Buzios is notorious for its sophisticated (and therefore, expensive) restaurants. The new big thing in Buzios is pay-by-the-kilo restaurants; the original was a place called "Boom" and now there are about 20 of them. Boom's the good one.
David's on the main beach street downtown is one of the best casual seafood restaurant's I have experienced.
Buzios nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs.
Night life is huge in Buzios... I was there for about a month and decided the best night club in town is Priviledge... http://www.buziosvideos.com/thenightlife
Hotels, youth hostels, lodging
Buzios offers about hundred places to stay. Some five or six hotels with good or excellent international standard, over fifty "Pousadas", and many guest houses. "Pousada" is the traditional countryside Mini-Hotel, mostly family run, with average 8 to 20 rooms. In Buzios, most of them offer good quality, with rates from US$ 25 to US$ 150 per double room and per night including breakfast. Rates will go up by at least 50% between end December and early march when Brazilians are taking their holidays. For a good selection, go for http://www.buzios.com.br or http://www.buziosdirect.com.br - the latter one being the official site of the Buzios Hotel Association.
Get out
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