Our Itinerary
Five months of traveling
The trip, the idea
The idea behind this trip is to discover part of the South America, but most importantly, is to live a Brazilian life. This will not be a backpacking trip, but a cultural immersion thanks to our long stay in Tiago's hometown.
But before we land in Brazil, we will have a few intermediate stops in Europe.
- Stop 1: France
Back to Marion's village for a week, visit the family and friends before the big day. We will surely take advantage to enjoy the French gastronomy together with a good glass of wine.
- Stop 2: Portugal (Lisbon)
We’ve been thinking about visiting Lisbon for a while now, and this is the perfect occasion for it. The stopover in Lisbon over several days is the opportunity to cut the trip in half and also to take the time to enjoy the 'Pastel de Belém'.
The big trip, experiencing Brazil
This trip is a cultural immersion. We will stay, for the most part, in Tiago's hometown and visit the nearby cities. We will spend the holiday season with his family and the famous Carnival with friends. Besides all that, we will also visit the Marvelous City (Rio de Janeiro), and while on the continent, we will spend a few days in Argentina and Patagonia.
But the beginning of the trip will start on the beaches of the Northeast of Brazil (Nordeste), relax time and a good caipirinha is on the list to get off to a good start.
Here are our main destinations in more detail.
road trip and sunny beaches
Nordeste, Brazil
Our trip to Brazil will start with a 15-day road trip in the Northeast of Brazil, more specifically from Recife to Maceió
We really wanted to visit this region, because culturally speaking, it is a different experience from that of the South. The North is vast, so we've limited our journey to the states of Pernambuco and Alagoas, as it is said they have the most beautiful beaches in the entire North; turquoise blue waters reminiscent of the Caribbean, natural pools with low tide, and natural wonders, not to mention the gastronomy.
We are starting our adventure in the historical center of Recife and the magnificent city of Olinda, a UNESCO World Heritage site. From there, we will head south passing through Porto de Galinhas and Maragogi, places known throughout the country for their beauty. Our journey will continue towards Maceió by the "Caminho dos Milagres".
The plan is to relax, chill, and enjoy.
between city and nature
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rio de Janeiro, the Marvelous City, is part of our itinerary because, well, it is Rio de Janeiro. And after two trips to Brazil without visiting this iconic city, we have to take the time to go. Having a drink on Copacabana beach, visiting Christ the Redeemer and the Sugarloaf Mountain is certainly worth it. But the state of Rio de Janeiro offers many other spectacular places, like Ilha Grande and Paraty.
Ilha Grande is a large island, as its name suggests in Portuguese, which can only be accessed by boat. It is a natural place that is not yet heavily urbanized. Ilha Grande comes highly recommended by the locals; it is said that every visitor is in awe of its beauty.
The final stop on this journey will be Paraty, a little piece of paradise amidst lush nature. It is also another UNESCO World Heritage site. Paraty, a small colonial village, became prosperous as the departure point for ships with gold bound for Portugal before the Gold Route was diverted to Rio de Janeiro and the town fell into neglect. The region is also known for the production of cachaça, so we will also inquire about that, if you see what we mean.
looking for fresh temperatures
Buenos Aires & Patagonia, Argentina
Initially, Patagonia was part of our travel itinerary because we wanted to venture to different place, and as outdoor enthusiast, Patagonia surely has a lot to offer us. However, after realising how far it is, even from the southernmost parts of Brazil, we made the difficult decision to remove it from our plans. Then, ultimately, as we were really drawn to the idea, we decided to put it back to our itinerary and take advantage to make a stop in Buenos Aires.
Our adventure will then begin in Buenos Aires, known for its rich cultural heritage and architecture, also referred to as the Paris of the South. We are eager to explore its historic districts and savor the delicious Argentine cuisine.
After enjoying Buenos Aires, we will then head to Patagonia, a region famed for its breath taking landscapes. From the majestic mountains and glaciers to the pristine lakes and unique wildlife, Patagonia promises a perfect escape for nature lovers. We are looking forward to hiking through its national parks, stunning landscapes views, and experiencing the tranquillity of this remote paradise.
