We want to travel from Porto Alegre to Rio de Janeiro. Where should we visit?

Question

We have 2 & a half weeks (early April) to travel from Porto Alegre to Rio de Janeiro. We fancy the Iguazo Falls, can anyone suggest other places to visit in the surrounding areas?

Answer 1

Foz do Iguacu is absolutely gorgeous.  Don't skip it and take a camera.  I'd spend relatively little time in Porto Allegre unless you have friends there, though you should go to the original Fogo de Chao restaurant while you are there.  It's delicious.

Definitely stop at Ilha Grande, close to Rio.  It's got some of the best beaches in the world, and is relativly undeveloped, although with all the modern conveniences.  Lots of little cute family owned inns, so a nice quiet island without the resort feel.  Just make sure to take plenty of cash with you if you go.  There's no atm or bank, and credit cards aren't readily accepted.

Go to Florianopolis.  My dad goes there every year and has completely fallen in love with it.  (My stay was not as fun due to food poisoning I got in Porto Alegre)

I'd spend a lot more time around Rio than in the south, based on my experiences.  It's a great city.  Days on the beach, nights clubbing, and tons of good food.  I highly recommend Melt, in Leblon for a swanky club, and go to Lapa and Club 6 (don't carry money to these two) if you want to shake it.  

I stayed in Ipanema while in Rio and felt completely safe th whole time, even traveling on my own.  I'd stay in the Ipanema/Leblon area for safety.  Copacabana gets more tourists and pickpockets, so I don't favor it quite as much.

They have favela tours to go look at the slums, but I don't recommend them at all.  A friend got robbed at gunpoint on one, and I actually find them insulting to the people who live in the favelas.  (Oooh, look, poor people! Let's get a photo!)

You could also go up to Ouro Preto.  It's in the mountains inland from Rio.  It has lots of old colonial churches and is an adorable little town.  It's worth a couple of days.

If you want to go across the border (if your visa lets you re-enter) I loved Montevideo.  I thought it was a charming city and I should have spent more time there.

Answer 2

It depends a lot on your interests. Music? Food? Adventure? Nature?

For example, you'll be going through one of the world's prime surfing areas in Santa Catarina. Do you surf? Do you want to learn? In Rio Grande do Sul, there are people who run great horseback riding trips. Etc., etc., etc.

So it all depends. You may want to browse the links below to get some ideas.

Answer 3

go to the baile's in the favelas  after 8PM. THEYRE SUPER FUN!

Answer 4

Florianopolis, Cuiritba, Sao Paulo, and other places along the coast.  If you can go to Brasilia.

Answer 5

in Rio don't miss Niemayer's modern art museum, in Niteroi. If you have time try going to Petropolis. In my last visit I went to a samba show. I had skipped it in previous visits thinking it was too touristic, but now that I saw it, what the heck, it was SOOOO good. I recommend a place called Plataforma, in Rio.