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FACTS
ABOUT BUZIOS: Armação
dos Búzios was originally a small fishermen
village and in the past, Tamoios Indians used to live
here, but today it is a charming and sophisticated
beach resort. It is located on the North coast of
Rio Janeiro State, approximately 180km from Rio de
Janeiro City, 600km from Sao Paulo, 24km from Cabo
Frio and 41 km from Arraial do Cabo. The town is situated
in the state of Rio de Janeiro and has about 18.500
inhabitants.
HOW IS BUZIOS: Armacao
de Búzios is a lovely beach resort, located
on a peninsula (scalloped by 23 beaches), which juts
into the Atlantic Ocean. A simple fishing village
until the early sixties, when it was “discovered”
by Brigitte Bardot and her Brazilian boyfriend, the
village is now littered with boutiques, fine restaurants,
fancy villas, bars and posh pousadas. During the holiday
season, prices here are twice those in the rest of
Brazil. Búzios is not a single town but, rather,
three settlements on the peninsula – Ossos,
Manguinhos and Armação – and one
further north on the mainland, called Rasa. Ossos
(Bones), at the northernmost tip of the peninsula,
is the oldest and most attractive part – considering
activities and nightlife. It has a pretty center,
harbor and yacht club, several hotels and bars, and
a tourist stand. Along the beach of “Praia do
Canto” is the charming street “Rua das
Pedras” – the main street for shopping
and entertainment.
The
peninsula’s southern beaches are trickier to
get to, but they are prettier and have better surf.
The northern beaches are more sheltered and are closer
to the towns. Working anticlockwise from south of
Magunihos, the first beach Geribá and Ferradurinha
(Little horseshoe). These are beautiful beaches with
good surf, but the Búzios Beach Club has build
condos here. Next on the coast is Ferradura, which
is large enough for windsurfing, and Lagoinha, rocky
beach with rough water. Praia da Foca and Praia do
Forno have colder water than the other beaches. João
Fernandes are both good for swimming and snorkeling,
as are the topless beaches of Azedinha and Azeda.
Praia dos Ossos, Praia da Armação, Praia
do Caboclo and Praia dos Amores are pretty to look,
but not for lounging around. Praia da Tartaruga is
quiet and pretty.
WHEN TO GO / CLIMATE:
Buzios is possible to visit all around
the year. There are no big variations in the climate
in Buzios. The hottest period (summer) is from November
to March, when the precipitation is highest as well.
The coolest period (winter) is normally from June
to August, when it is quite dry as well. The average
annual temperature is around 21ºC, with average
annual high of 28ºC and average annual low of
18ºC. The winter might be comparable with summer
climate in northern Europe.
HOW TO GO: Buzios
can be reached by air from
Rio de Janeiro by small aircrafts on regular basis,
where Packtours can book this local flight and arrange
airport transfers. Another possibility is by
sea, arriving with a cruise ship; then
Packtours do arrangements in the same way as you would
arrive by air, but IF you will continue stay at the
cruiser, we can arrange tours in Buzios from/to the
ship. Third and most common possibility is to arrive
by land (car / bus) a 2-hours
ride from Rio de Janeiro (via road RJ-106). Packtours
can arrange regular or private transports from Rio,
or if you prefer to rent a car, we make all necessary
travel arrangements you may need.
HOW LONG STAY:
For the first time visitor we recommend at least a
three night stay (to get two full days in Buzios).
Besides the pre-booked hotel and airport transfers,
we recommend you to rent a car and discover the peninsula
and its beaches yourself.
WHAT
TO DO IN BUZIOS: Besides the main
attractions in Buzioz that you can read more about
below there are some special events of interest as
well, that may justify a longer stay:
EVENTS:
Búzios Jazz e Blues (July)
Annual festival held in July, bringing news and tendencies
in jazz and blues.
ATTRACTIONS
/ BEACHES:
João Fernandinho Beach
Small beach of calm and transparent water. Access
through João Fernandes Beach, where the visitor
can eat lobsters and fishes from the region at its
various bars.
Brava
Beach
As the name implies, the beach has strong waves most
part of the year, always attracting surfers. At the
right side, a track takes to Olho de Boi Beach, a
naturist beach.
Tartaruga
Beach
It can be accessed through an unpaved road that starts
at the main road of Búzios, a little before
Ferradura Traffic Circle. The beach has calm water
and usually the warmest water of the region, because
it doesn’t receive the cold currents from Antarctic.
It has several kiosks and good places to practice
snorkeling.
Geribá
Beach
Geribá is a place of beautiful and tanned people,
who love exciting nightlife. This is the right place
to know about the parties that will happen at night.
The beach has waves in almost all of its extension,
except at the left side, where the visitor will find
a track to easily access Ferradurinha Beach.
Canto
Beach
It’s a beach with warm water, that frequently
receives winds from the East. Its right side is the
scenery of several restaurants on Rua das Pedras and
its left side, walking on the stones, the visitor
can access two other small beaches: Amores and Virgens.
Armação
Beach
Situated along Rua das Pedras and Bardot Border. Most
of it has no sand. Highlights are Caboclo Island and
the pier, where tourists from several transatlantic
ships come to the city during summer. Two sculptures,
both made of bronze, are the attractions – one
honors Brigitte Bardot and one honors the fishermen.
Ossos
Beach
According to local stories, it got this name (Bones)
due to bones of whales that were found on the sand.
It’s full of small fishing boats and has trees
along its border, a post card landscape. Don’t
miss Santana Church and Búzios Yacht Club,
located on the left side of the beach. On the opposite
side, there’s a track that leads to Azeda Beach.
It’s a fantastic place to take pictures and
rides.
Rasa
Beach
One of the largest beaches of Búzios. It has
warm water, lacking physical depth, and the wind blows
constantly almost all the year, attracting boaters.
With several summer houses and guest houses, the beach,
besides its beauty, is perfect for children, to walk
and feel like in direct contact with the nature.
Azeda
Beach
Azeda and Azedinha Beaches are two of the most beautiful
beaches of Brazil. The area recently became an Environmental
Protection Area (APA), and all kiosks and bars were
taken away from there. It has calm and transparent
water. It can be accessed via “aqua-taxi”
or walking through a small track, both from Ossos
Beach.
Manguinhos
Beach
In fact, Manguinhos is a continuation of Rasa Beach.
It has sail clubs, such as Búzios Sail Club
and Yucas. It’s excellent to practice nautical
sports and go for a walk. At sunset, the visitor can
enjoy a fantastic view.
Ferradurinha
Beach
Surrounded by beautiful hills, the beach is an attractive
bay of calm water and fine and white sand. The access
is through the left side of Geribá Beach.
Ferradura
Beach
This is a bay with always warm and transparent water.
From the left side of the beach, several bars offer
complete structure, serving the most delicious seafood.
It has a windsurf, banana boat and water ski school
and rental shop. Its water is usually very cold.
Diving
Its privileged marine fauna in transparent water makes
Búzios a real aquarium. The city has several
diving agencies that take the visitors who are interested
in diving to be in contact with the submarine world.
Búzios
Golf Club
Búzios Golf Club is a field with first-level
18 holes. The field was designed by renowned architects
Pete and Perry Dye, and attracts players from all
over the world. Considered as one of the best fields
in Latin America, the field was designed in such way
to incorporate the value the geographical accidents
of the terrain, the surrounding nature and topography,
in order to offer the highest possible level of comfort
to the players.
Sailing
in Búzios
Búzios is a paradise to boaters. International
competitions are frequently held in the city, where
strong and constant winds blow. Famous Brazilian champions,
such as Lars Grael usually practice sailing in the
waters of Armação dos Búzios.
Rua
das Pedras / Shopping & Restaurants
This street is a little longer than 400 meters, but
it’s charming from the beginning to its end.
If it wasn’t for it, Búzios for sure
wouldn’t be the same. Full of restaurants, bars,
shops and art galleries, the street is the city’s
center of happenings. It’s empty during the
day, just getting prepared for its excited nightlife.
Casa
do Sino (Bell House)
This is an example of a typical local construction
from centuries ago, which can still be seen and admired.
Sant’Ana
Church
Protected as a historical patrimony, Sant’Ana
Church is one of the city’s attractions. Its
architecture from the 16th Century is the city’s
first Christian reference. From the top of its tower,
the visitor can see Ossos Beach, a wonderful view.
Ecotour
Surrounded by hills and mounts with exuberant vegetation,
Búzios is a place where the visitors can still
enjoy the nature safely. At Emerências Reserve,
the visitor will find the purest vegetation of the
Atlantic Woods, with exotic plants, bromelias and
even the last golden monkeys of the region.
At
Tauá Reserve there are over 300 species of
butterfly and 60 types of birds. In addition, Búzios
has now in its territory two Environmental Protection
Areas (APA), a program that preserves the natural
richness of the region. One of them, APA Pau-Brasil,
includes an ample area from Tucuns Beach, in Búzios,
to the city of Cabo Frio. It’s the largest and
most important reserve of pau-brasil in Rio de Janeiro
State.
Naturism
Olho de Boi Beach, 50 meters of absolutely virgin
beach, attracts the naturists, which turned it into
their meeting point in Búzios.
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