Brazil Beyond the Beaches – My Journey with Encounter Latin America in October 2025
I landed in Rio de Janeiro with the usual expectations: sunshine, samba, and postcard-perfect beaches. But as I travelled deeper inland through cobbled towns, gold mines, waterfalls, and mountain cities, I realised this trip would be so much more than a beach holiday. This is the story of how Brazil surprised me at every turn.
Brazil had always been on my list — but this trip took me far beyond the beaches and deep into the country’s culture, history, and soul.
Rio de Janeiro – 2 Nights of Pure Magic - Rio was everything I imagined and more: vibrant, warm,
musical, and endlessly alive.
We stayed at the Windsor California, just steps from Copacabana — golden sands,
swaying palms, football on the beach, and samba drifting through the air. It
was the perfect base. Day one was all about beach life and an unforgettable
Brazilian churrascaria dinner.
Day two? A total “pinch me” day — the tram up to Christ the Redeemer, lunch
downtown, and a sunset from Sugarloaf Mountain that lit the whole city in gold.
We ended the night with Caipirinhas on Copacabana. Rio stole my heart!
Tiradentes & Petrópolis – Nights 2 & 3 - Leaving Rio was hard, but our journey inland was worth it. We stopped in Petrópolis — Brazil’s former imperial summer retreat — before continuing to Tiradentes, a charming colonial town full of baroque churches, cobbled streets, and old-world beauty. It felt like stepping onto a film set… but uniquely Brazilian.
Ouro Preto, Congonhas & Belo Horizonte – Nights 4–6 Next, we explored Congonhas with its incredible Baroque sculptures, then wandered the steep streets of Ouro Preto — a UNESCO gem wrapped in gold rush history. We cooled off at a dramatic waterfall, swam beneath the spray, and even ventured underground into an authentic gold mine.
Our final stop was Belo Horizonte — and the whole city was buzzing for the Brazil vs Ecuador semi-final. Big screens, crowds, colour, noise… an electric atmosphere to end the trip.
Brazil was vibrant, warm, and full of surprises at every turn. From iconic Rio sunsets to the hidden treasures of Minas Gerais, this journey showed me a side of the country I’ll never forget — and I can’t wait to return.
If you’re dreaming of your own Brazilian adventure, whether it’s sipping Caipirinhas on Copacabana or uncovering the inland heartlands, I’d love to help you plan it.