When I first found out I was going to be heading to Brazil, everyone I mentioned it to was equal parts excited and concerned. Like any country I’ve never been to before, there was a level of uncertainty that came with it which initiated the same routine for any new visit. The first thing I do before heading to a new country is evaluate if there is any level of risk in terms of what location I’m going to, for example there were many areas of civil unrest in Brazil prior to my visit. There are lots of tools you can use to make sure you know what environment you’re heading in to on your travels, including a government of Canada website outlining any health or political issues that may be present in different regions of all the countries in the world. Luckily I was headed to São Paulo which had no concerns for political issues at the time of visit, and all the concerns listed were minor so my excitement remained. When heading anywhere in South or Central America, I would highly recommend checking for malaria risk or any other health concern you may need to address before you leave, because once you arrive many countries will not be able to provide the same precautionary measures as are available in North America.
São Paulo is one of the most populated cities in the world, with beautiful architecture as well as green spaces to enjoy throughout the city. My favourite spot was Ibirapuera Park, it had an odd resemblance to Central Park and it’s found in the centre of the city and you can see the skyscrapers in the distance. Ibirapuera itself has lots to see including a modern art museum within the park to visit along little booths and restaurants throughout the walking paths, or you can choose to sit and relax by statues or lakes along the walkways. It’s a great way to spend a day if you’re looking to enjoy a little bit of indoor and outdoor time, or if you just want a spot to sit and have an afternoon picnic, you can always swing by the shop before and sit down and enjoy the beautiful park all on its own. I was lucky enough to be traveling with a number of people who were born and raised in São Paulo, so they gave the all the ins and outs of just what I needed to try while I was there and things I should be bringing home with me to remember my trip. They also informed me that it’s very common to have items taken from you if you aren’t cautious with them, so make sure not to walk with your phone or camera easily accessible when exploring the city. Despite being given that advice, I never felt unsafe walking through the streets during the day, I didn’t walk alone at night as I generally avoid this in any new city that I don’t speak the language well. Now for the more fun stuff, things to do when you’re in São Paulo. On almost every street you’ll find classic little cafés and restaurants that serve a variety of Brazilian drinks and food. These open Concept restaurants allow you to set out on the street while being covered by an overhang for the most part, so you can enjoy the warm Brazilian weather no matter what the weather is like. Caipirinhas are the drink of Brazil, made From Brazilian cachaça, which is a traditional sugar cane liquor made in Brazil, mixed with sugar, lime and soda. You can find caipirinhas at any local bar, many of them being made mixed with other fruit such as papaya or guava to make the traditional cocktail even fruitier. One thing to note is that these contain a TON of sugar, usually making it unnoticeable just how much your drinking because they really are delicious but they do give you a wicked hangover so try sticking to one or two and then think of mixing it up to something else with a little less sugar. And after a few drinks at the local spot, there are tons of dance clubs to hit up for a great time with live music at a lot of spots.
Brazil is exceptionally well known for its ‘barbacoa’ or barbecue restaurants, where are you pay us a price and a number of servers walk around with the rotating different cuts of meat for you to choose from. This is great style of restaurant for a large group of people because you’re not worrying about waiting for everyone to get their meals, there’s are usually very large salad bars that have other side meals to eat as well, some even including sushi and pastas, which makes it very accommodating choice even if you have vegetarians in your group. These restaurants are relatively easy to find as there are a large number throughout the different areas of the city, so you can go for a higher end one If you’re feeling something a little more bougie but on average they range between $30-50 per person for a lot of food and drinks are usually reasonably priced in Brazil.