How to See Brazil off the Beaten Path, According to a Top Travel Advisor

For most first-timers visiting Brazil, the buzzy energy of Rio de Janeiro and the iconic vistas of Iguazú Falls are hard to resist. I’ve spent years traveling around Brazil and planning trips for clients, and while I share their passion for these places, there’s plenty of magic to be experienced when you step away from the usual tourist trails. As an expert in travel to Latin America, these are my top three recommendations to get you off the beaten path and into lesser-known parts of Brazil.

Ibiti Project: A Wild Escape from Rio

Spectacular views of Ouro Preto, one town of many in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil.

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For those in Rio craving a respite from the city’s pulse, visit the Ibiti Project, a privately protected conservation area that feels like a whole new world. Staying here, just four hours away from the city, you’ll experience intimate stillness that allows you to feel deeply attuned to nature.

This expansive reserve, which spans just under 7,500 rewilded acres, is a mosaic of Atlantic forest, savanna, and highland plateau. It’s home to cascading waterfalls, mysterious caves, and hiking trails that lead to panoramic views in every direction.

Ibiti embodies slow, intentional travel, making it the perfect place to disconnect from the chaos and reconnect with nature. The reserve is dedicated to reforesting native flora and preserving vital wildlife corridors. The lodges in this area are exquisitely designed, the cuisine is fresh and locally sourced, and every detail adheres to a sustainability-first philosophy.

Fernando de Noronha: A Protected Beach Paradise

An aerial view of turquoise waters at Fernando de Noronha, Brazil.

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Some of Brazil’s most stunning shores can be found on the protected island chain of Fernando de Noronha. Located about 2018 350 miles off the northeast coast, this destination offers a tranquil world far from busy mainland resorts. Strict visitor limits and a strong conservation ethos preserve its remarkable beauty, and the crystal-clear waters that surround it are a protected marine sanctuary, making this one of the premier diving locations in the world.

Here, you can snorkel alongside sea turtles, spot dolphins playing off the cliffs at sunrise, and dive into South America’s richest underwater ecosystems. Hikes reveal equally spectacular ocean vistas and dramatic rock formations, often with hardly another soul in sight. Don’t miss Baía do Sancho, which is frequently hailed as one of the world’s best beaches.

Lençóis Maranhenses: Brazil’s Most Surreal Landscape

Brazil’s Lençóis Maranhenses is not just hidden – water only exists there a few months per year!.
Robert Schrader

Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, a landscape so surreal it borders on the ethereal, is cradled along the northeast coast of Brazil. Nowhere else on Earth looks or feels quite like this. It’s one of Brazil’s most astonishing natural wonders, yet it’s still blissfully little-known to most tourists. Here, a vast expanse of rolling white dunes embraces thousands of shimmering turquoise and emerald freshwater lagoons, sculpted by seasonal rains. Hiking across these majestic dunes and diving into their hidden, warm pools is a singular, almost spiritual, experience.

Brazil overflows with beauty, but perhaps most alluring are those places where silence reigns supreme—where it’s just you and the vast, beautiful landscape. Whether traversing the wild hills of the Ibiti Project, exploring Noronha’s vibrant underwater realms, or serenely floating within the lagoons of Lençóis, these are the kinds of experiences that will stay with you long after you’ve left Brazil.

Lily Bunker is a member of Travel + Leisure’s A-List and specializes in Brazil trips. You can create a tailor-made itinerary with Bunker by contacting her at [email protected].