Brazil Buzios, Paraty and Costa Verde

Búzios is at its hottest Jan-Mar (humid with tropical showers, occasionally over 40°C during the day). It can be cool and drizzly Jun-Aug and some facilities will be closed but the sun is never far away. Late Dec-Feb and Jul are local holiday times and the resort will be very busy

The verdant mountains west of Rio can attract rain at any time but sunny days are frequent. The best weather is Mar – May, a quiet season except over Easter. The local holiday season Dec – Feb and Jul, weekends and public holidays can be very busy.

Brazilian Portuguese, a more languid and musical version of Portugal’s mother tongue.

Brazilian Real. Notes can be withdrawn from several ATMs in Buzios, such as that of Bradesco, using a UK credit or debit card. Notes can be withdrawn from the ATMs of Bradesco in Ave. Roberto Silveira just outside Paraty’s historic centre using a UK credit or debit card. Limits may be lower than your home bank allows. ATMs close at 10pm.

UTC -3 hours. Daylight saving from Oct to the end of Feb (approx) was cancelled from 2019.

Buzios is a 3 hour drive east of Rio, and you get to cross the superb 12 km Niteroi Bridge.
To Ilha Grande: 3 hours by road and 1.5 hours by ferry from Rio de Janeiro; to Paraty 4-5 hours by road from Rio (6-7 hours with shared transport), a bit longer from São Paulo.

Carnival: 5 days in Feb/Mar variable.

Easter: Religious parades and folk singing in Paraty.

Paraty International Literary festival: International book festival with world-renowned authors, Jul annually.

Rio das Ostras Jazz and Blues Festival: Top class music on a tropical beach north of Búzios, early Jun annually.