There are two ways to extend your vacation in Brazil. One way is to visit the neighboring tourist spots in the state of Rio; the other is to take a plane or bus to other popular tourist destinations. If you intend on coming back on future trips to different parts of Brazil, we highly recommend staying in the state of Rio. It offers a little of everything Brazil is known for, namely parties, beaches, jungle and colonial history. All these spots take under 3 hours to get to, by bus or car.

If you are staying longer than 7 days in Rio, we highly recommend checking out these neighboring areas, as they each offer things that Rio doesn’t: Búzios is a party town with great beaches, the Petropolis area is great for mountainous sports, Ilha Grande has the best eco-tourism of the state, and Paraty is knee-deep in culture, history and cuteness.

the state of Rio de janeiro