Top Brazilian Beaches

Thorny and Sandy issues

Asking for people's opinions on certain topics in Brazil is like poking a hornet's nest. Take football for example: if you ask ten people about their ideal line-up for the Brazilian team, don't expect to hear the same answer twice. But here at Jungle, we didn't expect the subject of 'beaches' to cause so much strife.

To come up with a list of the country's top ten beaches for the latest issue of JungleTrips, we talked to tourism industry professionals - journalists, photographers, travel agents and hotel managers - thinking that we had arrive at a balanced and fair consensus. How very wrong were we. The final top beaches provoked indignant reactions and a plethora of passionate letters. "I could tell you where my favourite beach is, but I don't want it swarming with tourists when I get there next year!", one collaborator fretted. Disgusted readers wrote letters asking "How could you leave Joaquina off the list!?", and "What about Búzios?".

Controversy aside, we've managed to come up with a small sample of what the 4,660 mile-long Brazilian coastline has to offer: untouched beaches; an escape from the outside world; little fishing villages where life moves at a far slower pace; and plenty of opportunities to play sport or dance the night away, all year long.

01. Baía do Sancho, Fernando de Noronha island – Pernambuco State

"...a sheltered beach as pretty as a Kerry Cove, yet backed by tropical rainforest and washed by a gentle lapping bath-warm sea"

02. Praia da Pipa, Tibaú do Sul – Rio Grande do Norte State

"...the view is fantastic: a long stretch of white sand, perfect waves and the regular appearance of dolphins."

03. Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro – Rio de Janeiro State

"...at Arpoador, a stretch of beach huddled away in Ipanema helped launch surfing 50 years ago, now anyone can take lessons".

04. Jericoacoara, Jijoca – Ceará State

"...everyone walks up the dune as dusk approaches to sit and admire the sunset by the sea".

05. Canoa Quebrada, Aracati – Ceará State

"The Brazilian beach where you first try sand surfing and buggy riding is the one you remember all your life".

The full version of this article can be found in the last issue of JungleTrips magazine along with more insider tips about Brazil and an exclusive interview with the celebrated BBC presenter Bruce Parry.