Tuesday February 4th, 2025 Búzios, Brazil
Updated: Feb 10
Búzios is a resort set on an ocean peninsula east of Rio de Janeiro. It's known as an upscale vacation destination with numerous beaches. Búzios remained almost unknown until 1964, when the French actress Brigitte Bardot visited the small village. Since then it became a destination for those wanting to escape from the city life of Rio de Janeiro and enjoy over 23 beaches the peninsula offers. The town eventually grew to be an international tourist destination.
With no cruise port the Queen Victoria had to run a tender operation with a 10 minute ride to the small pier leading to the center of town. Following the offloading of those passengers on shore excursions, we were the first passengers on the next tender and hit the town at about 9AM. The weather was bright and warm with almost no wind, a really pleasant day for a stroll. Búzios town is indeed very small, with most of the shops and cafes located in a grid of streets about 4 blocks by 2 blocks. Most of the streets were cobbled with lots of sand blown in from the beach, the place was virtually deserted at this time of the day – with most of the shops and restaurants not yet open. We passed the Gran Cine Bardot, the movie house named for the famed actress – a little further up the street was the police station with it’s one full size car and one shrunken VW beetle, maybe they use the small car for all of the “small crimes” .
Lots of shops selling beach wear and a few higher end boutiques, but down a side street we found a small café that was open and serving locals. Daysayun Arte was very basic with only about a half dozen outdoor tables under an awning and one waiter who spoke no English. The waiter helped me connect to wi-fi in order to view the menu, which was thankfully in many languages including English. We settled for coffees and croissants, which I believe were rapidly defrosted and baked – but still ok. Sitting and listening to Brazilian music and watching the locals saunter by, it was a very relaxing way to enjoy the town.
Passing the town square with its large cobblestones, trees and booths, we spotted a pharmacy and picked up some essentials. There were many bars, Búzios must be a fairly raucous place in the evening – but as were strolled along it was very quiet and peaceful. The narrow road along the seafront was lined with even more bars and restaurants, many getting ready to open for lunchtime – though it was still a few hours away.
If your thing is lying on the beach or active watersports, I can think of no better place to be than Búzios.
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