Buzios Beaches

(Buzios, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

Combined with the fine weather and the beautiful coastal scenery, the glorious sandy beaches of Buzios are one of the main reasons that so many people choose to holiday at this resort.

Most tourists will find that the beaches on the southern side of Buzios are a little difficult to reach, although they are amongst the most attractive and appealing, usually coming with excellent surfing conditions. The beaches on the resort's northerly side are closer, tending to be rather more sheltered and busier.

General Information

To the south of Manguinhos, popular beaches include the Praia da Ferradurinha and the Praia de Geriba, which are two of the best that Buzios has to offer. Facilities are good here, with both being overlooked by a number of condos built by the Buzios Beach Club.

Nearby is the large and extremely popular Praia da Ferradura, which translates as 'Horseshoe Beach' because of its shape. The water here is generally calm and very clear, with snorkelling being good to one side of the beach and marine life being clustered around the rocks. Between October and January, you can often spot whales swimming by in the distance. Buzios holiday makers looking for somewhere to try their hand at windsurfing will find the Ferradura Beach is the place, while the nearby Praia da Lagoinha is a much rockier beach, with strong waves.

The beaches of Foca and Forno are known in Buzios for having cooler water than most others. A small sheltered cove with white sand, rocky outcrops suitable for snorkelling and scuba diving, and a natural pool, the Praia da Foca is never crowded, due to its inaccessibility. The neighbouring Praia do Forno features a reddish beachfront, since a small amount of iron is present in the sand, and has rock ledges, crystal clear water, a local snack bar and some shade, provided by the backdrop of cliffs and trees.

Nudists looking to top up their all-over body tan will find that the only nudist beach in Buzios is the Praia Olho de Boi (Bull's Eye Beach), where naturists come to take advantage of its isolation. The Praia Olho de Boi is reached by following the trail from the Praia Brava.

Some of the very best beaches for snorkelling include Azeda, Azedinha, Joao Fernandes and Joao Fernandinho, all of which are within easy reach from central Buzios. Rather public but still good for sunbathing, reliable beaches include the Praia dos Amores, the Praia da Armacoa, the Praia do Caboclo and the Praia dos Ossos. Further afield from Buzios, consider a trip to the outlying Praia do Gaucho and the Praia de Manguinhos, as well as the nearby islands of Ancora, Feia, Filhote and Gravatas.