Buzios

Armação dos Búzios, often referred to as just Búzios, is a resort town and a municipality located in the state of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Its population was 23,011 (2005) and its area is 69 km².

site:

http://www.buziosonline.com.br/indexe.htm

Once the preserve of pirates and slave traders, the peninsula of Buzios, 105 miles (169km) northeast of Rio de Janeiro, is today the haunt of the rich and famous of the world who flock to the city to enjoy the 24 or so beaches in the vicinity. The peninsula was popularized by legendary movie star Brigitte Bardot in the 1960s, and her statue still graces the main street of Buzios, the Rua das Pedras. The peninsula is a sophisticated beach resort with a very active night life and fine restaurants. The west coast beaches offer calm, clear waters while the east coast ones, facing the open sea, are a little wilder and draw the surfers and water sports enthusiasts. Among the most popular beaches are Azeda Beach, Joao Fernandinho Beach with several bars and known for its seafood, Ferradura Beach, and Geriba beach, popular for surfing. The enchanting Rua das Pedras winds through the town center and features shopping, restaurants, bars and extensive nightlife. (from wikipedia)

Búzios is home to over twenty beaches of all types; windsurf, surf, calm, cold, mild... And, they're all within a few miles of each other. We cover each one in depth on the next few pages. This is a spectacular work of God - Búzios is a peninsula of mountains and beaches are present between almost every one of them.

They call Búzios the 'playground of the rich'. More than twenty different nations live in harmony in Búzios, among them, Africans, Germans, Argentineans, Americans, Cubans, Spanish, Italians, and the list goes on.

They come to Búzios for the beaches, the shopping (some of the finest), the beautiful people and the jet set nightlife that has transformed this quaint Brazilian fishing village into a sought-out beach destination. Búzios' center is the famous Rua das Pedras, or Street of Stone (which it really is - flagstone). Búzios boasts fine boutiques and art galleries.

At night, that’s when Búzios really comes alive with great bars and world-class restaurants. Every night, even in the traditional off-season you'll find live music and small discos coming alive and going into the early hours of the next day.

With its wealth of secluded beaches, bars and surf, we saw almost every water sport - sailing, surfing, windsurfing, diving, kite boarding (very cool), kayaking, snorkeling, scuba, swimming, water skiing, did we miss one? Trekking and fishing are big pastimes as well. Búzios is a sophisticated resort, where elegance, beauty and leisure are in perfect harmony with nature.

No matter whether you travel for business or pleasure, you will enjoy your stay in Búzios, Brazil. Hotels and "Pousadas", or family-run "inns" are almost all charming - designed as a place for travelers to enjoy Búzios from the heart. And, the emphasis is on "relax".

But, for Búzios accommodations, keep in mind location: the downtown area has great night life but not the best beaches.

Most of the Búzios hotels are very well located, either right on the beach or on the side of the mountain overlooking the Atlantic. Owners have decorated the rooms in the Búzios architectural style; exposed wooden beams, hand painted furniture and local handcrafts abound. You’ll be happy to know there are good eats close by or right at your hotel. Búzios also has fast food and snacks right downtown. And there is no lack of small, enchanting restaurants through out the area.