This post is all about Urca, a quiet and calm neighborhood in the heart of Rio de Janeiro. It also includes a few words about my Grandma Vicki, who recently passed away. She was a traveler and an adventurer who supported me and this blogging project so much. Today she would've turned 64 years old.
Welcome to the blog’s very first installment of Rio de Janeiro 360! This weekly series will highlight all the best things to do during a visit to Rio, and I wanted to start off with a little corner of Rio that most people have probably never even heard of. In fact, this island is very calm despite being only an hour away from downtown Rio by ferry...
Welcome to Caffeinated Excursions’ first post featuring the city of Rio de Janeiro! I moved to Brazil back in January of this year and I wrote an “Initial Impressions of São Paulo” post after spending two weeks there. Since I’ve been in Rio for about a month now and plan to stay here for a while, I figured I’d write a similar post...
Ilha Grande is a scenic destination in Brazil between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. If you're traveling from one of these cities to the other, be sure to schedule a stop at this beautiful spot known for its stunning beaches! This post explains how to visit the island's main town in a single day, including how to buy ferry tickets.
I recently spent two weeks in the town Angra dos Reis, and I have to admit right away that this is my first truly negative travel blog post. Angra was just such a weird town to visit (and not in a good way). Despite being a popular tourist destination in the state of Rio de Janeiro...
As someone who has spent the past four months moving as slowly as possible from São Paulo to Rio de Janeiro, I can guarantee that there are dozens if not hundreds of unique places to stop along the way. Perhaps the most popular halfway point is Paraty, a small town in the state of Rio de Janeiro recognized as a UNESCO...
If you’ve decided to visit the small town of Cunha in the Brazilian state of São Paulo, congratulations: you’re in for a treat! This small town offers stunning views and a relaxing getaway... In this post, I’ll feature five day trip options: a lavender farm, a couple of waterfalls, an even smaller town nearby, a hike, and a massive church...
Although there are dozens of interesting towns and cities within a three-hour driving radius of São Paulo, Cunha (pronounced “Kun-ya” or “Cuña”) is perhaps my favorite I’ve been to so far. This little village of only 22,000 residents is surrounded by rolling hills on all sides, and its best feature is undoubtedly its jaw-dropping views...
Have you ever visited a city or town where religious traditions are a major part of the local identity and culture? The question might evoke thoughts of historic cities in the Middle East or monasteries in Southeast Asia. But in this post, I’ll be introducing you to an incredible religious town for your next visit to Brazil...
Most travelers probably know that the world’s largest church is St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, but did you know that the second largest isn’t even in Europe at all? Santuário Nacional de Nossa Senhora Aparecida in São Paulo, Brazil is truly awe-inspiring...