South America Ten Foot Square

Chile, a predominantly Roman Catholic nation and one with a very intense military and thus macho history, is not really one of the friendliest nations for gay people to visit.

According to one of the directors of the United Organization of Sexual Minorities (UOSM), “It is very dangerous to be gay in this country. Look, forty five percent of the people thing it is okay to be violent against gays. Seventy percent disapprove of homosexuality”. Though this sounds very scary for the gay tourist the truth is that through the efforts of organizations like UOSM the gay life in Chile has begun to really emerge and is slowly becoming more accepted in the country. Unlike in the past where active police pursuit of gays was an everyday affair police pursuit is now pretty rare and gay bars and establishments can be seen going up all throughout Chile.

Santiago is still the best place in all of Chile for gay tourists. Most gay bars and discos in the city are located in Bellavista. Some of the popular gay/lesbian bars and discos you can visit in Bellavista are Bunker, Femme by Bunker, Bokhara, Mascara, Farinelli, Bar 105, Dionisio, Punto G, Friends, Vox Populi, Bar de Willy, Prejuicio Cero, El Closet, Pleasures Woman, Amor del Bueno, Sui Generis and Montage. Of course it is not only in Bellavista where you will find gay and lesbian bars. Some of the more popular bars outside Bellavista are Fuasto in Providencia, Quasar in Coquimbo, Nueva Cero in Avenida, and Dragalicious which is pretty unique since it is a traveling disco hopping from one location to another about once or twice per month. To know Dragalicious’ latest venue you can contact them at +52 9-636-9638.

The climate is indeed changing for the gay traveler in Chile so much so that there are even really good hotels that cater specifically to the gay traveler. Some of the best known hotels are:

Bed and Breakfast Santiago
Address: Sanchez Fontecilla, La Reina, Santiago
Phone: +52 2 325-3009

Hotel Maury
Address: Tarapaca 1112, Centro, Santiago
Phone: +52 2 672-5859

Hotel Castillo
Address: Pio Nono 420, Bellavista, Santiago
Phone: +52 2 735-0243

Granted that these hotels are quite on the expensive side you can still get a nice motel for a much cheaper price by simply scanning the classified ads section of “La Tercera” a newspaper daily in Chile. Motels and furnished apartments that can be rented per hour or per day can be found in the ads section.

One of the most popular parts of a gay tourist’s itinerary when visiting Chile is a visit to the local sauna. Two of the best saunas in Santiago are the Sauna 282 and Mi Tiempo. While there are other sauna establishments in the area they are generally not as well maintained and as nice as these two establishments. Sauna 282 is especially popular among gay travelers and is even known as the largest and most popular gay sauna in all of Santiago. It has notably more features than the smaller Mi Tiempo but the fees reflect its popularity as it is also more expensive to go there. Sauna 282 is located in Bellavista 282, Bellavista while Mi Tiempo is located in Bombero Nuñez 230, Bellavista.

Food has become such an important part of tourism nowadays that an entirely new kind of tourism called food tourism now exists. But even for “normal” tourists, who travel not in search of the ultimate food or simply to taste the local cuisine of places they go to, food has become an important part of the whole trip that encountering good or bad food can influence the trip’s success.

Chile is known for its good food so that finding good restaurants to eat isn’t a problem. Step into one with lots of people and more likely than not the droves of people frequenting the place are not wrong in choosing that place to eat. However even in places where good food is a matter of fact there are still a few establishments that stand out and offer the kind of food that transports you and makes you forget all your other reasons for traveling.

The list of restaurants listed in this section is in no way exhaustive or exclusive for fantastic eating in Chile but according to food and wine connoisseurs are among the best. However, if you want to be sure to get a taste of Chile’s best you’d better head to one of the restaurants mentioned below. Of course I undoubtedly there’s a little kitchen tucked somewhere which could probably beat the pants off these restaurants if you find a kitchen like that get yourself invited to their family dinner and feel blessed for you not only got the best but the pure and authentic fare that food lovers seek.

Cocoa – For the best pisco sour experience visit Cocoa at El Rodeo. You can get pisco sour anywhere in Chile but they don’t make it like they do in Cocoa. Ironically the pisco sour served in this place is made in Peru and not in Chile. But who cares since it’s still the best you can find in the country.

Address: 12850 El Rodeo, Santiago
Phone: +56 2 216-4833

Guila – Chosen by Food and Wine as one of the two best new restaurants in all of Santiago, Guila’s Chef Jaime Landerer churns out the best Northern Italian dishes in this small but very tasteful dining room cum restaurant.

Address: Avenida Vitacura 3879, Santiago
Phone: +56 2 228-0023

Restobar Ky ­– The other winner of the two best new according to Food and Wine, Restobar Ky photographer chef Pablo Izquierdo is a hit with his Southeast Asian inspired menu. The restaurant is located in a converted old house decorated with the chef’s very own flea-market finds making for a very distinct and tasteful setting. Food and wine recommends the Easter Island tuna with pistachio crust although anything on the menu sure looks and definitely tastes great.

Address: Avenida Perú 631, Santiago
Phone: +56 2 777-7245
Website: www.restobarky.com

Puerto Fuy – One of the hottest if not the hottest place to eat in Santiago nowadays. A new restaurant but definitely sizzling with the seafood chef Giancarlo Mazzarelli prepares. Make sure you get reservations well in advance since getting one in this place is notoriously hard to do.

Address: 3969 Nueva Costanera , Santiago
Phone: +56 2 208-8908
Website: www.puertofuy.cl

Other restaurants you might want to visit are: 034, Blackburn Café, Confiteria Torres, El Chiringuito, House of Morande, Infante 51, Petagonia, Piola, Santabrasa, and Zully all to be found in Santiago.

Chile has a great variety of museums that you can visit during your vacation, each featuring an aspect of the rich cultural heritage of the country. In Santiago alone there are already several museums that one can visit.

For the museum lovers perusal a list of the best museums in Chile have been listed below so that you can avoid the more mediocre museums and visit those that are truly noteworthy.

Santiago Museum – Located in the historic Casa Colorada this museum has plenty of exhibits that “reconstruct” Santiago’s history starting from the period of the Araucanos.

Address: Merced 860, Centro Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Plaza de Armas, Santiago
Telephone: +56 2 6330723
Schedule: Tuesday to Friday 10am to 6pm, Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sundays and Holidays 11am to 2pm

Museo Interactivo Mirador (MIM) – A free route museum that has more than 300 exhibits in 14 themed rooms. This museum is truly unique in that it encourages visitors to participate in its interactive displays as it strives to educate both young and old about art, science, and technology.

Address: Punta Arenas 6711, La Granja.
Telephone: +56 2 280-7812/ 280-7862
Schedule: Tuesday to Sunday 9:30am to 6:30pm, Monday 9:30 am to 1:30pm

National Fine Arts Museum – This museum boasts the best collection of Chile’s art. There are also temporary exhibits usually on display in this museum so even a second visit can show you something new.

Address: Parque Forestal, Santiago
Telephone: +56 2 633-0655
Schedule: Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 7:45pm

Contemporary Art Museum – Residing in the University of Chile, this museum contains a collection of paintings, sculptures, and engravings that reflect the development of contemporary art both in Chile and abroad.

Address: Parque Forestal, Santiago (opposite Mosqueto street)
Telephone: +56 2 638-0390 / 633-1675
Schedule: Tuesday to Saturday 11am to 7pm; Sundays and Holidays 11am to 5pm

National History Museum – The history of Chile dating back from pre-Columbian times to the present day presented using a collection of more than 12000 items. Makes for a much more interesting history lesson than a mere boring lecture.

Address: Plaza de Armas 951, Santiago
Telephone: +56 2 638-1411 / 633-0462
Schedule: Tuesday to Sunday 11am to 7pm

“La Chascona” Museum House - Pablo Neruda’s home. For lovers of Neruda’s work you simple must take the pilgrimage to Chile’s very own literary Nobel Laureate Prize poet. In his house you can see original copies of his works as well as his very own art collection containing paintings that are gifts from great painters such as Siqueiros and Rivera.

Address: Fernando Marquez de la Plata 019, Bellavista
Telephone: +56 2 777-8741
Schedule: Visits arranged only upon request. Contact them via telephone for scheduling. Visits are programmed for half-hour visits only.

National Natural History Museum – Dedicated to promote the valuation and understanding of the biological and cultural diversity of Chile. Here you will find anthropological, botanical, entomological, geological, hydro-biological, taxidermy and zoological specimens and various exhibits containing native plants and mineral ores of the country.

Address: Quinta Normal, Santiago
Telephone: +56 2 680-4631 / 680-4615
Schedule: Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 5:30pm, Sunday and holidays: 12:00nn to 5:30pm. (April - August) or 11:00am to 6:30pm (September- March)

Chile has lots of tourist attractions to compete for your itinerary. But if you have children, you may be having a difficult time deciding which are the ideal places to visit. Below, we’ve come up with a list of the top places to visit if you have kids. The attractions listed are child friendly are known for being a big hit among kids of all ages. No stuffy museums where you can’t make noise or too dangerous trails where one can wander off. So for those with kids or simply those that are young at heart, read on and catch a glimpse of a Chile that you will surely enjoy visiting.

1. Parque Metropolitano Zoo/Jardin Zoologico – The zoo is just part of the huge Parque Metropolitano. So you can spend an entire day visiting the different sites in the park or simply choose to visit the zoo. You can go to the zoo by riding a car or by walking along the park on foot or for a more fun ride, by taking the 1925 funicular inside the park, which stops by the zoo on the way to a look out point. At the zoo you will be wowed by more than 200 species of mammals, reptiles, and birds that await your viewing pleasure. A note of warning to animal advocates: You might get an apoplexy due to the animal cages, which isn’t always the best size or design for the animals residing in the cages. The zoo is open daily from 10am to 6pm except on Mondays. For those interested in visiting the entire park other interesting park areas are the two swimming pools, a picnic zone, a children’s’ playground, a botanical garden, a very nice chapel, and of course various restaurants with varied cuisine.
2. Santiago Railway Museum – Ok I said no stuffy museums and this doesn’t count as that. The railway museum is really fun and any child or adult will enjoy a visit here. It’s not just of paintings and boring artistic objects but actual trains that are really old. The museum is open during Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 5:30pm and on weekends and holidays from 11am to 7pm.
3. Fantasilandia – A modern amusement park located at the Parque Bernardo O’Higgins. It is the largest amusement park in Chile and is best known for its roller coasters, toboggan ride, haunted house. It is open only during weekends and holidays from April to November and open alweek except Monday from December to March.
4. Museo Interactivo Mirador (MIM) and the Santiago Aquarium – A combo entrance ticket to the two attractions is a good idea since they are both situated inside an 11-hectare park in the La Granja Barrio. The Museo Interactivo Mirador boasts of an all modern museum with interactive displays and more than 300 exhibits sure to perk the interest of any visitor. Visitors are encouraged to always participate in this museum instead of just looking on for a richer and definitely more educational experience. Museo Interactivo Mirador is open daily from 9:30am to 6:30pm except on Mondays. The Santiago Aquarium likewise is always a delight to visit with its colorful sea life and of course its famous sea lion show.

Nightlife in Chile is as hot as Chili! You just need to know where to find it. Cities all over Chile have really hopping nightlife scenes but Santiago outstrips all the other cities by far. If you go to Viña del Mar just near Santiago you can expect a much quieter nightlife though the casino scene there offers another exciting alternative to the usual clubs and bars found in Santiago. Avoid going to Valparaiso if nightlife is what you have in mind. It is known for having rather dodgy clubs, clientele, and even lousy music. For a good night out outside of Santiago you can go north to San Pedro de Acatama or south to Valdivia where you can be sure to have a real blast.

When in Santiago the three areas to drop by for a fun night out are Barrio Bellavista, Providencia’s Calle Suecia and Plaza Ñuñoa although gaining in popularity are the areas near Bellas Artes Museum and Plaza Brazil. The last two are especially popular among tourists.

Barrio Bellavista is the place to go for music. Music are typically guitar music, boleros, or Latin. The place has lots of small informal restaurants and cafes where one can talk and hang out while waiting for the live music that usually starts at around 11pm. Beer in Bellavista is plentiful and cheap often even being sold for cheaper than bottled water. Restaurants range for tourists of all budgets with everything from pizza, local cuisine, and French cuisine available. This is also the place to go if you want to go dancing with dance clubs of all genres found in the area. In Bellavista you can go disco dancing, eat in a good restaurant, go visit an art gallery, and even shop in stores that sells great handicrafts. For authentic Chile entertainment and varied choices visit Barrio Bellavista.

Providencia’s Calle Suecia is where you find most the expats and tourists who prefer slick Irish and Boston style bars. Bars and nightclubs here are more of the upscale type attracting more professionals and con artists as well. Beware when going to Suecia since it is fast earning the reputation as a place where really pretty and friendly women drug unsuspecting tourists and who wake up to find their billfolds and pride gone. Once warned about such scams you will definitely find Suecia to be a reall hot nightspot. If you want to dress up and have fun in a top quality bar then Calle Suecia is the place to visit.

Plaza Nuoña is the heart of Santiago’s underground scene. There are relatively less bars and nightclubs in this area though this is the place where you can get to rub elbows with local musicians and thespians of the real ilk. Dress code in this place is typical of one visited by students, which is a really laid back look like ripped jeans and black leather jackets. No need to dress up to go to Plaza Nuoña. For an artistic atmosphere and the greatest live music scene in all of Santiago visit Nuoña.

Chile is a delightful place to visit. But like any place you go to your visit will be a lot smoother and definitely more enjoyable if you come prepared. Here are some of the things that most tourists don’t know about Chile that actually do matter. Read along and hopefully after reading the tips below you’ll be better prepared to have wonderful time in Chile.

Entry Requirements – Be sure to bring your valid passport and tourist visa as well as any legal documents or certificates related to your visit to Chile since legal requirements can be pretty complex in this country. This is especially true if you do not know Spanish.

Customs – This portion is not about Chile’s culture and traditions but CUSTOMS as in custom requirements. Many a tourist has been put on the spot simply because they did not know what is legal and not-legal to bring in and out of the country.

The short list of things you CAN’T BRING should help you:

• Fruit, seeds, unprocessed vegetables
• Animals and animal products (with the exemption of pets with distemper and rabies vaccine)
• Firearms, munitions, explosives
• Illegal drugs of any kind

The following items can be brought into Chile but must be declared at the Customs Service and should be used solely for personal purposes and should be brought home upon exit of the country.

• Cameras and camcorders
• Portable typewriters, laptops, etc
• Record players and records, portable radios, etc.
• Binoculars and sporting equipment
• Camping equipment
• Vehicles (but can be used for up to 90 days only starting from date of entry)

Communication –

Post Office – open from Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm; Saturdays 9am to 12 noon

Calls – Local, long distance, and international calls can be made using public telephones or in call centers. You will need to either purchase a card to make the call or have at least several $100 coins in hand. The ENTEL card is the most widely used card and can be used even in the more rural areas. You can also place a call via the hotel phone for an additional fee.

Mobile Phones – You can purchase a mobile phone for about Ch$30,000 and 90,000 or hire one for a cheaper price if you are not staying for very long but need the convenience a mobile phone brings.

Internet – There are plenty of internet cafes in the city and unsurprisingly less in rural areas. Most hotels offer internet access with the rates varying from Ch$300 to $600 per hour.

Safety – For a safer travel please take note of the following information.

• Do not wear flashy jewelry and make sure that your valuables are safe inside your bags and not hanging out in side pockets.
• Do not change money in the streets but go to your hotel front desk or an authorized exchange office.
• Avoid vehicle theft by using only recognized garages for repairs, never giving your keys to parking attendants, and by making sure you have a security system installed in it.

In case of any emergencies or untoward incidents you can call the following numbers:

Ambulance emergency service 131
Fire brigade 132
Police (Carabienos de Chile) 133
Mountain Rescue service 136
Police information 139

If comfort and luxury is among your primary concerns during a holiday to Chile you need not worry about finding luxury accommodation since there are plenty of four and five star hotels in Chile that will guarantee a luxurious and enjoyable stay.

Santiago Hotels – Most luxury hotels in Chile are of course found in Santiago. But even among the plentiful four and five star hotels in the city there are a few that outshines the others.

Ritz Carlton Santiago – Living up to its name the Ritz Carlton in Santiago is one of the most luxurious places you can stay in all of Chile. The hotel is located in the prestigious neighborhood of El Golf and boasts rich and classic room décor as well as excellent services, amenities, and a spectacular view. The hotel has its own fine dining restaurants, fitness center, indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts and nearby trails where you can hike and horseback ride.

Hyatt Regency – The Hyatt has been hailed as the Best Hotel in all of Latin America. The award speaks for itself and makes it unnecessary to list down all the facilities and amenities that go with being a world class hotel. A positive note for family vacationers is that the Hyatt is child friendly and offers babysitting and child services.

Address: Avenida Kennedy 4601, Santiago, Chile

Hotel-Intercontinental Santiago – A four star hotel with 295 rooms it is one of the best in Santiago offering amenities such as family rooms, a fitness center, swimming pool, wheelchair accessibility, a fine dining restaurant, meeting rooms, non-smoking rooms, data port, dry cleaning/laundry services, and babysitting services.

Address: Luz 2920 Las Condes, Santiago, Chile

Neruda Hotel – A summit hotel it is not to be confused with the tourist attraction that is Pablo Neruda’s House in Bellavista. This hotel is loacated in the foot of the Andes Mountains and offers an exquisite view for its highly exclusive clientele. Amenities include family rooms, room service, a fitness center, a swimming pool and sauna, a business center, a fine dining restaurant, meeting rooms, and dry cleaning/laundry services.

Address: Av Pedro de Valdivia 164, Santiago, Chile

Providencia Hotel

Santiago Park Plaza – The Santiago Park Plaza is the hotel to stay in if you are looking for luxury in Providencia. The hotel founded in 1541 is of a very rich architecture and is located in a tree-lined yet cosmopolitan city where modern shops, bars and art galleries co-exist with stately old buildings and museums. The hotel has 104 rooms and the usual amenities a luxury hotel offers.

Address: AV Ricardo Lyon 207, Santiago, Providencia, Chile

Pucon Hotel

Villarica Park Lake Hotel – A beautiful luxury 5 star hotel located near the shore of lake Villarica, this hotel has a total of 70 luxury rooms all with air-conditioning, heating, satellite TV, separate bathtub and shower, hair-dryer, mini-bar, safety deposit box, international direct dialing, fax and computer connections. It boasts of facilities beyond what a normal luxury hotel offers since it has a Tepidarium Sauna, Finnish sauna and Steam Bath aside from the usual pools, Jacuzzi, beauty and fitness centers.

Address: Camino Villarrica, Pucon Km 13

There are so many things you can do and places you can visit when visiting Chile that a first time tourist might be overwhelmed with all the choices. To help you out with your first vacation’s itinerary I have listed several of the most popular things to do in Chile. My advice is not to try them all out on your first vacation but to choose one or two or even three of the suggested things to do and places to visit. If you are delighted with your first vacation then go ahead and save up for your return trip where you can then proceed with the other activities and adventures on the list. Happy trip!

1. Visit wildlife sanctuaries. For the nature lover Chile is a place where you can glimpse some of the most beautiful flora and fauna in the world. Choose among the wildlife sanctuaries listed below and have a peaceful awe-inspiring time at any of the wildlife preserves.

Partial List of Wildlife Protected Areas in Chile: Alerce Andino, Bosque Fray Jorge, Cerro Castillo, Chiloe, Huerquehue, Archipielago Juan Fernandez, Lago Peñuelas, Laguna del Laja, Laguna Torca, Lauca, Nahuelbuta, Pingüino de Humboldt, Pumalin, Radal Siete Tazas, Easter Island, Rio Clarillo, Rio Simpson, Torres del Paine, Villarrica, and Yerba Loca

2. Go see Chile’s remarkable monuments. Chila like any country has its own share of monuments. If you are a history and/or art lover monument hunting is a fun thing to do. Not only will you get to appreciate the monuments but can do this while sightseeing in between. Some of the more popular monuments in Chile are: Salar de Surire, La Portada, Pichasca, Isla Cachagua, El Morado, Contulmo, Cerro Ñielol, Alerce Costero, Dos Lagunas, Cinco Hermanas, Cueva del Milodón, Los Pingüinos, Laguna Los Cisnes

3. Hike to the Glacier Grey – For the more active tourist a hike to the Glacier Grey is truly a remarkable experience. At the end of the hike if you’re too tired to walk go back on foot for the return hike you can go on a boat trip across Lago Grey to exit the park.

4. Star gaze – You can do this in your own background but you haven’t really stargazed unless you’ve seen the sky in the “Small North” in Chile which is known worldwide for having the clearest and most transparent sky in all of the southern hemisphere. Visit the observation sites in Coquimbo Chile and experience the sky as you’ve never experienced it before.

5. Choose one of these sites to visit – Choose among the Atacama Desert, Easter Island, Chiloe Island, Valparaiso, or San Rafael Laguna. All of these sites are equally wonderful in their own very unique way. Each is rich in either culture or nature or both and very much the classical tourist place to go to.

6. Enjoy Chile’s Nightlife – Set at least one night to enjoy Chile’s nightlife. You can enjoy the nightlife in almost any Chilean city although Santiago is hands down the nightlife capital of Chile.

When going for a vacation one of the things you can really save on to fit a really small budget is accommodations. Even if you do have a generous budget you might want to opt for budget hotels so that you’ll have the option of an extended stay or being able to spend more on other things like fine dining and shopping. Chile offers plenty of budget or discount accommodations for those who need a decent place that won’t bust your budget.

Santiago Hotels

Hotel Alameda – Situated in the heart of Santiago this hotel offers good services and facilities such as internet access, laundry service, linens and towel, car park, 24 hour reception, a bar, a restaurant, and airport pickup.

Address: Alameda 3117, Santiago Centro, Santiago

Hotel Angamos – Located in a residential area this hotel has 30 rooms with an option for single, double, triple and even quadruple occupancy. Each room has its own private toilet, carpet, cable TV, telephone, and the other usual amenities.

Address: Angamos 367, Santiago

Hotel Plaza Londres – This hotel is situated in the exclusive Paris Londres colonial district. Its architecture dates back to the XVII century and is distinctly European in style. Rooms each have its own private bathroom, safety deposit box and cable TV and guests are given complimentary breakfast and have free internet access and parking. This hotel is child friendly so families are very much welcome.

Address: Londres 77, Santiago

Residencial Londres – Very limited facilities but clean and cheap accommodations guranteed. Staff also speaks English so language barrier is no problem in this hotel.

Address: Londres 54, Santiago

Valparaiso Hotels

El Rincon Universal – Child friendly hostel with basic facilities. Each room has a private bathroom, Cable TV, and maid service included.

Address: Av. Argentina 825, Valparaiso

Viña del Mar Bed and Breakfast and Hotels

Hotel Rokamar – Located in the center of Viña del Mar this hotel boasts of beautiful architecture and very fine and numerous facilities quite surprising to find in a budget hotel. It is child friendly (with baby sitting services), wheelchair friendly, and pet friendly. In short it is a hotel for everybody except that it is a no smoking establishment. Aside from these the usually facilities and amenities like linen and towels, internet access, car and bicycle parking are also included.

Address: Viana 107, with Von Schroeders, Chile

Girasoles de Agua Santa Guesthouse – A newly restored Victorian home that boasts of a private bathroom, kitchenette, fridge/freeze, cable TV, and beautiful view in each room. This B&B is child friendly and provides baby sitting services for a fee but has no smoking rooms.

Address: Pasaje Monterrey # 78, Chile

La Serena Hotels

Hotel del Cid – Located in the quiet old town of La Serena this budget hotel is actually your best option when staying in the town. It is child friendly and has English speaking staff. Rooms are equipped with private bathrooms, TV, phones, and of course a stock of linen and towels. Car and bicycle parking is also free.

Address: O’Higgins 138, La Serena, Chile

The beach towns of Brazil beckon with the promise of a relaxing retreat surrounded by lush tropical foliage, clear blue skies and pristine waters. Life’s a beach. And don’t we know it. Brazil, with a what amounts to a perpetual summer, offers beautiful beaches within tropical settings.

Brazil is a well-known tourist destination but it is best known for its inviting beaches nestled in equally charming beach towns. With over 4,600 miles of coastline and more than 2,000 beaches dotting the towns of Brazil, you are sure to find that perfect get-away when visiting Brazil.

Rio de Janeiro situated in the bustling region of the Brazilian economy is the main gateway for visitors to Brazil. The beaches around the city (town) of Rio de Janeiro are some of the most famous in the world. There is Praia de Copacabana (Copacabana Beach), undoubtedly the capital of Brazilian tourism. It is known for its all-night partying and foot volleyball. Just along the coast a little farther from Copacabana, is Praia de Ipanema tagged as a family beach. Nonetheless, this is the beach to laze around and ogle at sexy girls clad in their “tangas” (mini bikini).

The dynamic and very much alive Sao Paolo is the financial capital of Brazil. The nightlife in Sao Paolo is very vibrant with bars and clubs catering to every taste and lifestyle. Located in the coastline straddled between Rio and Sao Paolo is Costa Verde (Green Coast), a serene and untouched beach. The beach also affords visitors a view of Brazil’s famous tropical rainforest stretching out on the beach dunes. Santos Beach, south of Sao Paolo, boats of a lovely four mile beach garden said to be the largest in the world. The beach stretches up to Sao Vicente, the oldest town in Brazil.

Fortaleza, capital of the state of Ceara, is abuzz with five star hotels, fusion restaurants and a Disney-type complex called Beach Park along its beach. East of Fortaleza is Canoa Quebrada, a popular beach among locals and foreigners alike. It has a relaxed atmosphere but comes alive at night.

Jericoacoara is located far off the way but is definitely worth the trip. With seas to the east and west, it is one of the few spots in Brazil that experiences spectacular sunsets. With sand hills that reach as high as buildings and strong breeze, Jericoacoara Beach is a favorite of sand boarders and wind surfers.

Praia de Forte has a number of enticing beaches, quaint craft shops and some really good restaurants. But it is best known for the Projecto Tamar turtle reserve, home of four of the seven species of sea turtle in the world. The calm and balmy waters of Praia de Forte makes it an ideal place for swimming and snorkeling. It is aptly called Brazil’s Polynesia.

Morro de Sao Paulo in the coastline of Bahia is a small fishing village easily accessible by boat. The beach strip overflows with a mix of modern hotels vis-à-vis colonial relics. The town boasts of five beaches uniquely named First through Fourth and the fifth, Praia de Encanto.

Porto de Galinhas in the region of Pernambuco has lush coral pools just off the coast. A dive into the depths reveals colorful underwater vistas. A forty-minute walk along the coast is Praia de Macaripe, one of the finest beaches in the area. Further south is the captivating Praia da Ponta de Serrambi, a popular haven for windsurfers. Still in the south are the laid-back fishing villages of Tamandare and Sao Jose de Coroa Grande. Aside from white sand beaches and turquoise waters, another attraction in Tamandare is the ruins of the Fort of Santo Inacio destroyed in 1646. In Sao Jose de Coroa Grande, bars line the beach front. Just offshore from the beach is the IIha de Santo Aleixo that offers some good beaches.

So, timing your honeymoon for the sun season? Beginning to feel signs of work burnout? All wound up from relentless worries? Desperately seeking the sun and the beach? Head off to the beach towns of Brazil.