Refreshed: September 2026
When I was offered the opportunity to spend a few extra days at a beach resort at the end of my trip to Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro, I did not hesitate. After all the sightseeing, I thought a few days doing very little sounded like a very good idea!
Búzios is a small fishing town and beach resort on a peninsula about three hours from Rio de Janeiro. Often described as the St Tropez of Brazil, it became particularly well known after the French actress Brigitte Bardot visited in the 1960s.
With more than 20 beaches, plenty of restaurants and independent shops, and a lively pedestrianised town centre, it sounded just right for a few relaxing days at the end of my South American adventure.
And it was.
Arriving in Búzios
Getting to Búzios from Rio was easy. I booked a private car transfer and the journey took about three hours. I had already read a little about Búzios before arriving, so I was looking forward to seeing whether it lived up to my expectations.
It did.
I stayed in a lovely boutique hotel within walking distance of the town centre and several beaches. Almost immediately after arriving, I headed to the hotel bar and ordered myself a nice cool cocktail.
What else was I supposed to do? I was on holiday!
Photo caption: Starting as I meant to continue – enjoying a cocktail at my hotel in Búzios.
The weather was bright and sunny without being uncomfortably humid, which made walking around very pleasant.
Exploring Búzios by Boat
One of my favourite things I did in Búzios was taking a traditional boat trip around the peninsula to see some of its many beaches.
It was a very pleasant and relaxing cruise. The boat stopped several times so that anyone who wanted to could jump into the water for a swim. I was quite happy to remain onboard, take in the views and enjoy the Brazilian music.
At one point, a small boat selling barbecue pulled alongside us. People bought their food, the little boat moved away and headed towards another cruise boat to find its next customers.
I thought this was brilliant. They had certainly got the business down to an art!
There was no meal served onboard, but that didn’t seem to be a problem.
Beaches, Sunsets and People-Watching
I could walk from my hotel to several of the beaches, and I spent quite a bit of time simply strolling along the promenade, exploring the town centre and people-watching.
Búzios was lively without feeling frantic. I enjoyed walking around both during the day and in the evening, when the town had a completely different atmosphere.
And, of course, there were the sunsets.
One evening I simply stood and watched the sun go down over the water. Sometimes you don’t need to be doing anything at all.
Brigitte Bardot and Búzios
You can’t spend much time in Búzios without coming across Brigitte Bardot.
Her visit with her Brazilian boyfriend in the 1960s helped put the little fishing town on the international map, and today there is a bronze statue of her sitting along the waterfront.
It seemed to be one of the most photographed landmarks in town. People actually queued to sit beside her and have their photograph taken.
Naturally, I joined them!
There are several other sculptures along the waterfront. One of my favourites was of three fishermen pulling in their nets. When the tide was out, you could see the base on which the figures stood. When the tide came in, the base disappeared beneath the water and the fishermen appeared to be standing in the sea.
It was very cleverly done and quite fascinating to see.
I also came across the statue of Juscelino Kubitschek, a former president of Brazil, sitting by the waterfront. There seemed to be something interesting to photograph wherever I walked.
Seafood and Caipirinhas
Being a fishing town, Búzios was also a very good place for someone like me who loves seafood.
I certainly made the most of it.
Lobster, prawns, calamari – I enjoyed some wonderful seafood while I was there, and I found the food surprisingly affordable.
And then there were the caipirinhas.
Caipirinha is Brazil’s national cocktail, traditionally made with cachaça, lime, sugar and plenty of ice. I had already discovered it earlier in my Brazilian travels, but Búzios gave me plenty of opportunities to continue my research!
I drank one with just about every meal.
They were never exactly the same. Some were sweeter, some were stronger and every establishment seemed to have its own way of making them. I wasn’t complaining. I was quite prepared to keep trying them.
Was Búzios Worth the Extra Few Days?
Absolutely.
Choosing to spend those extra days in Búzios was one of the best decisions I made on the trip. After exploring Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro, it was lovely to finish my South American adventure somewhere where I could simply slow down.
I had sunshine, beaches, boat trips, wonderful seafood, plenty of caipirinhas and time to wander around without rushing anywhere.
Búzios was lively but relaxed, and although it is often called the St Tropez of Brazil, I didn’t need the comparison.
I liked Búzios for what it was.
And those few extra days turned out to be the perfect ending to a wonderful trip.
Have you visited Búzios, or have you ever added a few relaxing days to the end of a busy sightseeing holiday?
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Interesting to read.. Thank you for sharing your experience.
Hi Rass I am glad you enjoyed reading it and that you found it interesting. Thank you for your support.