Just 105 miles from Rio de Janeiro, a pleasant 2-hour trip takes you to the peninsula of Búzios, whose more than 20 magnificent beaches and crystal-clear water contrast with the exuberantly sculptured landscape and exotic vegetation, which a prodigal "Mother Nature" has privileged with a wonderful year-round summer.

Originally settled by European pirates and slave traders, this happy mixture of many bloods prospered and became a picturesque fishing village, elected one of the 10 most beautiful areas in the world, famous for its unique combination of rustic charm, architectural harmony, incredible beauty and sophisticated boutiques and restaurants frequented by discerning visitors who come from all over the world to savour its magic.

Approximately 5 miles long, the Búzios peninsula is bathed by the Brazilian and Antartic maritime currents. To the west, Búzios offers beaches with calm and warm waters and to the east the beaches are usually to the open ocean, with some coves and colder waters.
The geography, which is quite particular, resembling more an island, is rich in natural beauty with privileged hillsides, rich vegetation and beaches of incomparable beauty. The wind coming from the east blows the rain away and maintains a pleasant temperature which averages 79ºF (26ºC).

The city, with about 10,000 inhabitants has its own architectural style, where constructions cannot be over two stories, leading to a harmonious integration of man with nature.

WHAT TO DO IN BUZIOS
Besides more than 20 different beaches, Búzios offers countless sports and leisure options. But it is OK if you rather just kick back and relax under the sun, listening to the ocean....

If you are not driving, the city offers mini-buses that drive around the city and main beaches for US$ 1.00 per person. You can also rent bicycles (at Bike-Tour in "Rua das Pedras") or just walk - many beaches are from a walking distance from downtown.

Several boats depart from the Praia da Armação and Ossos all day long, with prices ranging from US$ 12.00 to US$ 16.00 per person and last about 2 and a half hours, passing by several beaches and islands around Búzios. The tours are done in schooners and fishing boats and the prices include tropical fruit, juices, soft-drinks and caipirinhas (Brazilian drink), as well as a stop for swimming.

A privileged marine fauna, under crystalline clear waters make Búzios a true "live aquarium". Under the water, the temperature stays around 70°F and is an invitation to beginners as well as veterans to dive.
Búzios has many sports and leisure options. The spectacular beauty of its beaches and hill sides, the ways that takes you to incredible landscape views and its particular fauna and flora, are some of the attractions that fascinates the sporting people and ecotourists. Búzios has a lot of trails for practicing mountain-bike and trekking. Most of them, takes you to inaccessible places by cars, where you can appreciate the ecosystem or just relax at the natural pools. The Bike-Tours (Rua das Pedras, 266 Loja 4, Búzios) offers specialized guides, bike and equipment rentals and maps of the trails.