Arraial do Cabo

Arraial do Cabo needs 2 days: touring by boat the Prainhas do Pontal do Atalaia, turquoise-water coves between cliffs reachable only by sea, on one, and diving or snorkeling at Ilha do Farol, on the other. September-March brings the warmest weather, though the cold water year-round -from an upwelling current unique in the tropics- is exactly what gives it that clarity. It's mid-priced by Rio de Janeiro standards. Nicknamed the «Brazilian Caribbean» for its water clarity, uncommon on Brazil's tropical coast, it's one of the country's best diving spots thanks to that same cold current, which brings visibility of up to 30 meters.