Some interesting activities in your downtime can be yoga on the beach, taking samba lessons or trying out the capoeira martial art/dance lessons, going for a jog along the beach or around the lake, or riding bikes to take in an even wider expanse of the impressive scenery. Taste Brazilian cashews, drink Brazilian coffee or the local “rum” called cachaca, dress up for a photo op in an extravagant carnival costume, go rafting under raging waterfalls, descend into a mysterious cave while floating the river of Bonito, go listen to live samba music or hear the local legends about the most extraordinary Brazilian traditions and customs- this country has it all!
For the more adventurous, educational favela tours are offered to get an insider view of the most rudimentary structured communities of Rio and Sao Paulo, often described as slums or ghettos, largely neglected by the government and famous for having higher crime, although the tours are protected and welcomed by the local residents as the awareness helps their communities. Many find it a fascinating, and humbling, peek into the real life of this marginalized community.