São Paulo – For those who are planning to come to Brazil for vacations and want to stay away from traditional destinations in the country, Cabo Frio is the place to go. With a population of 200,000 , the city has a good tourist infrastructure with dozens of small hotels, a great variety of seafood restaurants and 19 clear-water beaches.
At the centre of Cabo Frio there is the Praia do Forte (Fortress Beach). The place is known for the Fortress of St. Matthew, a 17th-century building erected by the Portuguese to protect the city from foreign attacks. After the historical tour, tourists can enjoy the bright sand, the calm sea and also the various kiosks offering portions of fish and shrimps, as well as drinks like the traditional Brazilian “caipirinha” (made of cachaça and fruit).
Still in downtown Cabo Frio, another historical attraction is the Nossa Senhora dos Anjos Convent, founded in 1686. The place is one of the landmarks of colonial architecture in the city, and it also houses a chapel, a cemetery and the Museum of Sacred Art, with baroque images from the 16th and 17th centuries made from terracotta and wood.
Peró Beach and Seashell Beach are a fifteen-minute drive from downtown. Not as trendy as Fortress Beach, they also have calm waters and are better options for tourists who prefer enjoying beaches with fewer people. For those wishing to visit many beaches at once, there are plenty of options of boat tours, in which tourists can visit the most beautiful sites including stops for snorkelling.
It is also worthwhile to go shopping in Cabo Frio , especially if you are interested in beachwear. On “Bikini Street” many stores sell bikinis, bathing suits and trunks for half the prices charged in Rio or São Paulo.
Art is a must in any good travel route in Cabo Frio. A visit to Carlos Scliar’s Studio House is essential for lovers of good painting. Many pieces by this artist – whose work included drawings, engravings, paintings, and illustrations – are on display. Born in Rio Grande do Sul, he spent most of his life in Cabo Frio.
Nightlife in the city revolves around Boulevard Canal, a seafront location with cool restaurants and bars at which to have pleasant walks looking at the boats and launches while you decide whether to have a romantic dinner or enjoy live music while drinking with your friends.
If you have time to spare and would like to visit other sites in the surrounding area, it is worth knowing that only 40 minutes away from Cabo Frio you will find the city of Búzios, which also offers very beautiful beaches and is considered a must-see place by Brazilian and foreign tourists who visit the region.
The place became famous for being one of the favorites of French actress Brigitte Bardot, who went there many times in the 1960s. Her influence on the small city was so huge that the local government honored her with a life-sized bronze statue in the center of the city.
Service
Where to stay
Pousada Águas do Forte
19, Ismar Gomes de Azedo Street
Praia do Forte
Phone: + 55 22 2643-4379
Where to eat:
Tia Maluca Restaurant
Av. dos Pescadores, 102 – Centro
Phone: + 55 22 2647-4158
Where to go:
Museum of Sacred Art
Largo de Santo Antônio,
Call for visiting hours
Phone: +55 22 2643-6898
Carlos Scliar Studio-House
Marechal Floriano Street, 253/265
Open from Wednesday to Sunday, from 16h to 21h
Phone: +55 22 2643-056
