“Before you ask, yes, I finally went to Búzios!”

“And…?”

“Meh. This is the classic example of a place that looks better in pictures than in real life.”

When I was doing research on Cabo Frio, I hesitated between staying in Cabo Frio, Arraial do Cabo and Búzios. The three cities are very close—Cabo Frio in the middle of the bay, the biggest city, then Búzios at the northern tip and Arraial du Cabo at the southern tip.

I quickly realized that Búzios wasn’t in my price range, and I ended up staying in Cabo Frio—more options, more convenient. Arraial do Cabo is only a 30-minute bus ride away, and Búzios is a bit further, it takes about an hour to get there from Cabo Frio.

Búzios is posh—blame the French for that, or rather a French actress you’ve probably heard about, Brigitte Bardot. In the 1960, Bardot was dating Bob Zagury and the two of them escaped to Rio de Janeiro, but paparazzi followed them. So they went to Búzios, a quieter retreat.

Next thing you know, Mick Jagger and Madonna also fell in love with Búzios and the rest is history. Today, Búzios still worships Brigitte Bardot and the place has a distinct “hippie chic with a couple of credit cards” feel.

And here I was, not arriving on a private yacht but by bus, six reais only, don’t expect a seat or air con.

It took me a while to find the coast because all the signs were pointing to boutique pousadas hidden in the many, many hills.

It took me even longer to find Praia do Canto, hidden behind bars and clothing shops. It was high tide, so no sand. Picturesque spot, though, with colourful fishing boats in the background. Same issue with Praia da Armação, no beach but fishing boats.

I followed the “Orla Brigitte Bardot,” with a statue of 1960s Bardot and many Bardot shops, restaurants, and even food specialties. Considering Bardot turned into a (half-crazy, right-wing) outspoken animal rights activist, I found it pretty hilarious to see a steak named after her.

The town is half Argentinian, by the way. If you don’t feel like eating at Madame Bardot, you can grab empanadas and pizzas just like if you were in Buenos Aires. Weird.

I walked uphill and downhill to Praia de João Fernandes—jam-packed, no sand.

Then I gave up on relaxing at the beach and climbed a couple of hills to reach viewpoints.

Búzios is probably a great spot to dine out and go to bars, to shop and relax in an all-inclusive hotel. Just not my kind of place.

I bought a $10 t-shirt on the way back.

No, it doesn’t feature Brigitte Bardot.

Av. José Bento Ribeiro Dantas, Lot. Triangulo de Buzios, Búzios - RJ
Av. José Bento Ribeiro Dantas, Lot. Triangulo de Buzios, Búzios – RJ
Praia do Canto, Centro, Búzios - RJ
Praia do Canto, Centro, Búzios – RJ
Praia do Canto, Centro, Búzios - RJ
Praia do Canto, Centro, Búzios – RJ
Praia do Canto, Centro, Búzios - RJ
Praia do Canto, Centro, Búzios – RJ
Praia do Canto, Centro, Búzios - RJ
Praia do Canto, Centro, Búzios – RJ
Praia do Canto, Centro, Búzios - RJ
Praia do Canto, Centro, Búzios – RJ
Praia do Canto, Centro, Búzios - RJ
Praia do Canto, Centro, Búzios – RJ
Orla Brigitte Bardot, Av. José Bento Ribeiro Dantas, 842, Búzios - RJ
Orla Brigitte Bardot, Av. José Bento Ribeiro Dantas, 842, Búzios – RJ
Orla Brigitte Bardot, Av. José Bento Ribeiro Dantas, 842, Búzios - RJ
Orla Brigitte Bardot, Av. José Bento Ribeiro Dantas, 842, Búzios – RJ
Orla Brigitte Bardot, Av. José Bento Ribeiro Dantas, 842, Búzios - RJ
Orla Brigitte Bardot, Av. José Bento Ribeiro Dantas, 842, Búzios – RJ
Orla Brigitte Bardot, Av. José Bento Ribeiro Dantas, 842, Búzios - RJ
Orla Brigitte Bardot, Av. José Bento Ribeiro Dantas, 842, Búzios – RJ
Orla Brigitte Bardot, Av. José Bento Ribeiro Dantas, 842, Búzios - RJ
Orla Brigitte Bardot, Av. José Bento Ribeiro Dantas, 842, Búzios – RJ
Orla Brigitte Bardot, Av. José Bento Ribeiro Dantas, 842, Búzios - RJ
Orla Brigitte Bardot, Av. José Bento Ribeiro Dantas, 842, Búzios – RJ
Orla Brigitte Bardot, Av. José Bento Ribeiro Dantas, 842, Búzios - RJ
Orla Brigitte Bardot, Av. José Bento Ribeiro Dantas, 842, Búzios – RJ
Orla Brigitte Bardot, Av. José Bento Ribeiro Dantas, 842, Búzios - RJ
Orla Brigitte Bardot, Av. José Bento Ribeiro Dantas, 842, Búzios – RJ
Praia da Armação, Búzios - RJ
Praia da Armação, Búzios – RJ
Praia da Armação, Búzios - RJ
Praia da Armação, Búzios – RJ
Praia da Armação, Búzios - RJ
Praia da Armação, Búzios – RJ
Praia da Armação, Búzios - RJ
Praia da Armação, Búzios – RJ
Rua Anália Silveira de Souza, R. João Fernandes, Búzios - RJ
Rua Anália Silveira de Souza, R. João Fernandes, Búzios – RJ
Praia de João Fernandes, Búzios - RJ
Praia de João Fernandes, Búzios – RJ
Praia de João Fernandes, Búzios - RJ
Praia de João Fernandes, Búzios – RJ
Praia de João Fernandes, Búzios - RJ
Praia de João Fernandes, Búzios – RJ
Mirante de João Fernandes, Village de Búzios, Armação dos Búzios - State of Rio de Janeiro
Mirante de João Fernandes, Village de Búzios, Armação dos Búzios – State of Rio de Janeiro
Mirante de João Fernandes, Village de Búzios, Armação dos Búzios - State of Rio de Janeiro
Mirante de João Fernandes, Village de Búzios, Armação dos Búzios – State of Rio de Janeiro
Mirante de João Fernandes, Village de Búzios, Armação dos Búzios - State of Rio de Janeiro
Mirante de João Fernandes, Village de Búzios, Armação dos Búzios – State of Rio de Janeiro
Mirante das Ilhas, R. João Fernandes, 48 - Village de Búzios, Búzios - RJ
Mirante das Ilhas, R. João Fernandes, 48 – Village de Búzios, Búzios – RJ
Mirante das Ilhas, R. João Fernandes, 48 - Village de Búzios, Búzios - RJ
Mirante das Ilhas, R. João Fernandes, 48 – Village de Búzios, Búzios – RJ
Mirante das Ilhas, R. João Fernandes, 48 - Village de Búzios, Búzios - RJ
Mirante das Ilhas, R. João Fernandes, 48 – Village de Búzios, Búzios – RJ
Mirante das Ilhas, R. João Fernandes, 48 - Village de Búzios, Búzios - RJ
Mirante das Ilhas, R. João Fernandes, 48 – Village de Búzios, Búzios – RJ
Rua do Torque, R. João Fernandes, Búzios - RJ
Rua do Torque, R. João Fernandes, Búzios – RJ
Rua do Torque, R. João Fernandes, Búzios - RJ
Rua do Torque, R. João Fernandes, Búzios – RJ
R. Praia de João Fernandes, Village de Búzios, Búzios - RJ
R. Praia de João Fernandes, Village de Búzios, Búzios – RJ
R. Praia de João Fernandes, Village de Búzios, Búzios - RJ
R. Praia de João Fernandes, Village de Búzios, Búzios – RJ
Rua das Pedras, Av. José Bento Ribeiro Dantas, Búzios
Rua das Pedras, Av. José Bento Ribeiro Dantas, Búzios
Rua das Pedras, Av. José Bento Ribeiro Dantas, Búzios
Rua das Pedras, Av. José Bento Ribeiro Dantas, Búzios
Rua das Pedras, Av. José Bento Ribeiro Dantas, Búzios
Rua das Pedras, Av. José Bento Ribeiro Dantas, Búzios

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2 Comments

  1. Shandara March 7, 2022 at 9:15 am

    Un steak du nom de Bardot… fallait le faire! Fou rire!

    Reply
    1. Zhu March 9, 2022 at 1:22 am

      I only realized the irony of it later in the day 😆

      Reply

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