Hi, my name is Christian Taylor. Over the years I’ve been a Brazil travel writer, an editor, a digital marketer, a freelancer, a project manager… These days, I’d say I occupy a space somewhere amidst all of that. I’ve seen more of Brazil in less than a decade than I’ve seen of my own homeland, Australia, in a lifetime.
Before I first stepped foot in Brazil, all I knew about the country was the cliché – Copacabana Beach, Christ the Redeemer, favelas in the hills, crime… that’s true of most people who have never been there.
My love affair with Brazil travel began back in 2012, when I first visited Jericoacoara in Ceará. I thought this sandy, windswept town was one of the most enchanting places I’d ever visited. I still do.
But nobody back home had ever heard of the place. Ever since that first trip to the northeast, I have been on a mission to broaden people’s horizons when it comes to Brazil.
What makes Brazil: Beyond Rio different?
First and foremost, I’m a writer. I like telling stories – I always have. But I don’t want to be a “travel blogger” per se. I don’t want to portray some tedious, airbrushed, Instagram-filtered existence. I just want to share my experiences of living and travelling in Brazil, help you to see it through my own eyes and perhaps show you why you should do the same.
Brazil is a huge country. There are plenty of wonderful places that international visitors should experience. And frankly, there are plenty of places you can pass right on by. When it comes to travelling in Brazil, I wouldn’t say I was fussy – it’s more that some places have something special, and some don’t. I’m here to help you save time, to inform and hopefully inspire.
My husband Renato comes from a city in Piauí called Teresina. Together we’ve spent the last eight years or so travelling all over this fascinating country. We’ve had our fair share of crazy adventures – from running a chaotic pousada in Bahia to hitchhiking in yellow convertibles… We have travelled cross-country by bus with our two dogs onboard with us. We’ve stayed in the lap of luxury, we’ve stayed in some downright hovels. I look forward to sharing all of these stories with you in time.
There is much more to Brazil than Rio
So many tourists come to Brazil and they never go any further than Rio. I will never understand it. It’s like going to a restaurant and not staying for the main course… The language barrier is one big reason why people don’t venture beyond the big cities in Brazil’s south. This site aims to help you with that. We’re gonna show you what you’re missing out on. If you see something you like, but you’re feeling intimidated or unsure of how to get there, contact me and ask.
Yes, Rio is a beautiful city, with plenty to see and do. It also has a habit of holding onto tourists and not letting go. It’s the famous face of Brazil – Christ the Redeemer, Copacabana, Sugarloaf Mountain – these are unmistakable icons and no doubt, they’re the first images that come to mind when you first think of Brazil. Sadly, many tourists don’t get beyond the obvious destinations. We’re here to change that – hence the site’s name, Beyond Rio.
If you have never stayed in a pousada, you are seriously missing out
Literally, the word “pousada” means “a little rest”. But generally it refers to a Brazilian boutique hotel. But it’s also much more than that.
Every pousada is special for a particular reason, but they all have one thing in common – love. They’re built on it and they run on it. A great pousada charms you and pays attention to the details.
Some pousadas are so good, they make you genuinely contemplate selling everything you own and never going back home. Some people have literally done just that. There are plenty of foreigners who have sold up and moved to Brazil to follow their dream of owning a little slice of paradise. You have to respect that spirit of adventure.
I’ve stayed in many memorable pousadas and they’re all shared here on this site. Nobody is paying to be on this site. They’re listed because they’re the best.
Pousadas are different to standard hotels in that they feel like home. If a pousada’s staff speak English, we’ll tell you on their listing page. A good pousada can make all the difference to your holiday, especially if you don’t speak Portuguese. They can help you with transfers, as well as getting around town and finding cool things to do.
We only promote pousadas and boutique hotels on this site, except for the big cities, where we showcase the finest luxury hotels on offer, as well as those that stand out for their uniqueness or value.
In order to remain in our collection, pousadas and hotels must maintain a TripAdvisor rating of 4 or above, scores which reflect very good to excellent levels of service and comfort. Currently, over 40% of our pousadas have a perfect score of 5.
We want to dispel the myth that Brazil is a dangerous country
Yes, Brazil has poverty and crime, just like everywhere else. We’re not gonna sugarcoat it. There’s street crime, social inequality and gang violence. However, such a large proportion of Brazil’s crime statistics relate to gang-on-gang warfare, which visitors to the country are unlikely to ever encounter. If you strip those numbers out of the crime stats, the numbers become far less daunting.
Every country has crime. Every trip you take has risks. I’ve had friends mugged by kids at cash machines in Paris and pickpocketed in Madrid. I’ve had my brand new iPhone stolen by pickpockets in Sitges. Sometimes you find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time.
On the flip side of that, in my many years of Brazil travel, not once have I ever had a problem with crime. A friend of mine lived in Rio de Janeiro for 17 years and nobody touched a hair on her head.
I don’t want to paint a portrait of Brazil travel seen through rose-coloured glasses, but I do want to say that if you are worried that Brazil is not a safe place to visit, you shouldn’t be. Brazil is a warm, welcoming country for visitors. You need to come and experience it for yourself.
That is another big reason why I built this site. When it comes to Brazil travel, my rule of thumb is that it is best to get out of the big cities and into the smaller villages and towns, which are much safer and more relaxed. The locations that we recommend on this site are all tranquil, idyllic, secure places. You won’t have a care in the world.
That being said, you should still check out the big cities, in particular Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and São Paulo. These are places where you need to keep your wits about you and follow a few simple rules to keep yourself out of harm’s way – namely, dress down, don’t flash your valuables about, know where you’re going and take taxis after dark.
Trust me, I am a tall, white, bald gringo. I do not blend in in most places in Brazil. But I have always felt at home here, and I am sure you will too.
Our site is audience first and independent
We promote locations and businesses that we love and respect, and are not paid for our reviews. When we write about a place, we write from research and experience. We stake our reputation on giving honest, trustworthy reviews about the people and places that we promote.
This site is funded through advertising and affiliate links. If you want to support us, please click through to Booking.com from our site when you book your accommodation. Please share our site with your friends. And if we inspired you to book travel to Brazil, please let us know! We’d love to add your testimonials to our site.
We believe in getting off the beaten track
The more hidden and remote a place is, the better. Get out of the cities and into Brazil’s incredible nature. Support businesses that support local communities and the natural environment. Stop to smell the roses. Do one location well, rather than three or four in a rush. These are some of the rules we live by.
If you are a pousada owner, restaurant, bar, transfer service or tour guide, and you’d like to be featured on our site, please email us and we’ll get back to you.
If you want help planning your trip, if you have questions or you’re confused, drop us a line. We can help steer you in the right direction, and also offer a paid service where we can help plan your journey for you and will be on call during your stay to help you if you run into any issues.
Happy exploring!
Christian and Renato x
