Brazil's Dreamiest Coastal Road Trip Winds Through Rainforests, Pristine Islands, and Colorful Beach Towns

"I was inspired (or, if you believe in such things, divinely mandated) to road trip through Brazil during a spiritual ceremony. The idea came from my shaman, herself born and raised in the state of São Paulo. As entheogenic effects subsided, the digital-age healer pulled out her iPhone and showed me photos from her recent trip home. She explained how easy it was to rent a car and bounce from one beach town to the next."

"Here was the solution to the question my partner and I had been wrestling with for months. Cam wanted to go somewhere distant and new. I wanted to go somewhere where I didn't have to adjust to a new time zone. Filled with richly varied locales and only three hours ahead of Central Standard Time, Brazil seemed tailor-made. When I called him on the drive home to announce I'd solved our dilemma, Cam didn't need convincing."

"While the fastest route between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo cuts inland and takes just under six hours, we opted for the longer drive on the BR-101. The scenic corridor hugs the coastline, twisting through rainforest-covered hills, beach towns, and islands that are beloved by Brazilians but remain largely unknown to outsiders. Planning Our Trip This was a vacation we had spent weeks planning, and, to be honest, worrying about."

A couple chose a scenic coastal drive on Brazil's BR-101 between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, favoring shoreline views over the faster inland route. The trip originated from a shaman's recommendation during a spiritual ceremony that emphasized easy car rentals and consecutive beach towns. The travelers wanted a nearby international destination three hours ahead of Central Standard Time and valued varied locales. They spent weeks planning amid safety warnings and family concerns. One partner created a color-coded itinerary while the other prepared language study and logistical details for the journey.

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