LOCATION

The city of Armação dos Búzios, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

Just 170 km from Rio de Janeiro, a pleasant 2 hours trip by road takes you to the peninsula of Búzios, whose magnificent beaches and crystal-clear water contrast with the exuberantly sculptured landscape and exotic vegetation, which a prodigal "Mother Nature" has privileged with a wonderful year-round summer.

Originally settled by European pirates and slave traders, this happy mixture of many bloods prospered and became a picturesque fishing village, elected one of the 10 most beautiful areas in the world, famous for its unique combination of rustic charm, architectural harmony, incredible beauty, and sophisticated boutiques and restaurants, frequented by discerning visitors who come from all over the world to savour its magic.

With more than 26 beaches that have a diversity of beauty never seen before, this peninsula resembles a small island. It is today a sophisticated beach resort with very active nightlife. Off-season Búzios becomes a paradise for those who appreciate fine restaurants, arts and ecology. Búzios began its up scale resort after Brigitte Bardot discovered it to the world in the early 60's in the last century.

Approximately 8 km long, the Búzios peninsula is bathed by the Brazilian and Antarctic maritime currents. To the west, Búzios offers calm beaches with warm waters and to the east the beaches are more open to the ocean, with some coves and colder waters.

The geography, which is quite particular, is rich in natural beauty with privileged hillsides, rich vegetation and beaches of incomparable beauty. The wind coming from the east blows the rain away and maintains a pleasant temperature, which averages 26° C (79° F).

The city, with about 20,000 inhabitants has its own architectural style, where constructions cannot be over two stories, leading to a harmonious integration of man with nature. The name of Búzios comes from a type of seashell, which used to be very abundant on its beaches. There are also rumors that originally the place was called Armação das Baleias (the Whales Place) due to the presence of these animals. The whales used to arrive, from the south of Brazil in the period from July to October for reproduction. A colony of fishermen occupied the region during all the XVIII century, living of the trade of these animals.