1. Eat Açaí
This was literally the first thing I did when I came to Brazil for the first time. The only problem with eating açaí in Brazil is that the stuff back home won’t do it for you anymore.
2. Go to a Churrasco
The south of Brazil is known for its great barbeques (churrasco in Portuguese), but around the country people love to grill meat over fire. Go to an all you can eat churrasco restaurant. It’s one of the coolest ways to experience a churrasco. These Rodizios keep serving you meat until you can’t take it anymore.
3. Visit Christ the Redeemer on a clear day
Have you really been to Brazil if you didn’t take a picture with the big Jesus statue in Rio? The sight gives you a beautiful view over the city. It’s recommended that you go on a clear day, as the smog in Rio might hinder your view.
4. Travel by using a Brazilian city bus
To really experience what Brazilian traffic is all about, there’s no better way than taking a municipal bus. It’s like a rollercoaster ride without belts and for a fraction of the price. Rio bus drivers will give you an adrenaline rush and get you from A to B for about 5 reais.
5. Go to a Funke party
If you want to see Brazilian girls shake their butt, don’t miss the opportunity to go to a Funk party. You will be amazed.
6. Compete in a BJJ tournament
Competing in Brazil is a unique experience. The level, the atmosphere, the intensity. A BJJ trip to Brazil is not complete without competing at least once.
7. Get your ass kicked by a juvenile
No matter your weight or level, there will be a juvenile in Brazil that can kick your ass or at least make you fight for your life. Brazil is full of 15-year-old kids that have over 10 years of jiu jitsu experience and the accompanying skills. A slightly annoying but useful and humbling experience.
8. Visit a soccer game live
If you thought Brazilian Jiu Jitsu tournaments were intense, you haven’t seen Brazilian soccer games.
9. Drink a Caipirinha on the beach
Brazil’s national drink is best enjoyed ice-cold on a hot day with a view of the ocean. With an 8000-kilometer-long coastline and plenty of bars and beach stands, this shouldn’t be too hard to accomplish. Traditional Caipirinha is made of lime, sugar, ice, and cachaça (Brazilian rum), but the varieties are endless. Passionfruit or kiwi caipirinhas are delicious too.
10. Learn some cuss words
A one-time trip to Brazil won’t get you to fluent Portuguese. A few weeks in Brazil is, however, just enough time to learn how to greet and swear at people. These are probably the first words you learn. Suddenly those Brazilian guys screaming at the tournament will start to make sense.
