Things to Do in Buzios
Adventure, culture, and relaxation — all on one peninsula
Boat Trips & Schooner Cruises
Half-day and full-day schooner trips visit the peninsula's beaches and crystal inlets inaccessible by land. Stop for snorkeling in transparent bays, anchor for lunch at a remote beach, and drift back as the sun sets over the Atlantic. Three standard routes available — ask your captain for the one that matches the conditions.
Scuba Diving
Búzios has over 20 named dive sites in unusually clear water. The reefs shelter sea turtles, grouper, parrotfish, and occasional manta rays. Visibility regularly exceeds 15 metres — sites range from 8 m gentle dives for beginners to the 35 m Fenômeno wreck for advanced divers.
Beach Walks & Trails
The Búzios peninsula has several marked trails through Atlantic rainforest and coastal scrub, plus a classic Orla Bardot waterfront walk connecting the main beaches. The Trilha do Forte leads to the Ponta do Forno headland with 360° peninsula views. The Alto Geribá ridge trail is less-known and rewards the few who find it.
Beach Bars & Kiosks
Every Búzios beach has its own kiosk scene — from the packed sunset terraces of the Orla Bardot to the simple cooler-and-chair kiosks at the wilder outer beaches. Praia de João Fernandes and Praia de Geribá have the most developed infrastructure. Cold caipirinhas, fresh grilled fish, and an unhurried afternoon are what this is about.
Wellness & Spa
Several boutique hotels along Rua Humaitá and the Orla Bardot offer spa treatments open to non-guests. Services range from traditional Brazilian massages and hot-stone treatments to facial therapies and yoga sessions with ocean views. A dedicated wellness afternoon between beach days is one of the most popular mid-stay additions.
Shopping in Búzios
Rua das Pedras is the shopping heart of Búzios — a cobblestone pedestrian street lined with upscale Brazilian fashion boutiques, local jewellers, craft stores, and art galleries. The street is most atmospheric at night, when the boutiques light up and the crowd fills the outdoor restaurants between shops. Side streets hold the best hidden finds — artisan studios and independent designers not on the main strip.
Sunset Cruise
Evening boat trips timed to the Búzios sunset depart from the Porto da Barra dock and cruise the west-facing coastline as the sky turns orange and gold. Many boats serve drinks on board. The light on the peninsula from the water at 5–7 PM is unlike anything seen from land — the fishing villages, the white chapels, and the hillside houses glow.