The Amazon Rainforest. Copacabana beach. Carnaval. These iconic Brazilian locations and events are world-renown by travelers, but are they also the most favored attractions by photographers visiting Brazil?
With so many travelers from around the world congregating in Brazil for the Rio Olympics 2016 this summer, we decided to explore which Brazilian destinations are mentioned most on Instagram, the social network with over 400 million monthly users that share 80M+ photos daily.
It reads like a perfect wish list of how beautiful a country can be. From breathtaking beaches to landmark monuments, we invite you to explore the beauty of Brazil with us!
To create this list, we took the top ranked locations per state on TripAdvisor and used data mining tools to analyze how often these places were shared on Instagram. For more top attractions from around the world, check out our top locations rankings in the US & Canada, France and Spain. These studies were reported by Business Insider, Conde Nast Traveler, The Daily Mail, Time Magazine and even GQ.
Discover the most popular locations by state in Brazil on Instagram:
Brazil is huge, occupying almost half of the continent of South America. Crisscrossed by the Amazonian river in the north, and bordered by the the Atlantic Ocean in the east, the country offers many beautiful sights and attractions that can be only a bus ride away. Which exotic locale should you explore next?
São Paulo – Arena Corinthians
Finished just in time for the 2014 World Cup, the Corinthians arena hosted FIFA matches including the last World Cup semi-finals between Argentina and the Netherlands, and is home to the Sport Club Corinthians Paulista.
The Allianz Parque, home of Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras, and Ibirapuera Park, the Central Park of of the city of São Paulo, ranked second and third respectively in our research.
Rio de Janeiro – Copacabana
Unsurprisingly, Copacabana beach is the most photographed destination in Rio, and also in the whole country. With a famous 4km long beach, Copacabana welcomes millions of travelers each year who body surf, paddle board, canoe, swim, bike ride and party. Not only popular with tourists, it’s hugely popular with locals.
Also worth mentioning— Corcovado and Cristo Redentor.
Located in the Tijuca Forest, the Corcovado peak beat out nearby Sugarloaf Mountain as the second most popular place to take photos in Rio, and is also the second most popular location in the entire country. Giving an epic view of the city below and the ocean, the mountain draws over 300,000 visitors a year to view a huge 38m tall statue of Jesus named Cristo Redentor.
Rounding out the top 5 were the Arpoador, Sugarloaf Mountain and the Jardim Botanico.
Bahia – Praia do Forte
Located 82km north of Salvador, Praia do Forte is a coastal village and beach that features natural pools, sidewalk mosaics, beach side pousadas and is one of the homes of the Tamar Projeto, an initiative to protect sea turtles in Brazil funded by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation.
Other top Instagrammed locations in Bahia include the Parque Nacional da Chapada Diamantina and the Pelourinho, historic center of the city of Salvador.
Distrito Federal – Lago Paranoa
The Paranoá River was dammed in 1894 to create the artificial Lake Paranoá to increase the humidity of the region. With embassies and consulates lining its shores, along with the University of Brasília and the Palácio da Alvorada, there’s no shortage of lake views in the country’s capital.
Congresso Nacional and Pontao do Lago Sul are also very popular in Brasilia, the first as the center of government and the second as the capital’s entertainment district.
Minas Gerais – Inhotim
The Centro de Arte Contemporânea Inhotim is Brazil’s Contemporary Art Wonderland. Starting out as Bernardo Paz’s private property and personal art collection, the estate has drawn over 2 million visitors since opening to the public in 2006 and contains works from many of the best contemporary artists on the planet.
More photogenic destinations include Praça da Liberdade and Palacio Das Artes in Belo Horizonte as well as the Serra Da Canastra National Park and Mantiqueira Mountains.
Ceará – Canoa Quebrada
Although the city of Fortaleza attracts the most visitors in the state of Ceara, the small resort village of Canoa Quebrada has been growing in popularity with its beautiful beach among dunes and cliffs, and is the setting of many Instagram photos.
Closer to Fortaleza, you can visit Praia do Futuro, known for its barracas with beachside service, and Morro Branco, known as the Grand Canyon of Brazil with red, yellow and pink sand formations
And finally, in the city of Fortaleza itself, the Arena Castelao, home of the Ceará Sporting Club and Fortaleza Esporte Clube.
Amazonas – Amazonas
The Amazon Rainforest as a whole is highly popular on instagram with over half a million photos with the hashtag #amazonas, From the Ponta Negra beach to the Rio Negro river, there’s endless opportunities for nature phography.
And although travelers may not have planned to go shop in the Amazon, people invariably end up at Manauara, one of the biggest shopping mall in the city of Manaus and the state. Instagram is filled with shoppers enjoying a good time as well as merchants promoting their product offering.
Paraná – Iguazu Falls
The Iguazu River splits Brazil from Argentina, with the massive Iguazu Falls descending over the Paraná Plateau. Technically, most of the falls are on the Argentinian side of the river.
Other popular locations in Paraná include the Itaipu Hydroelectric Dam located downstream from the Iguazu Falls, and the Oscar Niemeyer Museum, a tribute to Brazil’s most famous architect located in Curitiba.
Pernambuco – Porto de Galinhas
Located south of Recife, Porto de Galinhas beach is a major Brazilian attractions for its natural tidal pools where feeding fish swing all around you.
The archipelago of Fernando de Noronha and the Recife neighborhood of Boa Viagem and Boa Viagem beach round up the top 3.
Santa Catarina – Beto Carrero World
Featuring partnerships with DreamWorks Animation and Universal Studios, Beto Carrero World is a huge theme park located in Penha with attractions grouped into nine distinct themes like Terra da Fantasia (Fantasy Land), Aventura Radical (Extreme Adventure) and Ilha dos Piratas (Pirates’ Island).
Popular photo spots in the capital of Florianópolis include Jurere Internacional, a popular tourist resort on the north shore, and Santo Antonio de Lisboa, on the west shore.
Rio Grande Do Sul – Estadio Beira-Rio
Estádio José Pinheiro Borda, commonly known as Estádio Beira-Rio, is the home of Sport Club Internacional in Porto Alegre. Originally launched in 1969, the stadium underwent major renovations in order to host matches during the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and in doing so, marked Internacional in history as the only Brazilian club to host two World Cups.
Two other popular sites for Instagrammers in Gramado include Snowland, a simulated indoor snow mountain where you can skate, ski or snowboard, and Lago Negro, an artificial lake close to the city center.
Mato Grosso – Chapada dos Guimaraes
Chapada dos Guimaraes National Park is a tropical haven, covering an area of 32,630 hectares in the state of Mato Grosso. If you get lucky, you can catch a glimpse of a howler monkey, a giant anteater or a giant armadillo, or even an emu or pampas deer.
Other popular places in Mato Grosso are the Arena Pantanal in Verdão, and the Varzea Grande.
Mato Grosso do Sul – Rio da Prata
A favorite for snorkelers, Rio da Prata near Bonito is a clear water river that welcomes snorkelers eager for a glimpse of the massive pacú and dourado fish and maybe even a caiman.
Other major attractions in Mato Grosso do Sul include Boco da Onca Falls and Rio Sucuri.
Goias – Chapado dos Veadeiros
The Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park is listed as a World Heritage Site by Unesco, and features countless waterfalls as well as spectacular animals like the Jaguar, and Toucan (tucano de bico verde) and King Vulture (urubu rei).
Close to Cahapada dos Veadeiros, you can also visit Vale da Lua, a unique rock formation sculpted by water over millions of years. In the capital city of Goiania, Instagrammers flock to Parque Flamboyant, an urban park that features two lakes near Serra Dourada stadium.
Sergipe – Saco Beach
Located near Aracaju, Praia do Saco is a 5km long bay lined with coconut trees and sand dunes.
Other popular destinations in Sergipe can be found in the capital of Aracaju like Orlal de Atalaia, a boardwalk lined with fountains and restaurants, as well as Croa do Gore, a peculiar sandbank that’s only visible in the river for five hours a day.
Alagoas – Praia de Ponta Verde
Praia de Ponta Verde is a popular urban beach in the upscale Ponta Verde neighborhood in Maceio, featuring a large stretch of golden sand and calm waters.
Alagoas is well known for its beaches, so it’s no surprise that other most instagrammed locations include beaches like Praia de Sao Miguel dos Milagres and Praia de Japaratinga.
Rio Grande Do Norte – Ponta Negra
Ponta negra is a popular urban beach in Natal lined with barracas where you can enjoy food and drinks all day and all night long.
Beaches! Beaches! Beaches! Other top sights in Rio Grande do Norte are Praia da Pipa and Praia do Amor dos Afogadas.
Piaui – Coqueiro Beach
A 20min drive from Parnaiba, Coqueiro beach as clean sand and clear water.
Other sites popular for photography in Piaui include the Delta Rio Parnaiba and UNESCO World Heritage site Serra da Capivara National Park.
Pará – Estacao das Docas
On the edge of the Guajará bay, the “Dock Stations” feature three huge warehouses called “Boulevard of the Arts, Boulevard of Fairs and Exhibitions, and Boulevard of Gastronomy that unite people together around food, culture, fashion and events in the city of Belém.
Also of note in the state of Pará is the popularity of Cirio de Nazare, a religious procession that gathers millions of people in celebrating Mary, the Virgin of Nazareth, and the Basilica in her name, Basilica de Nossa Senhora de Nazare. Both are prominently shared on Instagram.
Maranhão – Lençóis Maranhenses National Park
Lençóis Maranhenses’s magical landscapes are due to the underlying rock which allows fresh water to collect in the valleys between sand dunes.
Rounding up the top 3 are the Catedral Da Se and São Luís Shopping.
Paraiba – Parque do Povo
The People’s Park is an open urban area that hosts events like the O Maior São João do Mundo festival (also known as Festa Junina), an annual event that lights up the city with shows, food and quadrilhas, a form of square dancing. During the World Cup, matches are shown at Parque do Povo and the characteristic pyramid is colored. Fun fact: Parque do Povo holds the record for the largest student capoeira circle in history, with nearly 3000 participating martial artists.
Paraiba’s beaches Praia do Jacare and Praia de Cabo Branco are also both widely shared on Instagram.
Espirito Santo – Convento Nossa Senhora da Penha
This hilltop monastery dedicated to “Our Lady of the Rock” gives a beautiful view on Vila Velha and Vitoria.
Other must-visits in Espirito Santo include the Itaunas beach and dunes and the Pedra Azul state park.
Rondonia – Porto Velho Shopping
A massive 44,000 m² leisure and entertainment complex, the Porto Velho Shopping mall is the center of social activity for many residents of the state of Rondonia. Featuring an amusement park, movie theatre and over 200 stores, there’s something pleasing in the mall for all ages.
Two other top attractions in Rondonia include Vale das Cachoeiras, the Valley of Waterfalls with natural pools, beautiful hikes and aquatic amusements, and Mercado Cultural de Porto Velho, a cultural center for the capital city.
Tocantins – Praia da Graciosa
Another beautiful beach in Brazil, Praia da Graciosa waterfront is a gathering point for the city of Palmas, lined with bars, restaurants and sports courts. It overlooks the 8km long Amizade friendship bridge that connects Palmas to the city of Paraizo and features fireworks for special occasions.
Two more popular sights in Tocantins are Cesamar Park and Cachoeira do Roncador.
Roraima – Mount Roraima
Serving as the triple border point between Venezuala, Guyana and Brazil, Mount Roraima is a majestic sight to behold.
Other popular locations in Roraima include Praça da Bandeira and Praça das Aguas.
Acre – Novo Mercado Velho
The Novo Mercado Velho market in Rio Branco draws lots of tourists to the old town part of the city in front of the river. Stop by to shop or relax!
The palace in Rio Branco and the Balneário do Igarapé Preto are also a draw.
Amapá – Amapá Garden Shopping
The Amapá Garden Shopping is a central meeting place in Macapá. You can go to the movies at the Cinépolis, eat at the food courts and shop to your heart’s content.
See the World
Brazil is a diverse country filled with majestic sights and cultural attractions.
As the results of our study show, the country is both a tropical paradise as well as a mecca for art and culture. With some of the most photogenic beaches and some of the most important contemporary art and architecture in the world, it’s a country worth exploring.
From Foz do Iguaçu to Florianópolis, Salvador to Lençois, or even Rio de Janeiro to São Paulo, there’s no shortage of destinations to visit, and the best way to travel is by bus. Start your journey with Busbud and don’t forget to share your pictures!
Methodology
Using the location type and name of the popular locations on TripAdvisor across each state in Brazil, we looked at which locations produced the most hashtags for Instagram posts and ranked them by state in the country.
Sources
http://www.instagram.com
https://www.instagram.com/press/
http://www.tripadvisor.com
http://blog.instagram.com/post/129662501137/150922-400million
http://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/br
http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/09/travel/gallery/beautiful-brazil/
http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2009/apr/15/beach-brazil-top-10
https://www.tripadvisor.ca/TravelersChoice-Beaches-cTop-g294280
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_cities_in_Brazil
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