Búzios

Búzios needs 2 days: its 20-plus crystal-clear beaches and the Rua das Pedras (a pedestrian street with boutiques and restaurants) share the time. December-March is peak beach season, with the sea at its best. It's expensive compared to other Brazilian beaches, reflecting its international fame since Brigitte Bardot visited in the 1960s. It was a fishing village until that visit put it on the world map, and today it's one of Brazil's most glamorous and exclusive beach destinations, with a statue of the actress on its main promenade.