West: the Costa Verde

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The mountainous littoral and calm green waters of the aptly named Costa Verde (“Green Coast”) are a stark contrast to the sand and surf east of Rio. One of Brazil’s truly beautiful landscapes, the Costa Verde has become far more accessible thanks to the Rio-Santos BR-101 Highway. But that access has also brought commercial creep into the region.

The fate of this 280-kilometer stretch of lush vegetation, rolling hills, and tropical beaches now hangs in the balance between rational development and ecological damage. Ecologists warn that fish stocks in the Bay of Sepetiba, covering nearly half the Costa Verde, face constant threat from pollution. It’s a region that still features in many trips to Brazil, but go aware: paradise comes with a caveat.

Trip ideas for Brazil

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