Free and low-cost leisure activities in Brazil

- The way to find out about events in general including free and paid ones are through the radio, newspapers (by region or the general papers);
- The most common free leisure activities in Rio de Janeiro is going to the beach;
- I recommend as a free activitivity in RJ, walking on the beach, playing volleyball, football for children, teenagers, adults and for seniors on the beach;
- At the beginning or middle of the week days, the access to paid activities are offered at a lower price such as cinema. Usually, kids entrance are half price of an adult entrance.

Here in Bertioga free and low cost activities include the beach, the Fort, and events in the event tent near the fort.

São Paulo has parks all over the place. On Avenida Paulista there's a free art museum and across the street is MASP Park which has playground equipment, trails, picnic tables, and more. Parque Ibirapueira often has concerts and other types of shows.  SP also has numerous malls that can be free fun/interesting time killers. Some sections of SP also have bike rentals with low hourly rates.

?In Brazil.....no such thing!

The Bosque da Ciência in Manaus, part of INPA, the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da  Amazônia, is a 13 hectare park that brings a bit of the rainforest into Manaus.  It includes exhibits of manatees, giant river otters, and other wildlife.  R$5.00 for adults, free for children under 10 and adults over 60.
Teatro Amazonas, Manaus's beautiful Opera House, offers guided tours in Portuguese and English every day for R$10.00.  The world famous Opera Festival begins performances in May, but Teatro Amazonas has varied programming throughout the year, much of it free, or with tickets in the R$10 - R$20 price range.  Sparkling lights flashing just under the dome, visible from anywhere in the central part of the city, tell you that a show is about to start, or is in progress.
Every year, Manaus's street Carnaval is a lot of fun, and spread out among all the city's neighborhoods.  The Sambadromo show is worth seeing -- unless it rains, which isn't uncommon here.
Ponta Negra beach, on the Rio Negro, is where Manauaras get their beach fix, and lots of beach volleyball.
Aside from those attractions, shopping malls that could be seen in any major Brazilian city, and beautiful public parks, Manaus is famous as the jumping off point for every type of Amazon adventure, of every duration, and in any price range.

Foz do Iguacu! "Giant anteaters, howler monkeys, ocelots, endangered jaguars and clouds of butterflies are among the attractions at this World Heritage-designated park that marks the border between Brazil and Argentina". (taken from Trip Advisor's site which details many things in Foz)
Having over 270 falls in one location within the rain forest is a beauty in itself. It is inexpensive to see and one of the "must see" in Brazil. Foz do Iguacu is the second largest visited cities in Brazil. We set a new record of 1.8 million visitors through Nov 2018.
Just outside of the Falls is a large Bird wild life park which allows you to walk through and see so many tropical birds, reptiles, animals and butterfly's. ( buy a small bag or feed and you may be visited by a toucan or parrot on your arm, but watch out for the coati they will steal any food)
The Falls is the main attraction and is separated along the Brazil and Argentina borders. The Argentina side of the National Park is visited also. It has more access to many of the falls. Many go to both sides since it is adjoining Brazil. Inside the Park is one very nice hotel, Belmond. Not cheap but sits next to the falls and guests has one hour to explore before the public opening and in the evening sit out on one of the patios and enjoy a beverage and sounds of nature and the falls,
Additionally Foz do Iguacu (Foz) is home to the 2nd largest hydrogenation plants (Itaipu) in the world. (Was the largest until China built a larger one).  The Hydrogenation's plant offers tours of the facility which is very interesting, (Multi language guides are available to explain the plant). One unique thing is the plant is operated by Brazil and Paraguay. As you go through the tour and the control center you see a painted strip in the control room which indicate the border of Brazil and Paraguay. You also will go on top of the dam and view one of the largest lakes (Itaipu) then proceed to the painted stripe cross briefly into Paraguay (no visa or passport checks) down to the spillway ( which can be very active during rainy season) and to the bottom of the dam!
If not into seeing the plant well there is the nature preserve and overlook of the river and spillway. At night (weather permitting) they have a light show of the dam/spillway and a film of the plant's history.
Foz has a Buddhist Temple, one of the largest Mosque and the Rua Marco das Tres Fronteira which is a landmark of the Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay borders. This are has a small fountain light show at night and new dining options. It is located very close to downtown.
Foz has an international airport and population of around 300,000.
So many other this to do. Nightlife, various dining options a many hotels, resorts and hostels are a few.

São Paulo, the City.

Museums.  MASP and Pinacoteca do Estado hold free admissions once a week. 
Historical Downtown. Most of the cultural venues are in fact in the old downtown. Loads of free stuff out there. 

Paranapiacaba. Authentic Railroad Village built by the British at the turn of the XX century. Good for a day visit. https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paranapiacaba
Watch fog patches appear and disaper in a blink of the eye. 


Cheap Golf.  Practice your strokes at the Bom Retiro's Driving Range. Prince Golf  is what it is called after.   R$ 30,00 will get you enough balls to hack at it.

Garment District. It is amazing how cheap you can get for apparel out here. Gather your walking shoes, and stroll through Rua José Paulino ( Women's Fashion ), Rua São Caetano ( Bridal Shops ), Brás is also an option. 

Lower Mooca is a place for leisure time on a Saturday morning.  Get some italian pastries at Confeitaria Di Cunto at rua Borges Lagoa.

Soccer Matches.  Cheap tickets to watch a professional match at the C. A. Juventus, once a spoiler against bigger ball clubs.  The Stadia is cozy, small, intimate, and you can amuse yourself with the hecklers behind the goal post. You can smell the grass, so close you are to the pitch.  Rabid but not violent fan crowd.  Rua Javari, 117 - Mooca, São Paulo - SP, 03112-100
For the full experience,  you will spend more money , then, I would recommend to see a match at the Palmeiras.  https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allianz_Parque
You can go to the Arena Corinthians or the Morumbi, but these places are to far away, and not necessarily safe. 

For the lovers of fine music.
São Paulo's Symphony
https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sala_S%C3%A3o_Paulo
Newly rehabd building by the train rail station  Julio Prestes.
Get dropped by a taxicab, the surrounding area still a work in progress.

Another good museum to visit
https://www.mis-sp.org.br/

And this one for those who care about religious art
http://www.museuartesacra.org.br/pt/

Every two years we have a bienal, or a big art event in Sâo Paulo, usually  by Ibirapuera.
http://www.bienal.org.br/


Public Gardens
https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parque_Ibirapuerahttps://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parque_da … %A7%C3%A3o

We have a Baseball Ballpark at the Garment District. Cheap tickets.
https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Est%C3%A1 … _Mie_Nishi

Fancy watching monks and gregorian chants?
Mosteiro de São Bento in Downtown
https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosteiro_ … A3o_Bento_(S%C3%A3o_Paulo)

São Paulo's ground zero,
https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C3%A1ti … l%C3%A9gio
Where it all started


Farmer's market. They are a dime a dozen, everywhere. Every neighborhoodl, poor or afflient, has one, once in a week.  Find yours. Indulge in Pastel Frito. 

SESCs.  You do not have to be a member in order to enter their facilities.
My favorites are the Pompeia
https://goo.gl/photos/wQjJxjY61kqRNzas7https://www.sescsp.org.br/unidades/11_P … ta=id%3D11

And Republica
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Xd4VTCp4W8Aa85Ls6
Loads of activities there such as workshops, cultural events, or just a place to pratice some physical activity.
https://www.sescsp.org.br/unidades/36_2 … ta=id%3D36


Shoot breeze at a "Pé sujo" over some beer. That's Happy Hour. The best ones are by Republica and Paulista. At the Republica, by Praça Dom José Gaspar, every Friday evening is Samba Happy Hour.   Also, after dawn, every day, folks gather at the Calçadão da Republica by Rua 7 de Abril, for some shared beers at councourse side cafes. 


Eletronics shopping.  Whether you need batteries for your camera, repair your sell phone, buy a gizmo or a camera, or a sound system, head out to Santa Ifigênia, keep your wallet tight, and amazae yourself the his human melee of people, hawkers, and goods being bought and sold.

Skateboarders and bar hopping.  Go do Praça Roosevelt at the evenings. 


For the gourmands out there, head out to the Mercado Municipal da Cantareira.
Turn of the Century Architecture with a Cornucopia of food items. 
Advice, buy fruits outside of the market right behind the main building or risk getting ripped off. 
https://photos.app.goo.gl/zP8a69q46qbCKTp99
Great places for a quick bite, not the cheapest, but the ambiance is quite second to none.

What you can do for entertainment/relaxation in Brazil depends on where you're at.

For the São Paulo Litoral, there is the Forte São Jose in Bertioga. Many weekend evenings there are also live shows at the "concert tent" next to the fort.

The beaches are free and you can bring your own beer and food. There are also vendors for those that want something extra.

In the areas around Bertioga there are pools you can enjoy. There's a conglomeration of these near an awesome waterfall with fall pool at the end of a trail.  You can bring your own food, but you'll have to keep your own beer in coolers in your car.

Accommodations here this time of year are the problem as they can run up to R$1000 a weekend. 

São Paulo is only a R$20-R$25 bus/van ride from Bertioga for those that want to "day trip São Paulo" (Bertioga to Mercadão Municipal de São Paulo is about R$60 per person round trip including metro/bus.).

sprealestatebroker wrote:

São Paulo, the City.

For the gourmands out there, head out to the Mercado Municipal da Cantareira.
Turn of the Century Architecture with a Cornucopia of food items. 
Advice, buy fruits outside of the market right behind the main building or risk getting ripped off. 
https://photos.app.goo.gl/zP8a69q46qbCKTp99
Great places for a quick bite, not the cheapest, but the ambiance is quite second to none.

Don't forget the famous Hocca Bar/Grill! mortadella to die for!