(MENAFN- The Rio Times) Eight Brazilian destinations are quietly climbing the charts and could define 2026 travel. This isn't a celebrity-influenced list; it's drawn from where bookings actually grew fastest among the most-reserved places in Brazil during January–August 2025.

Read it as a market signal: travelers want nature, short hops, and real local character-without the chaos of mass tourism. On São Paulo's north shore, Juquehy offers a long, walkable beach with calmer water for families and a right-hand corner for surfers.

In Rio de Janeiro state, Búzios keeps its compact, pedestrian core-Orla Bardot and Rua das Pedras-within minutes of more than 20 beaches.

Farther northeast, Cajueiro da Praia (Piauí) rides a nature-first model around Barra Grande: quiet sands, boat outings, and a manatee conservation base.

In the Mantiqueira foothills, Espírito Santo do Pinhal mixes coffee estates, emerging vineyards, and 19th-century architecture into a tidy weekend circuit.



For eco-tourism, Serra da Canastra (Minas Gerais) is where waterfalls, canyon views, and the historic headwaters of the São Francisco River meet a proud cheese-making tradition.
Brazil's tourism expands beyond iconic hotspots
In Rio Grande do Sul, Encantado's Cristo Protetor-taller than Rio's famous Christ-anchors a lakes-and-trails escape, while nearby São Gabriel leans into gaucho heritage and a World War II museum.

On Ceará's coast, Morro Branco's multicolored cliffs form a natural“labyrinth,” and artisans bottle the area's colored sands.

The story behind the story: Brazil's travel demand is broadening. As the country moves from post-pandemic rebound to expansion, momentum shifts from a few global icons toward medium-scale places reachable by car from major cities.

That rewards communities that keep rules predictable, maintain trails and beach access, support small businesses, and focus on safety.

When local authorities do the basics well-permits that come on time, lighting that works, policing that is visible-entrepreneurs invest, jobs grow, and visitors return. Heavy, top-down schemes that add costs without improving services tend to push travelers elsewhere.

For expats and foreign readers, this matters for both planning and perspective. Expect tighter high-season availability and firmer pricing at boutique lodgings; book earlier and consider guided nature experiences that now sell out.

More importantly, these rising destinations show a Brazil where private initiative and straightforward governance can lift entire towns-delivering growth while preserving the character people come to see.

MENAFN11112025007421016031ID1110326247