This past September, I visited Brazil for the first time! Though I had been independently studying Portuguese for several years, I took the Intensive Business Portuguese course at the University of Chicago last spring. The classroom experience inspired me to finally immerse myself in a native Portuguese-speaking environment and put my skills to the test. With some of my professor’s recommendations and independent research, I was able to make the most of my trip. I wanted to share my travel experiences to help current and future Portuguese learners understand what to expect when visiting Brazil!
Over more than two weeks, I had the pleasure of exploring São Paulo, Foz do Iguaçu, and Rio de Janeiro—three world-renowned destinations that exemplify the beauty of Brazil.
São Paulo
São Paulo was my introduction to Brazil, and I chose to stay in the charming Paraíso neighborhood due to its proximity to the vibrant Avenida Paulista. For context, this avenue is an economic and cultural center in Brazil. One of its most prominent attractions is the Museu de Arte de São Paulo (MASP), which is known for its unique layout and collections of European and Brazilian art. I was also thoroughly impressed by the building’s architecture, which was described to me as “suspended.” There was also a fantastic restaurant on the basement floor called A Baianeira, which served an artistic take on traditional Brazilian foods.


Though I enjoyed MASP, I truly loved visiting the oldest museum in the city, Museu do Ipiranga, since it exposed me to Brazilian history that is not traditionally covered in the United States. The museum was recently reopened after renovations at the end of 2022 to commemorate two hundred years of Brazilian independence.
On Sunday, Avenida Paulista was closed to traffic and was instead full of street vendors, athletes, and musicians. Various side streets also had markets with fresh foods and other goods. Walking down the avenue and chatting with friendly Paulistas (São Paulo city natives) was one of the highlights of my trip. As this was the first leg of my trip, I was a tad nervous about getting around town. However, using the subway to get around the city was a breeze and inexpensive! Overall, the urban and artsy São Paulo was an excellent place to start my Brazil trip before moving on to pristine, natural landscapes.
Foz do Iguaçu
Foz do Iguaçu is a city in Paraná, Brazil, known primarily for being a gateway to the Iguazu Falls (as Cataratas do Iguaçu in Portuguese), some of the largest waterfalls in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The falls lie on the border between Argentina and Brazil, with each country’s side offering unique views. The Brazilian side of the falls was akin to a theme park; I could get very close to the falls (I recommend a raincoat or poncho). There was significant infrastructure to accommodate persons with disabilities and large groups. The incredible Parque das Aves (Bird Park), which serves as a sanctuary for birds native to the Mata Atlântica (Atlantic Rainforest), was also nearby. There were many Brazilian youths on field trips and foreign tourists enjoying the unique wildlife. I believe a trip to Foz do Iguaçu is not complete without a visit to the bird park!

I also enjoyed visiting the Argentine side of the falls, which was certainly an adventure. I crossed the border by bus, but most visitors arranged taxi services to the falls ahead of time for a similar cost. This was a great experience for me, as my Spanish skills unexpectedly came in handy as I navigated ticket purchases and bus schedules. I thought the Argentine side of the falls offered more panoramic views and longer hiking trails.
While I visited Foz do Iguaçu primarily to see the falls, I found the city itself to be very quaint. I felt very safe walking around at night, and the peaceful Templo Budista Chen Tien was well worth visiting. The local restaurants and workers were very hospitable, often offering services in English and Spanish for non-Portuguese speakers. Overall, this was the most relaxing leg of my trip, and I grew significantly more comfortable initiating conversations in Portuguese.


Rio de Janeiro
The final stop of my trip, Rio de Janeiro, is probably the most naturally beautiful city I have visited. In particular, I enjoyed the train to the famous Christ the Redeemer statue overlooking the city. I had the pleasure of hiking up the Morro da Urca before taking a cable car to the top of Pão de Açucar (Sugarloaf Mountain). I believe this was the best view of the city (see the photo below)!

In terms of neighborhoods, I was also a big fan of the upscale Leblon area with fantastic shopping malls and restaurants. I stayed in Ipanema, which was especially convenient for visiting the city’s famous beaches (including Leblon and Copacabana). On Sunday, there was an extensive market in the nearby General Osório Square with many handmade goods and regional Brazilian foods for sale. Another fun neighborhood called Botafogo had a vibe reminiscent of a ‘classic Rio’ that many travelers have in mind. Soccer fans will be happy to know that I could not go a block without seeing at least one fan of Botafogo’s local club!
Rio de Janeiro had incredible infrastructure for foreign tourists, with a robust subway system and many English and Spanish speakers relative to other Brazilian cities. Of course, I recommend carefully planning excursions to famous sites like Escadaria Selarón and the Botanical Garden of Rio de Janeiro to avoid traffic! This was the perfect city to conclude my trip to Brazil, and a final walk along the beach sparked my interest to return one day!

Thoughts on Brazilian food
Though I had read about Brazil’s diverse cuisine beforehand, I was still impressed at just how tasty Brazilian food was! I made it a point to eat mostly Brazilian dishes during my travels; I loved the Mineiro cuisine (from the state of Minas Gerais) and enjoyed food originally from the coastal state of Bahia. São Paulo easily had the best food in my experience due to its cosmopolitan nature. My favorite meal in the city was moqueca, a well-seasoned seafood stew, at a restaurant called Tordesilhas (see below). In addition, Brazilian salgadinhos, salty snacks, like the delicious, deep-fried pastel (preferably with chicken and a Brazilian soft cheese called catupiry), were especially satisfying. Discovering fruits like jaboticaba, pequi, and acerola that do not exist in the United States was a pleasant surprise!


Closing thoughts
Brazil is a massive country with far too much to do to cover in a single trip! I will certainly have to return to Brazil because I have only seen a few highlights. Based on my conversations with Brazilians, it seems that I could spend many fun days in a state like Minas Gerais, which is less frequented by foreigners.
In my experience, Brazilians were very encouraging when I spoke Portuguese. At the beginning of my trip, I would feel very nervous about my accent and the gaps in my vocabulary. Nonetheless, the Brazilians I spoke to were almost universally patient and helpful. After roughly a week, I was speaking Portuguese with much more confidence. I continue to make errors in my speech, but I am improving day after day—mistakes are an integral part of the learning process! During my trip, Uber drivers and strangers in lines would ask me how I learned to speak Portuguese. I would simply say that I had excellent preparation during my Intensive Business Portuguese course! I am excited to continue working on my Portuguese for future travel and professional opportunities.

Deven Rana
Deven Rana, a recent MBA graduate from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, completed the Portuguese for the Professions: Intensive Business Portuguese course in Spring 2024. He took the course to refine the language skills he developed while working in the consulting and banking industries.