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Voykit pocket guide · Brazil
Araruama
Spend 1–2 days in Araruama: beach hopping (Lagoon and Ocean), quick museum visit, stay near Central Beach.
Araruama is a small coastal town in Rio de Janeiro state with both lagoon and ocean beaches, a modest archaeological museum and easy access to nearby resort towns. One full day covers the main beaches; a second day adds a museum or a short trip to Rio das Ostras.
- Country
- Brazil
- Best months
- Apr–Oct
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (hot, humid)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- BRL
- Money
- Currency is the Brazilian real (BRL, R$). About R$5–5.8 per US dollar in 2026 — check. Cards and tap-to-pay are accepted almost everywhere, even at beach kiosks.
- Daily spend
- Budget R$120–180 excl. bed · Mid R$200–300 excl. bed · High R$350–500 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Vivo, Claro and TIM cover the country; buying a prepaid SIM needs a passport and sometimes a CPF — an eSIM before you fly is easier.
- Emergency
- Police 190 · Ambulance 192 · Fire 193
- Plugs
- Types N, C · 127 V (Rio, São Paulo) or 220 V (Brasília, much of the Northeast) · Check the voltage on the socket; most chargers are dual-voltage.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 10% service (serviço) usually on the bill; optional but normal.; Beach kiosk / bar: Often included; round up.; Taxi / Uber: Not expected; round up.; Guide: US$5–15 per person per day.; Hotel staff: Small tip for porters.
- Water
- Do not drink tap water; filtered water is provided in most homes and hotels.
- Toilets
- Put toilet paper in the bin, not the toilet, in most places.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a café | R$5–8 |
| Ice cream | R$8–12 |
| Meal at a beach restaurant | R$30–60 |
| Taxi (5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi (3.1 mi (5 km)) | R$25–35 |
| Bus ticket (local) | R$4–6 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- GIG · Rio de Janeiro–Galeão International Airport
- About 1 h 30 min by car or bus to Araruama
Typical fares
- Bus Rio das Ostras ↔ Araruama
- ≈ R$30 round‑trip, 30 min each way (check)
- Taxi Araruama Station → Central Beach
- R$20–30, 5 min
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Local minibuses (linha 101) connect the town centre with lagoon and ocean beaches; taxis are cheap; most sights are within 10‑15 min walk from Central Beach.
See and do
Known for
- Lagoon beaches (Bananeiras, Barbudo, Lovers, Tire)
- Ocean beaches (Dentinho, Pernambuca, Vargas)
- Araruama Archaeological Museum
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Rio das Ostras | Bus line 101, about 30 min | ≈45 min total |
| Casimiro de Abreu | Bus via Rio das Ostras, about 1 h | ≈1 h 20 min |
Sleep
- Hotel Orla de Araruama
- On Central Beach; walk to most lagoon beaches
- Hotel Ver a Vista
- Hilltop view, 5‑min drive to beach area
- Pousada Praia dos Amores
- Near Lovers Beach; quiet option
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Com licençakohm lee-sah |
| Thank you | Obrigadooh-bree-gah-doo |
| How much is it? | Quanto custa?kwahn-toh koos-tah |
| Where is the beach? | Onde fica a praia?ohn-deh fee-kah ah prah-yah |
| Can I pay by card? | Posso pagar com cartão?poh-soh pah-gar kohm kar-tawn |
| Where is the nearest bus stop? | Onde fica o ponto de ônibus mais próximo?ohn-deh fee-kah oo poon-toh jee oh-nee-boos mah-eez proh-see-moh |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake, hug or cheek kiss (one in São Paulo, two in Rio); avoid: Being stiff with new acquaintances
- Gestures: Use thumbs-up freely; avoid: The OK hand sign (it is rude)
- Language: Try Portuguese; say obrigado/obrigada; avoid: Defaulting to Spanish
- Time: Expect relaxed social punctuality; avoid: Being late for tours and flights
- Beach: Bring only a towel, cash and a copy of your ID; avoid: Leaving things unattended
Scams and watch-outs
- Summer heat can exceed 35 °C; carry water and sunscreen.
- Some lagoon beaches have strong currents at high tide; check local signs.
Araruama is generally safe for tourists; petty theft can occur on crowded beaches, so keep valuables hidden.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Araruama yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Lagoon beaches (Bananeiras, Barbudo, Lovers, Tire)
- Ocean beaches (Dentinho, Pernambuca, Vargas)
- Araruama Archaeological Museum
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Araruama, revision 3498627 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=3498627
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/araruama). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.