Planning a Trip

Visitor Information

The Búzios Tourism Secretariat operates an information kiosk on the downtown Praça Santos Dumont 111 (tel. 0800/24-999 or 022/2623-2099); it's open daily from 9am to 10pm. Two good websites on Búzios are www.buziosonline.com.br and www.buziosturismo.com.

Getting There

By Car -- Búzios is about a 2-hour drive from Rio de Janeiro. Leaving Rio, follow the signs to Niterói to cross the 16km-long (10-mile) Rio-Niterói bridge. Remember to have R$2.90 (US$1.50/£.75) handy to pay the toll. Across the bridge, stay in the left lane and take the Rio Bonito exit. Once close to Rio Bonito, take the Via Lagos to Araruama/Cabo Frio and follow the signs to the RJ-106 and Búzios. Note that the Via Lagos is also a toll road (R$6.40 (US$3.20/£1.70) on weekdays, R$9.80 (US$4.90/£2.65) on weekends).

By Van/Taxi -- Malizia Tours in Búzios (tel. 022/2623-1226 or 022/2623-2622; malizia@mar.com.br) offers transfer to/from Rio by van and taxi. Cost in a 15-person air-conditioned minibus is R$50 (US$25/£14) per person one-way. Pickup can be at your hotel or from the airport.

Bu Bus -- Auto Viação 1001 (tel. 0300/313-1001; www.autoviacao1001.com.br) has departures seven times a day from Rio's main bus station (Novo Rio Rodoviaria, Av. Francisco Bicalho 1, Santo Cristo; tel. 021/3849-5001). Cost of the 3-hour trip is R$20 (US$10/£5.40). In Búzios, buses arrive (and depart) at the Búzios Bus Station (tel. 022/2623-2050) on Estrada da Usina, corner of Rua Manoel de Carvalho, a 10-minute walk from the center of town.

Getting Around

By Water Taxi -- Water taxis are an efficient and fun way to get around, but they run only during daylight hours and only on the protected side of the bay, from João Fernandes to Tartaruga. To catch a water taxi you can hail one from the beach or the pier in town or phone (tel. 022/2620-8018). When being dropped off by water taxi, you can set a time for pickup. From Centro to Azeda beach costs R$5 (US$2.50/£1.35) per person and from Centro to João Fernandes beach R$8 (US$4/£2.15) per person. Taxis carry up to seven people.

By Taxi -- Taxis can be hailed at the ponto in Praça Santos Dumont (tel. 022/2623-2160) or by calling Búzios Rádio Táxi (tel. 022/2623-1911).

By Rental Car -- Rent a Car 24 horas, Estrada de Búzios 815 (tel. 022/2623-1556; rentacar24horas@mar.com.br). Cost starts at R$110 (US$55/£30) per day for a Fiat Palio with air-conditioning. Includes unlimited mileage and insurance.

Fast Facts

Banking -- Banco do Brasil, Rua Manuel de Carvalho 73 (4 blocks from Rua das Pedras). Open Monday through Friday from 11am to 6pm. ATMs are open 24 hours.

Internet Access -- Búzios Cybar, Shopping de Búzios, loja 4, corner of Rua Turibe (tel. 022/2623-2969). Cost is R$8 (US$4/£2.15) per 30 minutes.