the city of maricá is only minutes away from rio de janeiro, yet it is virtually unknown by foreign visitors who come to rio on vacation - this small and quiet fishing community is located to the northeast of rio.

still part of the região metropolitana, this is the last municipality before the area known as the região dos lagos (lakes region), and is characterized by beautiful, almost deserted beaches for most of the year.

long stretches of white sand, strong waves, dirt roads, and a very basic infrastructure along the beaches make of this town an easy way to experience a simpler and disappearing brazil - in 1584, jesuit father josé de anchieta is recorded to be the first religious figure to arrive in maricá.