Tranquil and rural, the Buzios Peninsula is 6 mls long and between ½ and 2 mls wide. Although it appears largely undeveloped, the roads are paved and the buildings are predominantly low rise. Brigitte Bardot - who first visited in the 1960s - has become closely associated with the town and, as a result of her patronage, the 2 main streets in this simple fishing village are lined with boutiques, galleries and craft shops, giving it an obvious - if unlikely - air of Bohemian chic. The peninsula's permanent population of just 20,000 (a third of whom are visitors who never left) swells to around 150,000 in summer. Rugged, grass-covered Rasa Island measures a mere 500 by 800 yds; shaped like a bow tie, it is occupied by a single hotel complex and its grounds.

Popular with Brazilians, Chileans, Italians and Argentinians, with a trickle of other international tourists. Honeymooners, some families and those seeking a bit more isolation may be attracted to the island of Rasa, whose 1 hotel is also a popular conference venue. Not particularly for those seeking any kind of luxury, personalised service, superb beaches or for parents with young children.

The peninsula of Buzios has more than 250 hotels, including several small guesthouses known as "pousadas". Rasa has 1 hotel complex that covers the whole island.

Generally the beaches on the N side of the peninsula are less prone to the area's high winds and waves than the S ones, which are good for surfing. Praia de Geriba is the most popular. The island of Rasa has 2 tiny, rugged beaches of coarse golden sand with rocky sections; the hotel runs a boat service to long Praia Rasa on the mainland opposite, 800 yds away.

Buzios town has more than its fair share of craft shops, elegant boutiques and bikini shops as well as 3 small shopping centres and a nightly craft fair. Attractive, though fragile, soapstone chess sets and ornaments are everywhere.

Daytime: limited, apart from beach activities and sports (archery, tennis, canoeing, football, windsurfing) offered by the hotel on Rasa Island. Nightlife: Buzios town has lively bars, live music and small discos every night of the week. Large hotels provide their own nightly entertainment in high season such as music, discos and shows.

Buzios town has international cuisine (including Mexican and Peruvian), lots of pizzerias, seafood and some sophisticated eateries.

A bus connects Buzios town with other parts of the peninsula. Rasa can be reached from the tiny marina where the hotel provides a regular shuttle boat service; there are also taxi boats.

Half day: shopping and exploring in Buzios; catamarans; Cabo Frio. Full day: boat trips to nearby islands and other beaches; walrus, whale and dolphin spotting (seasonal); Rio de Janeiro.

In SE Brazil, in the coastal state of Minas Gerais. 108 mls E of Rio de Janeiro and its international airport.

A flat, frond-shaped peninsula covered in trees, shelving steeply around the edges down to several beaches scooped out of the rocky shoreline. A handful of small islands surround the peninsula including Rasa Island, about 600 yds to the NW.

Telephone Area Code: 24
Website: www.buziosturismo.com

Airport : International Airport
Airport Code: GIG
Flight time from ther U.K.: 10 hrs. 30 mins