First colonised by surfers in the 1970s, drawn to the breaks at Praia do Amor, Pipa's impressive array of beaches, backed by striking cliffs, form a conservation zone with a large dolphin population. Surfers still come, as do wind- and kitesurfers and, at Cacimbinhas beach, sandsurfers. While the nightlife has been rated by a local magazine as "the hottest outside Recife", Pipa has not become an overdeveloped Jericoacoara.
• Pousada Ecovila Spa do Alma (spadaalma.tur.br, doubles from $110 B&B) has 18 cosy wooden cabins in a forest setting with fine views Photograph: Alamy
It may seem counterintuitive to seek out a beach 700km up the Amazon, but Alter do Chão is worth the cruise. An hour's taxi from the riverside city of Santarém and enclosed by rainforest, it's a sandbank ringed by a blindingly white beach, where alfresco restaurants serve grilled tambaqui fish and ice-cold beers … see next image for where to stay Photograph: Douglas Engle/Corbis
The best time to come is during the dry season (June to December) when the river recedes and the island gets bigger.
• The 24 rooms at the Beloalter Hotel (beloalter.com.br, doubles from £56 B&B) are basic but the wooded setting and wildlife are big pluses Photograph: Wolfgang Kaehler/Corbis
With its lush coastal rainforest, sculptured rock formations and idyllic beach, Trindade has a classic Costa Verde setting. Active travellers can dive, hike, bike, kayak, surf, or go horseriding or climbing … see next image for where to stay Photograph: Alamy
After dark, Paraty town, pictured, (25km away) is a moodily lit colonial beauty full of romantic restaurants; the annual Flip literature festival comes to Paraty every July (except World Cup years, when it falls in August).
• Stay in Paraty and take trips out to the beach. The Pousada Arte Urquijo (urquijo.com.br, doubles from £101 B&B) is cosy, with six themed rooms in a restored 18th-century sobrado (traditional two-storey house) Photograph: Bertrand Rieger/Corbis
Praia do Sancho is accessed via a cleft in the rocks by means of a rope ladder and is arguably the prettiest of the many castaway beaches on the archipelago's main island; if you snorkel out, you may see spinner dolphins, rays and even sharks and turtles. It's only a quick climb and a short walk or bike ride to the main centre at Vila dos Remédios – or indeed to just about anywhere on the island … see next image for where to stay Photograph: Alamy
Located in Elizabeth Gardens, which date from the 17th century, the Pousada do Vale (pousadadovale.com, doubles from R$792, around £241) has 11 colourfully decorated suites and a spacious duplex apartment
Visitors to Fernando de Noronha must pay an Environment Tax calculated on length of stay. It starts at R$36,69 (about £11) per day and rises steeply after 10 days, to discourage longer stays.Flights from Recife take 1.40 hrs and from Natal 1.10 hrs
Photograph: Pousada do Vale/Flickr
Brazil's south is a land of gauchos, grilled beef and Argentine beach bums – who come en masse in January and February when the sands and seas are warmest. As wealthy Brazilians increasingly opt for "Floripa" over Punta del Este and Rio, some beaches are awash with Armani bags, but inland from lively Praia do Mole (popular with surfers) is the boho town of Lagoa da Conceição, where arty types and intellectuals prefer to dine and drink.
• Quinta das Videiras (quintadasvideiras.com.br, doubles from £166 B&B) is a fresco-filled 19th-century townhouse Photograph: Paulo Fridman/Corbis
Those who prefer their pristine beaches bereft of luxuries will tell you boutique hotel-filled Trancoso is past its best, but this former fishing village has preserved a healthy languor. The town was transformed first by hippies in the 1970s and later by São Paulo's smart set, and there's now fine dining and design shops in the village square – but locals (and tourists) still find time to hang out, practise capoeira and play football there … see next image for where to stay Photograph: Alamy
Espelho, six miles out of town, has squeaky-clean sand and shallow, calm waters.
• Villas de Trancoso, pictured, (villasdetrancoso.com, doubles from around £250 B&B) has jungle-style wood-framed bungalows, all with verandas, hammocks and rainforest showers Photograph: PR
Búzios is all about coves and this beach, popular with couples and families, is the right size to allow both privacy and space and has a gentle surf suitable for swimming and snorkelling. Anchovy fisherman still land catches off the rocks but it's only a short stroll along the cobblestone coast road to Armação, where Cariocas (Rio natives) drink caipirinhas in chic bars, dine in French restaurants and browse this year's bikinis.
• Luxuriant gardens surround small, brightly decorated bungalows at the Hibsicus Beach resort (hibiscusbeach.com, doubles from £80 B&B) Photograph: Alamy
Weekenders from the city of São Paulo know where to unwind. With its wide beaches, fine sands, and calm green waters, Juqueí is a great detox and destress space, but it's only a short drive to Maresias and Camburi beaches, where Paulistas crawl the faux-rustic bars before all-night clubbing.
• The rooms at the Juquehy Praia, pictured, (juquehypraiahotel.com.br, doubles from £146 B&B) are your classic Brazilian mid-market combination of quietly stylish with a hint of no idea, but the hotel has a stunning pool and terrace Photograph: PR
Many Brazil-bound travellers fly from London to Rio or São Paulo and then waste four or five hours changing to a local flight, or even lose a day or more on a long-distance bus journey. TAP Portugal (flytap.com) flies from London via Lisbon into Fortaleza, Natal and Salvador and Brazilian airline TAM (tam.com.br) flies via Paris to Recife and Salvador. These services may be faster and better value than entering via the busy hubs if you are visiting the beaches of northern Brazil. See Opodo (opodo.co.uk) for prices, and visitbrasil.com and the website of the Latin American Travel association (lata.org) for a list of specialist tour operators. Photograph: Alamy
