Take a break from the Cabo Frio beach scene and visit Casa-Atelie Carlos Scliar Museum, a celebration of Scliar, a gaucho painter who lived in the house-museum for 40 years before his death in 2001. Scliar was renowned as a painter, printmaker, illustrator, set designer, graphic designer and humanist.
Learn about Scliar’s life and work as you move through the museum. In addition, view letters he exchanged with Oscar Niemeyer, Jorge Amado, Vinicius de Moraes and Clarice Lispector. There are also several works by friends of Scliar, including pieces by Aldo Bonadei, Emaliano Di Cavalcanti and Cildo Meireles.
When it’s time for sand and surf once again, visit nearby Forte Beach for its stunning views of the blue-green Atlantic Ocean. Find calmer water at the northern end of the beach. Look for bigger waves at the southern end, where you can try surfing, kitesurfing and windsurfing. While you’re here, make time for a visit to the beach’s namesake 17th-century São Mateus Fort. Views from the fort are particularly beautiful at sunset.
For a quieter beach atmosphere, visit Dunas Beach. This secluded stretch of soft, white sand sits at the southern end of Cabo Frio and features impressive, constantly shifting sand dunes. Conditions are generally windy here, resulting in prime surfing opportunities. Many of Brazil’s surfing champions hail from Cabo Frio if you’d like to learn more, check out the surf museum and gallery on Rua Anibal Amador do Vale in Citizenship Square.
Wander along the popular Boulevard Canal with its plentiful restaurants, bars and live music performances. Enjoy fresh grilled seafood or Brazilian churrasco barbecue of many types of meat. Go shopping along Bikini Street, with more than 100 swimwear shops, with bikinis of all colors, shapes and sizes.
Find Casa-Atelie Scliar Museum on Rua Marechal Floriano in Cabo Frio. Guided tours are available. The museum is open Tuesday through Friday.
