Brazil 🇧🇷 Fitlife

Month in Brazil traveling through São Paulo, São Luis, Brasilia, Bahia, and Rio De Janeiro - vamos!

SP

This was fairly easy. smartfit is the main chain with locations across the country. Just search on google maps and the closest one should appear. The one I went to was a 5 min run from my hostel. 25 Reals ($5 USD at the time of writing) for a day pass. There's a self service machine with English option and staff will help out, even if there's a language barrier - no brainer overall.

4.5/5 - easy, accessible, what you expect from any name brand chain gym. .5 lower because 5$ a day can still add up fast. Would recommend getting a month pass if possible, but need to use a CPF from a local

São Luis

Mainly came for Lençois Maranhenses but ended up squeezing in like 3 gym sessions at 2 different gyms 🙃. Sao Luis is hot and humid so expect all gym sessions to be extra sweaty 🥵

Gorilla Fit

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ie5zxbm5ZAxCCPFt7?g_st=ic

Pretty simple "garage" gym feel. Had all that I needed though and most importantly, day pass price was clutch: 10 R$ ($2 USD at the time of writing). Cash only. As mentioned above, hot and humid!

4/5 - mainly because bang for buck here is just too good

CF4 Academia

https://maps.app.goo.gl/4tPAqBdDNqkteisb8?g_st=ic

Slightly more expensive at 20 R$ ($4 USD at time of writing), but the difference in quality is noticeable. More and newer equipment, bigger space (2 floors), and they even have an AC for the especially hot times (apparently wasn't hot enough when I was there 😒). Anyways definitely had a more comfortable/"premium" experience here.

4/5 - price is still pretty good and worth it if you wanna treat yourself. But ofc still not fully "premium"

Brasilia

For Brasilia I went to the SmartFit closest to my hostel:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/FpD7yfUVxcwqc2Uu6?g_st=ic

Really great smart fit overall, and one of the days, they were kind enough to let me go in for free! So 5/5!

Alto Paraíso de Goiás (main city for Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park)

Actually surprised I managed to find such a great gym here considering how small the city is

https://maps.app.goo.gl/NccRDRrxzqZhE1xeA?g_st=ic

Well equipped, machines in good condition, and well ventilated. The day pass was the steepest at 30R$ (6$usd at time of writing), but the week pass made up for it at 50R$ (10$usd at time of writing). Hours were good except not open on weekends. Only one squat bar but was not really an issue for me. Besides that, no complaints.

Stellar gym for a city that serves as a gateway for a national park! 4/5

Lençois, Bahia

A very cute town that serves as the gateway for Chapada Diamantina!

Tibas Team

https://maps.app.goo.gl/gfS5nECeVDniHmit7?g_st=ic

Ok so first of all the location on google maps is wrong, you have to ask locals for directions. Upon finding it you will realize this gym is TINY! Definitely a local favorite it was 35R$ (cash) for a week pass (7$ USD at the time of writing). Good thing the price is low because the gym itself is so small and limited equipment. Definitely a garage gym feel but like smaller! However by the end of the week I really started to appreciate how they efficiently used the space and it's clear that this is a community stronghold. Overall had some alright workouts. And really appreciate they open at 6am on weekdays so I could sneak in a session before hiking!

The price really made it an acceptable expenditure: 3/5

Salvador, Bahia

Selfit

https://maps.app.goo.gl/vmen3tErbLyWZsga8?g_st=ic

Alright this gym is probably my favorite independent one so far. It has a good amount of quality equipment , great AC, and their entire system is clearly more developed. They actually asked for my ID and could pay with card! Also love that they are open on sunday which is so rare in Brazil! Only drawback, the day pass price, at 30R$ (6$ USD at the time of writing). A little steep tbh but since I was only in Salvador for a few days it was a "luxury" I was okay with.

Recommend, especially short short term: 4.5/5

Paraty, Rio De Janeiro

stopped by for a short 2 day trip to see the only fjord of Brazil - yes a tropical fjord

https://maps.app.goo.gl/uGwBg5RbRfdv2L6m9?g_st=ic

25R$ for a gym pass so not exactly cheap especially for the quality, but at least it got the job done. Had almost all of the equipment I'd want, even if it had a "garage" gym feel.

Overall 3.5/5