My First Solo Trip to Brazil — Aki Was My Guide

Canadian traveler Sophie recounts how Aki helped her navigate Rio's beach food scene safely and confidently as a first-time visitor.

2025-09-22 — Sophie Tremblay

I'm from Vancouver. I'd never been to Brazil. I barely spoke Portuguese. And I was traveling alone for two weeks across Rio and São Paulo. The beach food scene looked amazing from Instagram but I had no idea how to navigate it as a foreigner.

First Day on Copacabana

A fellow traveler at my hostel told me to download Aki before heading to the beach. She said it had English descriptions for most vendors and you could pay by card through the app, which meant not carrying cash.

On my first morning on Copacabana, I found eight vendors within walking distance. I ordered a fresh coconut water, a skewer of grilled shrimp, and a cup of açaí — all from different vendors, all paid through the app, all rated above 4.7 stars.

Safety and Confidence

As a solo female traveler, being able to read reviews, see photos of food before buying, and pay cashlessly made me feel much safer. I knew what I was getting. I didn't have to haggle or worry about being overcharged.

A Memory I'll Never Forget

On my last day, I went back to the same açaí vendor I'd visited every morning. I left her a five-star review and wrote a note in my terrible Portuguese. She hugged me. That's the kind of connection that apps aren't supposed to create — but Aki did.