Curuçá, Brazil

With a population of just 25,776, Curuçá is a sleepy backwater on Brazil's northern coast. The city was only founded in 1775 and didn't even become a municipality until 1895, so don't expect much in the way of modern infrastructure or amenities. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, with the municipality's borders frequently redrawn over the decades. The saving grace is the 37,062-hectare Mãe Grande de Curuçá Extractive Reserve, which protects the local estuary. But overall, Curuçá is a place for those seeking a slow-paced, low-frills lifestyle far from the madding crowd.