Mongaguá, Brazil

With a population of just 19,026, Mongaguá is a far cry from the glitz and glamour of Brazil's major metros. The town's quaint grid-like layout and ocean views belie the persistent headache of bureaucracy that plagues daily life. Prior to the construction of housing developments in the 1970s and 1990s, Mongaguá was a sleepy rural outpost, and that small-town feel persists even as the population has grown. While the region boasts impressive forest cover, easy access to the BR-101 superhighway, and a handful of indigenous villages, this is hardly the tropical paradise that draws many foreigners to Brazil. Mongaguá is best suited for those seeking a slower pace of life, a high tolerance for red tape, and a certain appreciation for the country's quieter corners.