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Why go? Once visited never forgotten, Brazil is a country which dazzles one with its vibrant culture, rich landscapes and abundance of wildlife. It boasts the world’s largest rainforest, longest river, widest waterfall and five thousand miles of coastline with beaches to die for. Larger than Europe, it offers several countries in one with a wealth of alternative regional charm from music and dance, architecture, food or fashion, plus friendly, fun-loving people, lots of sunshine and relatively low prices. Brazilians enjoy a passion and sensuality no other country could ever rival and you feel a lifetime would only give you a taste of everything it offers - whether it be through dancing in the heat of carnival, becoming engrossed in the poetry of its language and music, surfing the waves, watching its people or just sipping your caipirinha. Rio is one of the world's most visually stunning cities, but equally fascinating are the colonial cities of Salvador and Olinda in the north and Ouro Preto inland. We've discovered some fabulous places to stay from tropical island hideaways to charming colonial pousadas; bohemian homestays to hip design hotels. Any Downsides? Rio has a reputation for violence, but travelers will find themselves no more at risk than in most large cities in the world. Watch out for thieves, particularly in Copacabana, and don't go in or near the favelas (shanty towns) unless with a guide. If you want to cover more than one region, huge distances require flights or lots of time – internal flight passes can be purchased in conjunction with your international ticket. Don't expect the locals to speak English outside the main tourist resorts. Try to learn some Portuguese before you go and pack a phrase book. Current Weather - Time: In Rio de Janeiro:  |
Activities Cultural hits: Ouro Preto (Minas Gerais), Paraty (Costa Verde) and Salvador (Bahia) and Olinda (Pernambuco) are Portuguese colonial gems boasting fine Baroque architecture and historical museums Nightlife: Lapa district in Rio for some of the finest live samba and bossa nova. Buzios near Rio for bars and nightclubs. Pelourinho in Salvador for live music, cafes and bars. Festivals: Apart from Carnival in Rio Feb/Mar, the world's biggest party, other Brazilian cities host carnivals that are cheaper and more relaxed - Salvador, Olinda etc. Rio boasts the world's most spectacular New Year's celebrations. Wildlife: Pantanal - a massive swamp larger than France with remarkably varied wildlife, including iguanas, jaguars, wild boar, crocodiles, anacondas, anteaters and exotic birds. Amazon - for boat trips and rainforest exploration. Iguaçu - butterflies. Praia do Forte (Bahia) - from Dec - Mar 1000s of turtles come ashore to lay eggs. Santa Catarina - whale-watching. Natural Spectacle: Iguaçu Falls - monstrous waterfalls, a world natural phenomenon, bigger than Victoria falls and higher than Niagara. Surrounded by unspoilt tropical forest, which can be explored by foot, bike or boat. Best Beaches: Ipanema (Rio) for people watching, Ilha Grande (Costa Verde) and Ilha Bella (Sao Paolo) for unspoilt beaches and mountain backdrops, Bahia for white sands, calm warm waters and palm trees. Watersports: For surfing - Rio and surrounds (especially Saquarema), Porto do Galinhas in the north east and to the south in Santa Caterina state. Jericoacoara for windsurfing(best Jul-Dec), Ilha Grande for sea-kayaking, Buzios, Angra and Ilhabela for sailing. Fernando de Noronha, a group of islands off the northeast coast, offers Brazil's best diving. Hiking: Chapada Diamantina (Bahia) has great hiking and biking trails in lush highlands. The hills surrounding Ouro Preto and Tiradentes also offer day hikes. Parque Nacional de Tijuca - a 120sqkm forested park on the edge of Rio. Football: Watch a football game at Rio's Maracana Stadium, the largest stadium in the world. Train Journeys: Curitiba-Paranagua - spectacular mountain train ride. Tiradentes-Sao Joao - steam train. |
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