BRAZIL´S NATURAL DELIGHTS

Brazil’s natural prowess is hailed as some of the most stunning in the world. The country is home to 60% of the tropical Amazon rainforest, the largest tropical rainforest in the world and home to the mighty Amazon River that winds throughout the vegetation. Cascading waterfalls, protected wetlands, sand dunes, and rugged peaks add to the beauty of Brazil’s landscape. It’s an ideal place for lovers of the great outdoors. Those who want to do a little exploration of their own through lush, remote areas filled with rare and colorful wildlife and unique plants, vines, and trees will be rewarded with incredible views that are seldom seen in person by most of the world.  This Va Expeditions Natural delights tour showcases the best of Brazil´s Natural delights, all on one trip! 

Macaws over the Amazon

Iguazu Falls

The Iguazu Falls are formed by 275 waterfalls, close to the mouth of the Iguazu River in the Parana region of Brazil, a point that serves as a natural border between Brazil and Argentina. Located in the Iguaçu National Park, the Iguazu Falls were chosen as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature in 2011. From the Brazilian side, you will get the best panoramic view of the falls, a scenic helicopter flights also operate on the Brazil side for a fifteen-minute flight over the falls. Follow the trail along the edge of the falls and take the time to stop for pictures along the way as this is where you’ll get your best shots of the falls. At the end of the trail, there are some nice restaurants that are perched right on top of the waterfall, making for an unbelievable lunch setting. Visit the Argentinian side of the waterfalls also, for the more complete Iguazu experience.

Iguazu Falls

Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro is one of the most famous cities in the world and for very good reason. The surrounding mountains, white-sand beaches, and greenery make it picture-perfect. Visit Sugarloaf Mountain, the large peak in just about every photo of Rio de Janeiro, for unrivalled views over the city and its magnificent coastline. Then head to Christ the redeemer or Corcovado.  No visit to Rio would be complete without saying hi to the big guy on the mountain top. This omnipresent art deco masterpiece, offers spectacular panoramic views across the entire city. Then visit Tijuca National Park, a huge tropical rainforest right in the heart of the city, the largest urban forest in the world! The park contains amazing views of the city below, about thirty different waterfalls, and acres of beautiful rainforest. This man-made forest was a nineteenth-century conservation project to reclaim a portion of the land in the city that had been cleared and offers an excellent moment in nature and to escape the heat of the beaches in this iconic city.

Sugarloaf Mountain

Manaus

The Amazon jungle has a mysterious attraction that has fascinated explorers for centuries. One of the wildest places on the planet, the region is almost too big to comprehend, spanning a whopping 42% of Brazil. Each region offers something different in terms of ecology, tourism and local culture. Visit the magnificent Meeting of the Waters the meeting point of the Solimoes River (muddy water) and the Rio Negro (black water), where the grand Amazon River is formed. This amazing natural spectacle can be attributed to the difference in plant matter, density, temperature and velocity of the two rivers. Enjoy the Amazon jungle to the maximum on a number of trails and wildlife adventures!

Capybara Family, The Amazon

Isla Marajó

Considered the largest river island in the world, Marajó Island is located between the banks of the Amazon rainforest and the Atlantic Ocean. Ilha de Marajó offers deserted beaches, exquisite river beaches, and lush mangroves. It is home to capybaras, and herds of water buffalo wallowing in the marshes. The buffalo is the symbol of the island and they can be seen all over the place. Embrace the culture and history of the island, while also relaxing on Marajó Island, located on the largest marine-fluvial island in the world. 

Marajó Island

The Pantanal

The Pantanal is the world’s largest wetland, pooling over 210,000 square kilometers, in central-western Brazil and straddling the borders of Paraguay and Bolivia. Often overshadowed by the Amazon to the north, the Pantanal quietly harbors the highest concentration of wildlife in South America. It’s part national park and part UNESCO World Heritage site, and it’s considered a critical region of the world by the World Wildlife Fund. Capybaras and caimans sun themselves on the banks of streams and ponds while monkeys chatter and swing from tree to tree. Marmosets, armadillos and deer rustle in the undergrowth or grasses. Toucans, macaws and parrots occasionally make a break from the tree cover and come winging and squawking their way out into the open. Giant anteaters can be hard to spot, as they have such a sharp sense of smell, but you still stand good chances of seeing them and rarer still are giant river otters … keep your eyes peeled!

Caiman, Pantanal

Blue Morpho Butterfly