THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN BRAZIL

Brazil is home to more than 70 national parks and dozens of monuments, including one of the Seven New Wonders of the World, Christ the Redeemer, in Rio de Janeiro. Together, these attractions create one of the most appealing and exciting destinations in South America. People come from all over the world to discover the endless coastline, sprawling metropolises and thick jungles, which are home to monkeys, jaguars and river dolphins. So where to go in Brazil? The vast landscape holds many impressive spots, but here are some of the very best places to visit.

 

Paradise Beach, Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro

Naturally, we’ll start with Brazil´s most famous city. Known for its stark contrasts, Rio de Janeiro perfectly combines golden shores, lush forests and bustling urban life to create a home for its 6m residents and an exotic holiday destination for millions of tourists. Besides the obvious attractions such as Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain and Copacabana, don’t miss the more off-the-beaten-track spots such as the unforgettable Trans Carioca 180km-long (112mi) hike, or the stunning sunset at Arpoador. If you love music, then you don’t need to wait until Carnival for samba hit; head to the samba schools for their all-year-round samba shows, including live music and jaw-dropping dancers.

 

Rio De Janeiro Skyline

 

São Paulo

 

They don’t call São Paulo the concrete jungle for nothing. This often-misunderstood city, home to over 12m people, is regarded as the business and financial capital of Brazil. Yet that sweeping definition overlooks the quirks and curiosities that make São Paulo the buzzing cosmopolitan city that it is. For culture, it has some of the country’s finest art galleries and museums, and you can excite your palate at one of many international restaurants celebrated for their Brazilian cuisine. For a change of pace, head to Praça Roosevelt for hipster bars and an alternative, liberal crowd. Pace yourself, as you’ll need stamina for the nightlife here, which gives São Paulo its reputation as a city that doesn’t sleep.

 

Belo Horizonte

Belo Horizonte is known for its bar scene rather than thumping nightclubs, which comprises dozens of bars packed together to create the ideal late-night drinking spot for socializing and winding down at the end of the week. For food, you’ve come to the right place as everything from mobile stalls to sophisticated restaurants serve up classic Minas Gerais cuisine fused around home comfort and slow-cooking. If art is more your thing, hire a car to Inhotim, a large interactive art gallery set within a botanical garden.

 

Belo Horizonte

 

Florianopolis

Florianopolis, the capital of Santa Catarina and is known for its picturesque beaches, impressive sunsets and popular holiday resorts. Enjoy the many sun-kissed beaches on Santa Catarina Island. Or pick up the pace at Lagoa da Conceição, a saltwater lagoon with strong winds ideal for windsurfing and excellent boat trips.

 

Olinda

Founded in the early 16th century by Portuguese settlers, Olinda is a small colonial town neighboring the much larger Recife. Its collection of baroque churches, 18th-century convents, and vibrant houses on the hillside, coupling exquisite architecture with sweeping ocean views. The local bohemian crowd have restored many of the buildings into artistic hubs, creating a center of art galleries, museums and open studios. Come here in February to experience one of Brazil’s most traditional and lively carnivals.

 

Olinda

 

Fernando de Noronha

 

Escape from it all on this picturesque and exclusive island, located 350km off the coast of Brazil. A flight from Recife will take you to the volcanic archipelago of Fernando de Noronha. With jagged coastlines, unspoiled scenery and shallow seas brimming with tropical fish, sharks, turtles and dolphins, this protected area grants several opportunities for relaxing on golden beaches and getting close to wildlife. The ecological sanctuary limits the number of visitors per year, which is why it still boasts some of the most breath-taking natural landscapes in the country.

 

Foz do Iguaçu

Straddling the border of Argentina and Paraguay, is the small town of Foz do Iguaçu, one of the most visited spots in Brazil, Foz do Iguaçu waterfalls. This is one of the world’s largest waterfall systems, comprised of hundreds of mighty cascades including the Devil’s Throat fall, where mist clouds the bottom on a rainy day. Marvel at the exotic feathered friends at the bird park, which has several ongoing conservation projects. Other highlights include a trip to the Itaipu Dam, an imposing hydroelectric dam, as well as the fascinating bird park, home to some of the fascinating species of this region.

 

Iguazu Falls

 

Bonito

Bonito is located in Mato Grosso do Sul, on the border of the Pantanal, and comprises crystal-clear freshwater pools and deep abysses, which create a unique ecosystem. Nutrient-rich rivers such as the Rio da Prata nourish hundreds of freshwater species and grant pleasant snorkeling opportunities among tight-knit shoals of brightly colored fish. From stalactite-filled caverns and underground lakes, to a depression in the earth that houses nesting macaws, Bonito is a place that impresses with its ecology and beauty alike.

 

Chapada Diamantina

Take a walk through the wild at Chapada Diamantina National Park in Bahia. In addition to rocky landscapes of flat-topped mountains and deep canyons, the area filled with incredible natural wonders such at the Cachoeira da Fumaça, one of Brazil’s tallest waterfalls, where the water lacks sufficient volume to reach the bottom and turns into a cloud of mist. Two of the most striking features in the area are Poço Encantado and Poço Azul. The two pools contain water so clear that it appears the crevices are empty and the sunlight that enters gives each pool a striking electric-blue hue.

 

Chapada Diamantina

Lençóis Maranhenses National Park

 

The name Lençóis literally translates as “bed sheets”. When you are stood on the top of a rolling white sand dune in the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, this baffling name suddenly makes sense. Known for its striking scenery, this national park comprises an endless stretch of sand dunes, like someone gently shaking a large white bed sheet. After the rainy season is the best time to go, when the dips between the dunes fill up with deep blue pools of fresh water. It’s a landscape like no other; take a guided tour to enjoy the solitude and splendor of the area.

 

The Pantanal

 

If you are considering where to go in Brazil for an adventure into the wild, you will cherish a visit to the Pantanal, the largest wetland in the world. Located in the center of the country, this vast wetland includes spectacular natural landscapes that are home to one of the world’s most unique and complex ecosystems. Take a guided tour to explore this remarkably preserved natural habitat and keep your eyes peeled for caimans, capybaras, hundreds of bird species and even the occasional shy jaguar.

 

Jaguar in The Pantanal

The Amazon

 

One of the most impressive ecosystems in Brazil, the vast Amazon rainforest continues to be an imposing, mysterious jungle, despite deforestation and illegal mining in the area. This complex ecosystem comprises hundreds of species that co-exist in a setting unlike any other in the world. Sustainable tours in the region are actually good for the forest, providing an income to resource-lacking locals who come to depend on tourism instead of hunting endangered animals. It also gives you the chance to explore a magnificent part of the world that river dolphins, monkeys and brightly colored tree frogs all call home.

 

Amazon, Brazil