Brazil

Brazil

The country of Brazil spans over half of South America, comprising of exotic landscapes, beautiful beaches, sprawling rainforests and the Amazon River at its heart.

Brazil is internationally renowned for its lavish carnivals, fascinating cultural heritage and iconic landmarks and tourist attractions. Huge metropolises such as Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Salvador and Brasllia, attract droves of tourists each year, who come to enjoy the vast and diverse array of museums, music, operas and top quality cuisine.

The flora and fauna of Brazil also deserve special attention. Throughout the country there are magnificent ecological parks and varied ecosystems, ranging from the tropical rainforest of the Amazon to stunted vegetation, the Atlantic Forest to the vast swamplands in the mid-west and the verdant pampas region to the south.

The Brazilians are diverse, friendly people, brimming with unique personality. Nowhere is this more evident that in the Carnivals of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo. Each year millions of revellers come together to enjoy the dazzling parades and samba-fuelled mayhem that lives in legend.

The country also has an impressive range of beautiful, white sand beaches stretching over seven thousand kilometres of coastline. The famous beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana, on the Rio de Janeiro coast are among the most beautiful in the world, while the southern coasts play host to the international surfing championships the Praia do Forte. Stunning archipelagos and sprawling rainforests contain a wealth of diverse wildlife and some truly amazing views.

Leaving the beaches and cities behind, there is a vast number of ways to explore all the natural wonders and dramatic landscapes that the country has to offer. From boat trips through the endless rivers and jungle expeditions through the wilderness, to guided hikes and trails there is an almost endless list of wonderful ways to discover the stunning natural wonders of this enchanting country.

Carnival:
Join the mayhem in one of the world's best parties at Rio de Janeiro's Carnival. While Rio's event is famed, Carnival is celebrated throughout Brazil. Salvador also holds a big city-wide carnival, as does Olinda, which throws the most traditional fest.

The Amazon:
Explore the natural beauty of the Amazon, the world's largest rain forest. It contains one-third of all the living species on earth and is crossed by 10 of the world's 20 largest rivers, including the River Amazon. The usual base for trips is Manaus. Soar above the tropical landscape on a tandem hand-gliding flight from Pedra Bonita in Sao Conrado, just outside Rio. This popular adventure excursion gives a bird's-eye view of Rio and the Atlantic forest before landing on the beach.

Beaches:
Stroll along the world-famous Copacabana and Ipanema beaches in Rio de Janeiro, where sun-bronzed beauties share the sands with beach soccer and volleyball players.

Wildlife:
Go wildlife watching in the Pantanal, a spectacularly rich ecosystem that is home to jaguars, caiman, giant river otters, toucans and hundreds of other species. Explore the myriad islands and gorgeous beaches along Brazil's coastline or go hiking in Bahia's Diamantina National Park, with its stunning landscapes, waterfalls, underground caves and fascinating wildlife.

Learn to dance the samba:
Have a local show you the moves at a celebration inside an escola de samba (samba school), which opens it's doors to visitors a couple of months before Rio De Janeiro's Carnival.