A vast country covering almost half the continent of South America, Brazil contains great modern cities as well quaint old colonial towns, the almost primeval jungles of the Amazon basin as well as fantastic beach resorts, legendary carnival celebrations as well as some of the most pristine territories in the world. It is a place for tourists looking for white-knuckle adventure activities or an all-over sun tan. The country is inhabited by a diverse mix of cultures and races, and what's more: the locals are friendly and welcoming.
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Exploring the Amazon
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Amazonia National Park- Covering around 40 per cent of Brazil's landmass, a tour of Brazil would be incomplete without taking in some of the magnificent splendours of the Amazon, whether your interests lie in bird watching, trekking, climbing or rafting. Guides will lead you away from the scenes of the devastation of the rainforests that have blighted a large proportion of its terrain towards the smaller tributaries of the river, where the unspoiled habitat sustaining some of the world's greatest biodiversity is revealed. The town of Manaus is located in the heart of the Amazonian Basin, and serves as a popular base for travellers setting out to explore the exotic hinterland beyond.
Iguaçu Falls- Not to be missed, this is the highlight of the journey of the Parana River and forms the natural boundary to the neighbouring countries of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. These stunning falls have been included occasionally as one of the 7 natural Wonders of the World, and only just remain excluded from the official list as well as not quite reaching world records in terms of their height or width. Their majestic beauty, however, is not in doubt.
The Pantanal- Located in the upper Paraguay River basin, the Pantanal straddles Brazil's border with Paraguay and Bolivia. It is the world's largest freshwater wetland, a seasonally flooded plain forming a giant nursery for aquatic life, including 260 species of fish. The receding waters of the dry season create the perfect habitat for a huge diversity of birds and other wildlife including giant river otters, jaguars and tapirs: one of the world's outstanding natural phenomena. A trip to this splendid bird watchers' paradise needs to be carefully planned, for tourist infrastructure is still fairly undeveloped.
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View over Rio de Janeiro
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Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro- The two bustling megacities of the south-east, Rio is known for its incredible natural setting overlooked by the 'Cristo Redentor', its famous Carnival, and the fantastic beaches of Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon. Rio was the country's capital 1960, when Brasilia took its place. The rival metropolis of Sao Paulo is bigger and more cosmopolitan, its fame as a gastronomic centre based on the diverse ethnic communities that each offer their own national cuisine in local restaurants. Typically Brazilian cuisine, however, would normally be based on its famous beef, available at the superb rodizios and churrascerias. Cultural highlights in the city include its great museums, the spectacular capoeira martial arts performances, and great nightlife and entertainment attracting the best performers in the world.
Brasilia- The result of a conscious endeavour by the Brazilian government to create a seat of power inland from the coast, able to control the vast interior of the country, Brasilia was conceived by the architect Lúcio Costa in the shape of a cross, containing within it a wonderful collection of utopian designs by Oscar Niemeyer that are a Mecca for all architects fascinated by modernism.
Other outstanding places to visit are Salvador, Recife and the quieter resort of Praia de Pipa in the north-east, the old colonial towns of of Ouro Preto and Olinda, and the relatively uncrowded southern beaches in the state of Santa Catarina such as Mariscal, Garopaba and Estaleiro.
A vast country covering almost half the continent of South America, Brazil contains great modern cities as well quaint old colonial towns, the almost primeval jungles of the Amazon basin as well as fantastic beach resorts, legendary carnival celebrations as well as some of the most pristine territories in the world. It is a place for tourists looking for white-knuckle adventure activities or an all-over sun tan. The country is inhabited by a diverse mix of cultures and races, and what's more: the locals are friendly and welcoming.
|
|
Exploring the Amazon
|
Amazonia National Park- Covering around 40 per cent of Brazil's landmass, a tour of Brazil would be incomplete without taking in some of the magnificent splendours of the Amazon, whether your interests lie in bird watching, trekking, climbing or rafting. Guides will lead you away from the scenes of the devastation of the rainforests that have blighted a large proportion of its terrain towards the smaller tributaries of the river, where the unspoiled habitat sustaining some of the world's greatest biodiversity is revealed. The town of Manaus is located in the heart of the Amazonian Basin, and serves as a popular base for travellers setting out to explore the exotic hinterland beyond.
Iguaçu Falls- Not to be missed, this is the highlight of the journey of the Parana River and forms the natural boundary to the neighbouring countries of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. These stunning falls have been included occasionally as one of the 7 natural Wonders of the World, and only just remain excluded from the official list as well as not quite reaching world records in terms of their height or width. Their majestic beauty, however, is not in doubt.
The Pantanal- Located in the upper Paraguay River basin, the Pantanal straddles Brazil's border with Paraguay and Bolivia. It is the world's largest freshwater wetland, a seasonally flooded plain forming a giant nursery for aquatic life, including 260 species of fish. The receding waters of the dry season create the perfect habitat for a huge diversity of birds and other wildlife including giant river otters, jaguars and tapirs: one of the world's outstanding natural phenomena. A trip to this splendid bird watchers' paradise needs to be carefully planned, for tourist infrastructure is still fairly undeveloped.
|
|
View over Rio de Janeiro
|
Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro- The two bustling megacities of the south-east, Rio is known for its incredible natural setting overlooked by the 'Cristo Redentor', its famous Carnival, and the fantastic beaches of Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon. Rio was the country's capital 1960, when Brasilia took its place. The rival metropolis of Sao Paulo is bigger and more cosmopolitan, its fame as a gastronomic centre based on the diverse ethnic communities that each offer their own national cuisine in local restaurants. Typically Brazilian cuisine, however, would normally be based on its famous beef, available at the superb rodizios and churrascerias. Cultural highlights in the city include its great museums, the spectacular capoeira martial arts performances, and great nightlife and entertainment attracting the best performers in the world.
Brasilia- The result of a conscious endeavour by the Brazilian government to create a seat of power inland from the coast, able to control the vast interior of the country, Brasilia was conceived by the architect Lúcio Costa in the shape of a cross, containing within it a wonderful collection of utopian designs by Oscar Niemeyer that are a Mecca for all architects fascinated by modernism.
Other outstanding places to visit are Salvador, Recife and the quieter resort of Praia de Pipa in the north-east, the old colonial towns of of Ouro Preto and Olinda, and the relatively uncrowded southern beaches in the state of Santa Catarina such as Mariscal, Garopaba and Estaleiro.