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Information on Brazil

Brazil is one of the world’s largest countries and its diversity and geography, showcased in the massive and awe-inspiring Amazon jungle, are striking. Brazil is a tropical paradise of sublime beaches, carnivals, and football, and her dazzling cities embody everything Brazilians love about their culture.

Rio de Janeiro has one the world’s most beautiful settings and is one of the most densely populated places on earth. This bustling city has the world-famous Copacabana beach and chic Ipanema; exotic parks and gardens; excellent museums and art galleries, and unrivalled mountain views of the city.

The Corcovado mountain peak has the statue of Christ the Redeemer at its summit and is the most popular attraction after the beaches in Rio. Brazilians thrive on dance, drink, beach, sport and sun, and the elaborate carnivals throughout the year are testament to this. Other highlights include the Tijuca National Park on the steep Serra da Carioca, and Sugar Loaf Mountain.

Not far to the west of Rio is the huge metropolis of São Paulo, South America’s largest city. With a diverse population of immigrants (mainly descendants from Japanese and Italians), intolerable traffic, and an unbeatable nightlife, São Paulo is vibrant, to say the least. Unmissable attractions include the 16th century Patío do Colégio, the Museu de Arte de São Paulo, and the baroque Teatro Municipal.

The UNESCO World Heritage site of Brazil’s sterile capital, Brasília, is one of wide and featureless boulevards and faceless high-rises. An ambitious three-year project back in the 1960s, Brasilia has unfortunately not gone to plan. For respite from the heat of the day, the popular Parque Nacional de Brasília, to the north of the city centre, is an ecological reserve with natural swimming pools.

Salvador da Bahia (northeast of Brasilia on the Atlantic coast) is one of Brazils cultural highlights - a fascinating and vibrant city loaded with historic buildings. It is also well known for its many wild carnivals and festivals. Farther north is historic and charming Olinda, one of the best-preserved colonial cities in Brazil, with many churches, museums and art galleries and a special bohemian atmosphere.

The mighty Amazon basin, a labyrinth of rivers and primary rainforests stretching into neighbouring countries, covers half of Brazil. Thousands of species of creatures, many unclassified, inhabit the vast jungle and include river dolphins, anacondas, tapirs and jaguars to name but a few.

Manaus is the main town and jumping-off point for excursions into the Amazon and lies near to the Rio Negro. Manaus itself has few attractions apart from the city’s most famous landmark, the stunning Teatro Amazonas - a striking Renaissance opera house.

In the west of Brazil, the Pantanal is a vast area of wetlands and wildlife sanctuary and is especially difficult to navigate. Another striking feature is the spectacular Iguaçu Falls on the border with Argentina and Paraguay. These impressive falls rival those of Niagara and boast an even deeper plunge.

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