Reasons To Visit Brazil
Discovering that the indigenous peoples did not take well to forced labour, the colonial Portuguese shipped thousands of Africans to Brazil to work. Upon their emancipation at the end of the 19th Century, Afro Brazilians became integrated into society, resulting in the beautifully diverse people we see today.
From the beautiful towns of Ouro Preto and Tiradentes in Minas Gerais state, Natal and Salvador in the northeast to the cobbled backstreets of Santa Teresa in Rio, there are numerous fine examples of colonial architecture in Brazil. For a different type of architecture the retro designs of Brasilia dating back from the 1950's divides opinion!
With almost 3,000 km of coastline, it isn’t surprising that Brazil has some of the best beaches in Latin America. There’s a beach for every taste, miles of deserted sand and palm trees, havens for surfers, beaches to spot whales and beaches to watch the locals parade themselves in the latest swimwear trends.
One of the world’s most famous celebrations, Brazil’s annual carnival takes place across the country preparing for the start of Lent. Most well-known for the celebrations in Rio, thousands of sequin and feather-clad dancers samba their way through the parade ground.
Football is in the veins of Brazil and seen at every turn. Brazil has given us such footballing greats as Pelé, Ronaldo and Kaka and the love and passion shown by the children passing balls in the street leave little doubt that more stars will follow.
The Amazon rainforest is a haven for wildlife and a must for both nature lovers and those who are simply curious. It covers a vast area of Brazil and can be explored from a number of simple lodges or boats, most of which are easily accessible from the tropical city of Manaus.
For wildlife viewing, there are few better places in the world than the Pantanal between April and September. The animals and birds found here are similar to those found in the nearby Amazon, but they are much easier to spot in the Pantanal. Animals seen here include capybara, caiman, anteater, armadillo, otter, marmoset and even jaguar and puma.
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South America
The Cariocas (residents of Rio) have a saying that God created the world in seven days, the eighth he devoted to Rio de Janeiro. The sheer beauty of Rio is breathtaking, and the vibrancy is captivating.
The beaches are an excellent place to watch cariocas jogging, strutting and walking their poodles in the sunshine. You set the pace and if there is time you will also be able to circle the Lagoa before returning to your hotel.
Stroll along a beautiful shoreline pedestrian path, popular with walkers and joggers. This is followed by a weaving hike up a trail with wonderful views of Rio's bay followed by a short (approximately 25m) but challenging section of rock climbing.
The Maracanã football stadium was built in 1950 for the World Cup and is the biggest stadium of its kind, holding at one point, before terraces were converted to seating, more than 200,000 fans.
There is no other place in Rio that embodies the 'alegria' or happiness of the Brazilian people more than the nightlife scene in the neighbourhood of Lapa.
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Further reading:BrazilWhen to GoHighlightsItinerary IdeasPlaces to GoThings to DoAccommodationAbout BrazilCountry Guides
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