A land of extremes: beautiful white sand beaches, lush rainforests, and barren sertão...Baroque churches, modern skyscrapers, thatched houses on stilts... great wealth and extreme poverty…and a true mosaic of cultures. Irrepressible, spirited and spontaneous, Brazilians always have time for a celebration, whether it’s soccer, Carnival, or a religious ceremony. Music fills the air and the samba is danced every day.
Places of Interest
Beach Resorts
With 2300 miles of coastline of white sand beaches and clear blue waters, a year-round tropical climate, and picturesque colonial towns, the Northeast is not only a great destination for lazing in the sun, but also for exploring the rich folklore, history, and handicrafts. Salvador is the capital of Bahia, whose African culture, music (made famous in Paul Simon’s Rhythm of the Saints), and cuisine make this region truly distinct. Natal boasts great beaches, as well as one of the greatest assemblages of cave art in the world, rock paintings and engravings, rich paleontological deposits, wild landscapes with impressive geological monuments, and a semi-arid climate with impenetrable thorn forests. Due to the canals that abound in the city, Recife, the capital of Pernambuco, is often called Brazil's Venice. Recife also has beautiful beaches. Nearby colonial Olinda has been designated by UNESCO as a Cultural and Natural Heritage of Humanity. Natal or Recife are the jumping off points for Fernando do Noronha, famous for its marine wildlife and pristine beaches.
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Iguassu Falls
One of the world's natural wonders, Iguassu Falls are more than 200 separate waterfalls that drop precipitately over a basalt cliff straddling the border of Argentina and Brazil. You’ll be met at the airport and transferred to the Hotel Das Cataratas, on the Brazil side. An escorted walking tour of the Brazilian side of the falls, through paths, footbridges, and strategically-placed viewpoints, will show off the breathtaking panorama of these impressive falls. Experience the upper and lower pathways of the Argentine side with a more intimate – and damp -- experience of the falls! You’ll also visit Devil’s Gorge, the largest of the falls and sometimes hard to see behind its thundering mist. Consider the Macuco Safari – a ride through the jungle, then an exciting approach to the base of the falls on a motorized zodiac – very wet!
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Natal
Known for the beauty of its beaches, Natal has some surprises too! You’ll find rock art paintings made by long-extinct indigenous groups and rich paleontological deposits with fossils of dinosaurs, mastodons, and saber-toothed tigers. The landscapes are wild, with impressive geological monuments formed by erosion over millions of years. The semi-arid climate, impenetrability of the thorn forests and small population of this remote region has helped to preserve the natural and cultural treasures.
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Ouro Prêto
Well-kept colonial buildings graced with intricate ironwork, steep cobblestone hills, terraced gardens, and a plethora of small baroque churches give Ouro Prêto a special flavor. The crippled sculptor Aleijadinho’s work is world renown. The center of the 18th century gold rush, Ouro Prêto is a lively university town and important mining center today for precious gems.
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Rio de Janeiro
Built along a narrow strip between the sea and the mountains, Rio is one of the most picturesque cities in the world. The tall skyscrapers of famous Copacabana Beach and nestled between vast beaches and tropical forests still home to monkeys and birds. Christ the Redeemer stands high above the city with a beautiful view of famous Sugarloaf Mountain. Living in one of the hottest climates in the tropics and one of the most densely populated places on earth, lively Cariocas (Rio natives) spend months preparing for Carnival – their most famous five-day festival. Stay at least two nights to get a sampling of her beauty. But Rio is more than gorgeous beaches and postcard views. Spend a bit more time and discover cultural treasures -- eclectic architecture, eccentric neighborhoods, and royal palaces – or hike through her natural treasures -- or head out of town to the colonial jewel of Parati, the splendid Costa Verde, or distinctive Buzios.
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Salvador da Bahia
With its rich mix of cultures, religious and ethnic backgrounds, Bahia is the “soul” of Brazil. African slaves brought their religion, cuisine and culture that are now integrated into everyday life. Home of the samba and capoeira (a well-choreographed dance and fight), Salvador also has the largest collection of baroque architecture in Latin America. Stroll through the recently restored Pelourinho district with its colorful architecture and cobblestone streets. Formerly the slave market, it is now a center for artists and restaurants. Salvador is also famous for its beautiful sandy beaches.
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São Paulo
The megalopolis – is a vibrant center of commerce, finance and industry and home to many different immigrant groups who have left their stamp on their neighborhoods. Excellent museums showcase Brazil’s strong artistic traditions. And, São Paulo is where most of Brazil’s Jewish population lives. The Bom Retiro District is where the first Jewish settlers, from Central and Eastern Europe, settled and began to do business in commerce and trade. There are still quite a few Jewish inhabitants, merchants, and synagogues. The Albert Einstein Hospital, was built and is maintained by the Jewish community, is one of the outstanding hospitals in the world, and the best medical center in all of South American.
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The Brazilian Amazon
The mighty Amazon River stretches across Brazil and anchors an enormous system of rivers and forests that stretch into its neighboring countries. More than half of Brazil is covered by the rainforest. The rainforest actually covers many different ecosystems, with more than 2 million species of plants and animals. And, people live here too. There are primitive cultures as well as communities of caboclo- the mixing of the indigenous people with pioneers, explorers, and people from outside of the rainforest. However, the rainforest isn't the ideal place for wildlife observation, and requires patience as well as getting as far as possible from civilization to be successful. Manaus, a teeming city of more than1 million people, is a jumping off place for many Amazon adventures.
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The Pantanal
Sometimes referred to as Brazil’s best-kept secret, the Pantanal is an alluvial plain – vast wetlands in the center of South America that cover 50,000 square miles in Brazil alone. It is home to a huge variety of flora, birds, reptiles and other animals unique to this part of the world. Wildlife is easy to observe in the wide-open spaces.
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