Introducing Brazil
A land of magnificent beaches, vast rain forests and music-fueled cities, Brazil bears an astounding variety of natural and cultural wonders. This is the world’s largest country in the tropics, and the only limit to a journey here is your imagination.
Setting the stage are idyllic, palm-covered islands, pristine stretches of coastline fronting emerald seas and jewel-box colonial towns framed against verdant peaks – yet all this is found in just one state. Throughout the other 26 lie dazzling gold-mining towns, futuristic cities of the interior and 18th-century villages whose soul is more African than South American.
Whether or not you come for Carnaval, music is a big part of the Brazilian experience. There are numerous ways to discover the perfect beat, from dancing with Cariocas at Rio’s atmospheric samba clubs to following powerful drumbeats through the streets of Salvador. There’s dancehall forró of the Northeast, twirling carimbó of the Amazon, scratch-skilled DJs of São Paulo and an endless variety of regional sounds that extends from the back-country sertanejo to reggae-loving Maranhão.
Brazil’s rich ecosystems make for some amazing journeys. You can go horseback-riding through the Pantanal in search of monkeys and capybara, or whale-watching off the coast. There are unforgettable river trips along the Amazon, descents into waterfall-cooled canyons, refreshing dips in forest streams and ascents up rocky cliff tops to breathtaking views.
Given the country’s many riches, it’s no surprise that Brazil has been turning heads for centuries. Among the first to fall under the spell was the Portuguese king himself (Dom João VI), who came, fell in love and just couldn’t tear himself away from his adopted homeland – something to keep in mind when booking that return flight.
Last updated: Oct 15, 2008
Show full overview
