Which is wilder - the jungle or the people?
Brazil is South America's giant, a dazzling land of pristine beaches, steamy jungles and manic metropolises. Music and dancing are as integral here as eating and sleeping, and you'll find as many regional styles as there are shades of people, from samba's sensual rhythms to Bahia's axé -charged beats.
While it may not be the Eden of popular imagination, Brazil is still a country of staggering beauty. There are stretches of unexplored rainforest, islands with divine tropical beaches, and endless rivers. Then there are the people themselves, who delight visitors with their energy and joy.
Following a rise in cases of yellow fever this year, the Brazilian government has issued an alert reinforcing recommendations for travelers to get vaccinated if they are planning to visit any of the affected areas, which include the Federal District (where Brasilia is located), Parana, Minas Gerais and Goias states.
Meanwhile, Rio de Janeiro has experienced a dramatic rise in dengue fever cases.
severity: Mid-level alert
República Federativa do Brasil
186,771,000
Name: Brazilian Real
Code: BRL
Symbol: R$
127/220V 60Hz
Official: Portuguese
GMT/UTC -2 (Fernando de Noronha archipelago)
GMT/UTC -3 (Brazil Standard Time)
GMT/UTC -4 (Central Brazil Time)
GMT/UTC -5 (Acre Standard Time)
+55
Metric
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› Go to the Brazil download page.
article by Gregor Clark, May 2008
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Tags: Eating & Drinking • Brazil
article by Robert Landon, July 2007
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