Brazil
Samba rhythms and wild landscapes
Welcome to Brazil
The insider's travel guide to BrazilHome of the Amazon rainforest, samba and O Joga Bonito (the beautiful game – football), Brazil is one of the world’s most fascinating places, with travel experiences to match any adventurer’s needs.
Such is Brazil’s vastness (it covers half of South America and its people make up half the population of the continent), that it’s hard to pinpoint what makes it so special. There are powdery white-sand beaches, thundering waterfalls at Iguacu and a biodiversity of creatures that borders on the ridiculous. Nearly four million species call Brazil home, from toucans to howler monkeys, pink dolphins to sea turtles.
Underpinning this natural beauty is the awe-inspiring Amazon river and rainforest. Home to more than 390 billion trees and covering more than 8 million sq/km, the Amazon Basin contains more than 60% of the world’s remaining rainforests, with half of this lying in Brazil. Visitors to the Amazon region can encounter some of Brazil’s most remote communities, as well as learning about the problems facing the region – between 2017 and 2018, an area five times the size of London was lost to deforestation.
Finally, there are Brazil’s cities: rhythmic Rio de Janeiro, sprawled between ocean and mountain; charming Old Town Salvador; and enormous Sao Paulo, a centre of business and culture to name but a few. In each, you’ll find that legendary, laidback Brazilian sense of fun. So pull up a chair at the bar, order a caipirinha and dive into Brazil – this is a country that has everything.
Where to go in Brazil
Highlights & hidden gems
The Brazil atlas
7 picks Places & Experiences You Won't Find Elsewhere-
The unpaved, dirt road Transpantaneira Highway is the only road running through the Pantanal wetlands. Take it slow and you’ll get the chance to see amazing birdlife, anteaters, tucans and much more, but watch out for water crossing on the wooden bridges – they can be quite rickety.
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Fly into Rio de Janeiro and spend a couple of days exploring the beaches, nightlife and mountains of this metropolis. Head to World Heritage listed São Luís, capital of the state of Maranhão, exploring its pastel-coloured colonial mansions, Afro-Brazilian culture and museums. From here, travel to Lençóis Maranhenses National Park to explore its sand dunes, lagoons and Rio Preguiças. Travel next to the beach town fo Jericoacoara, where you can laze on beautiful beaches sipping caipirinhas, or go surfing, horse-riding or swimming. Head back to Fortaleza for your departure.
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Start in the gateway city of Cuiabá, home to impressive colonial architecture, excellent restaurants and a centre of Brazilian cowboy culture. From here, you can head into the Pantanal, starting on the Transpantaneira Highway – the only road in and out of the region. The Pantanal Wetlands are the world’s largest expanse of flooded plains, home to alligators, jaguars and plenty of birdlife. Head back to Cuiaba for your departure to the concrete jungle of Manaus. This port city has a surprising array of sights and markets. From here, you’ll head into the Amazon, exploring wildlife, remote communities and the forbidding jungle. Your adventure options are endless but start with an expedition along the Amazon by boat, trying piranha fishing, canoeing and even jungle survival experiences.
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Start in Salvador de Bahia, a centre of Afro-Brazilian culture and a hub of beautiful colonial architecture. From here, travel to World Heritage listed São Luís de Maranhão to see art galleries and architecture. Next, explore the lagoons, beaches and sand dunes of Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, before travelling south to world-famous Rio de Janeiro for beaches, nightlife and a taste of big city Brazil.
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Begin your tour of Brazil’s big cities in capital Brasilia, best-known for its stunning architecture representative of Oscar Niemeyer. Look out for the 60m high arches of Juscelino Kubitschek bridge. Next, travel to Rio de Janeiro to explore the famous Copacabana beach, Sugarloaf mountain and downtown Rio. Make sure to experience Rio’s famed nightlife, whether a simple caipirinha on the beach or a samba club to until the early hours. Wind down in the coastal town of Paraty, where you can see colonial architecture and go snorkelling in the Bay of Paraty. End your trip in cultural Sao Paulo’s museums, galleries and restaurants.
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Fly into Brazil’s cultural capital of Rio de Janeiro, taking a couple of days to explore its world-famous beaches, nightlife and laidback Carioca culture. Travel down the coast to Paraty for island hopping, scuba diving and amazing colonial architecture, before heading to Ilha Grande for pristine rainforest and quiet beaches — as well to explore its history as a pirate hideout and leper colony. End your journey back in Rio. Got longer to venture further? Popular add-ons include Iguassu Falls and the Pantanal for exceptional wildlife viewing. Time your trip for February to catch the Rio Carnival.
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Explore the Pantanal on the Transpantaneira Highway
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Rio To Lençóis Maranhenses And Beyond
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Amazon and Pantanal itinerary
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Afro-Brazilian Bahia and Rio
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Big city Brazil
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Rio de Janeiro, Beaches & Island Hopping
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Iguazu Falls and Bahia beaches
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