The South American giant of Brazil provides a delightful and intoxicating mix of vibrant cities, natural spectacles and panoramas that will leave you speechless. As soccer fans from around the world rained down on Brazil during the World Cup, now that it is over there is no better time to visit.
A scintillating destination, Brazil surpasses all expectations.
From exploring the famous Amazon Rainforest or staring in bewilderment at the sight of the Iguaçu Falls, to smiling at the archetypal sight of Brazilian children playing soccer on a Rio beach as the sun sets; there is no better way to discover Brazil than immersing yourself in her beauty. Discover our favorite highlights of Brazil to ride the wave of greatness following the impressive display of the World Cup.
♦ Delving deep into the Brazilian Amazon
As the largest country in South America and the Southern Hemisphere as well as being the 5th largest country in the world; Brazil is vast. When you consider Brazil’s size is nearly the same as continental United States and then the fact that the Brazilian Amazon accounts for almost 50% of its total area, the vastness of this true natural wonder becomes apparent.
From canoeing through flooded forests, relaxing in a hammock listening to the surrounding pure nature to keeping a careful eye out for a prowling jaguar; the quintessential Amazon experiences are simply sublime.
Added to the experiences is the way that a visit to the Amazon affects your outlook on life with there being no other place in the world that is more critical for the survival of humankind. As well as being home to untouched indigenous and traditional cultures, the Brazilian Amazon also houses about a third of the planet’s biodiversity and the famous Amazon River discharges a fourth of the Earth’s freshwater. A trip to the Amazon is one of Brazil’s highlight destinations where you can enjoy spotting pink dolphins, taking time to relax in your eco-lodge and of course surround yourself by the planet’s most beautiful displays of its pristine nature and wildlife.
♦ Staring in wonder at Foz do Iguaçu
An impressive vista of some 275 separate thundering waterfalls which during the rainy season can increase to as many as 350, the plunging set of waterfalls make Iguacu Falls a highlight not to be missed. Surrounded by dense, vibrant jungle, the Brazilian side of Iguacu Falls adds to this destination making it so much more than just the waterfalls.
The ever-present mist that is thrown up into the air by the massive waterfalls has led to the creation of a microclimate and subsequent lush rainforest with tropical birds and glorious fluttering butterflies.
As with the topic of who is better at football, the Argentineans and Brazilians have long argued over which side of Iguazu offers the best view. The reality of course is that both sides of Iguazu provide mind-blowing vistas with the Brazilian side offering more panoramic and full frontal views of the various waterfalls and the Argentinean side a more up-close experience. A visit to the Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls provides a dazzling perspective to the location and surroundings of the Falls and although the trails may not get as close to the Falls as on the Argentinean side, the unobstructed panoramic views are genuinely inspiring.
♦ Soaking up the beauty of Rio de Janeiro
In a 1934 Rio Carnival hit, Aurora Miranda sang ‘Marvelous city, full of a thousand charms’ and 80 years later, this still rings true. As one of the world’s most recognizable cityscapes, people put this song to the test as they ride the famous cable car up to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain, soak up Rio’s beautiful beaches and stand at the foot of the Christ of the Redeemer.
In any other city in the world, these three landmarks would make a destination exceptional however, in Rio de Janeiro this is just the beginning of a long list of incredible experiences and places to see that make this city unmissable.
Just thinking of the word ‘Rio’ and flashes of color from Carnival costumes, the sound of the ‘Girl from Ipanema’ and the famous backdrop of the favelas entertain your imagination and wildest travel dreams in a city which arguably has one of the most spectacular settings in the world.
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