Map courtesy of gosouthamerica.com
South America’s only Portuguese-speaking country is home to the Amazon Rainforest, Rio de Janeiro and its legendary beaches, Samba, Bossa Nova, and one of the most ethnically diverse populations in the world. And while Brazil’s allure can’t be denied, neither can its size. Bigger than the continental United States, it’s no wonder planning a Brazilian vacation can be a daunting and overwhelming task. Unlike Costa Rica and Panama where getting around is cheap, quick and easy, getting around Brazil is expensive (you’ll likely have to travel by plane from city to city) and often difficult. So if you’re planning a trip to Brazil in the near future, check out this brief guide to South America’s largest country.
1.) Rio de Janeiro: No place in Brazil gets more press than romantic, glitzy Rio de Janeiro. South America’s most visited city gets almost 3 million tourists a year and can be loosely characterized as a super-sized Miami-type resort city. Situated on Brazil’s southeast Atlantic coast, Rio is famous for its sexy white sand beaches (who hasn’t heard of Ipanema and Copacabana?), Samba, Bossa Nova, hosting the world’s wildest carnival and, of course, the giant statue of Christ that overlooks the city. Rio is hot and happening all year round and boasts some of Brazil’s best night clubs and restaurants. One downside? High crime rates have been scaring away increasing numbers of tourists in recent years. But don’t worry – as long as you exercise proper precautions (such as not walking around drunk on the beach at 3am in the morning) you should be OK.
Christ the Redeemer statue. Photo courtesy of Hanneorla.
2.) Salvador and Bahia: If it’s sun and beaches you’re after, Salvador and the Bahia Province is your best bet. Salvador is located on Brazil’s northeastern coast, 1,100 miles north of Rio — so unless you’re a fan of epic bus rides, you’ll want to take a two and a half hour plane to here. Hot and humid year-round, the city boasts 30 miles of attractive coastline some of the world’s best beaches. And if you happen to be here for Carnival, you can tell your friends that you participated in the world’s largest street party, with two million people partying for nearly 20 miles. Brazil’s African heritage can best be appreciated in Salvador and Bahia, where over 80% of the population claims African heritage, a heritage reflected in the region’s spicy, African-inspired cuisine, its unique Afro-Brazilian religions, its music and in Capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial arts quickly gaining popularity throughout Latin America and even the United States and Europe.
3.) Sao Paulo: A gargantuan city with a metropolitan area of nearly 20 million people, Sao Paulo is located 266 miles south of Rio and has a much more “down to business” attitude than any other city in Brazil, perhaps a resulting from being slightly inland. Brazil’s wealthiest city is not quite as well known as Rio and Salvador, but as the country’s economic engine, it is the country’s most cosmopolitan and sophisticated city. It’s hard to fall in love with Sao Paulo at first site, but foodies will appreciate its incredibly diverse restaurants scene, and party-lovers will find everything here from rock concerts featuring well-known acts to Korean Karaoke to all-night Samba/funk clubs. This incredible variety can be attributed to Sao Paolo’s immense ethnic diversity, which includes substantial Asian, Arab, African and European communities. In fact, more people in Sao Paulo claim Italian heritage than Portuguese heritage. Sao Paulo and Rio are connected by frequent bus service, but if you’re short on time, a short flight is a better option.
The Sao Paolo skyline. Photo courtesy of Fernando Stankuns.
4.) Manaus and the Amazon: The Amazon city of Manaus is often viewed as the gateway to the rainforest, but it does have an interesting history as a rubber production center and boasts quite a few impressive historic buildings. However, most travelers head directly to the Amazon.
Although it extends into nine South American countries, it is Brazil that’s best known as being home to the Amazon Rainforest, the world’s largest rain forest, home to nearly 20% of the world’s flora and fauna species. Here you’ll find 2.5 million insects (so be sure to bring plenty of insect repellent), nearly 2,000 bird species, 40,000 plant species, almost 500 mammals and 3,000 different types of fish. Plenty of tour companies — American, European and Brazilian — offer Amazon hiking and river cruise excursion, but keep in mind that the Amazon is best suited for hardy travelers with plenty of adventure travel experience. It’s hot and humid year-round with heavy downpour six months of the year and you’ll have to deal with pesky insects and rough travel conditions. Because there is virtually no ground transport to Manaus or the Amazon region, you’ll have to fly in from one of Brazil’s major cities.
5.) Brasilia, the Panantal and Southern Brazil: Brazil’s capital city since 1960 is known for its futuristic architecture, designed by Oscar Neimeyer. As a completely pre-planned city, Brasilia lacks the character and soul of other Brazilian cities, but architecture buffs will want to visit the UNESCO-designated city. Brasilia is Brazil’s fourth largest city and easily connected to Sao Paulo and Rio via frequent bus and plane routes. One positive about Brasilia is the city’s cooler, more comfortable temperatures.
Brazil’s Panantal is often overlooked by travelers headed to the Amazon, but deserves a look due to its incredible biodiversity. As the world’s largest wetland, it is home to over 1,00o bird species, 400 fish species, 500 reptile species, 300 mammal species and 9000 invertebrates. Tours to the Panantal can easily be arranged from Sao Paolo and Brasilia.
Iguazu Falls is southern Brazil’s best known tourist destination, but the region is also home to some of the best beaches and most attractive cities. Southern Brazil has historically attracted a large number of German and Italian immigrants, making it Brazil’s most European region. Cities in southern Brazil are connected to other Brazilian cities by frequent bus routes and flights.
Iguazu Falls. Photo courtesy of Ewanr.
It’s hard to capture a country as large as Brazil in one article (imagine trying to describe the United States’ attractions in 1,000 words or less) so I invite all Brazilians, expats living in Brazil or Brazil lovers to contribute their two cents on Brazil’s top attractions and best kept secrets!
For more on my travel experiences, check out my blog.
