Often compared to the thriving cities of New York and Los Angeles, dare yourself to travel to the largest city in South America, not to mention the third largest city in the world: Sao Paulo, Brazil. However, the real attraction to Brazil’s most populous city is its people and vibrant culture. Renowned for its giant skyscrapers, looming architecture, vast helicopter fleet, and often-unreliable subtropical weather, give into the allure of Sao Paulo and partake in your own Latin American Adventure – like the city’s motto says, Non ducor, duco, “I am not led, I lead.”

Founded as the first coastal settlement in Brazil, Sao Paulo was also the first permanent Portuguese colony founded in the New World in 1532. Since then, it has grown to become the home of around one-third of Brazil’s industrial employment. Multinational corporations look to Sao Paulo as a place of strong economic profit, as it is a mixing bowl of both industry and cultural hubs.

Attractions and Neighborhoods: As one of the major cultural centers of Brazil, Sao Paulo offers many attractions that provide insight into its colorful Latin American roots. The Museu de Arte de Sao Paulo (MASP) has been called one of the most important art museums in Latin America, showcasing artwork by Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Renoir, Degas, Rodin, Matisse, Goya, and more. Listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, the nearby Santa Fe Plaza is a historic park marked by lines of large shade-trees and benches. The area is iconic of colonial Spanish times, and various other famous landmarks stand within walking distance. For a fresh look into Brazilian culture, the Mercado Municipal is the location of a large market where vendors sell locally produced fruit, cheese, vegetables, and other goods. Even if you are not looking to buy anything, the large stained-glass windows in the neo-Gothic style hall portray daily scenes from coffee plantations and are beautiful to look at. Whether in a museum, park, or market, the authentic Latin American culture in Brazil offers travelers a wide range of options as far as local attractions.

Sao Paulo itself is divided into 93 neighborhoods, most of which are best navigated on foot as the city thrives on pedestrian tourism. Centro is the original neighborhood in the city, founded on a hilltop and home to old missions and cathedrals. The Banespa Tower stands as an architectural wonder in the neighborhood, and the Metropolitan Cathedral can be viewed from most of the surrounding area like the two main pedestrian streets of Rua Direita and Rua Sao Bento.  The neighborhoods of Pinheiros and Itaim Bibi both boast luxurious residential areas that feature posh restaurants, hotels and nightlife. Being two of the more modern neighborhoods in the city, they are connected to Centro by a streetcar line that gives easy access to areas throughout the city. Liberdade is known for its historical relevance, having received its name after the abolition of slavery in 1888. The Liberdade Metro stop will lead you to Rua Galvao Bueno, a street filled with shops and many notable sushi restaurants. The combination of these four neighborhoods shows the distinct aspects that Sao Paulo offers visitors: history, preserved Latin America culture, and also modernity encapsulated in twentieth century expansion.

Dining and Nightlife: Because Sao Paulo attracts national and international guests, visitors should expect to find an array of cuisine options. For a more authentic meal, look for a dish including “cahaca,” a spicy specialty with a sugarcane spirit that is popular among the locals. One restaurant offering this delicacy is Acqua Benedicta (located at 62 Rua da Matriz) which also offers American and Caribbean foods. Another local favorite is the restaurant Le Coq Hardy (located at Rua Jeronimo da Viega), which features a quaint piano bar and decorated wine cellar that showcases its many bottles of Bordeaux. The city’s restaurants also include a large amount of Portuguese cuisine, Italian specialties, and sushi restaurants.

A city that rarely sleeps, most Sao Paulo residents do not begin their nights out on the town until midnight or later. They also dress to impress – women favor black or darker colors while men are typically less formal. Because the nightlife scene tends to be spread out, it is best to stick to one area or neighborhood and bar and club hop in that region for the night on foot, to avoid the congested traffic coming into the city. Some of the city’s best bars and clubs for the younger crowd are located at Vila Olimpia, while Vila Madalena is a more posh location featuring mostly bars and restaurants instead of clubs.

Local Transportation: Pedestrians will find themselves in good company in Sao Paulo, since most of the city is set up exclusively for pedestrian traffic as most areas and neighborhoods can be explored on foot. However, Sao Paulo has the most motorcycle couriers in Brazil, which can pose a threat to pedestrians sharing the roads.

With public transportation demands on the rise due to the magnitude of business traffic commuting to the city, the expansive bus system has grown to include a fleet of more than 16,000 units. There are also three main train systems – the Sao Paulo Metro, CPTM, and the ETU-SP as well as the many other train lines that branch off from those systems. Those looking to travel across longer distances of the city should invest in a Bilhete Único, or “unified ticket” that is essentially a smartcard used for fare collection for the train, buses, and subway system. It also offers discounted prices and makes transitions easier between transportation systems. Ultimately, the reputation for transportation in Sao Paulo is one of chaos and congestion, but improvements are underway and are typically a platform of every local political election.

Traveling to Sao Paulo: Many popular airlines fly directly into Sao Paulo, such as American Airlines, United, Lufthansa, Air France, British Airways, Air Canada, US Airways, Mexicana, Delta, Continental Airlines, Aerolineas Argentinas and more. The biggest airlines that fly into Sao Paulo directly are TAM Linhas Aeras, American Airlines, and United. The best way to find direct flights to Sao Paulo from your local airport is to check www.skyscanner.com for flights, airlines, and prices. Average ticket prices to travel to the city range from $900 to $1,500, but cheaper prices from discount sites like www.kayak.com offer flights for around $800.

Anna Patrick is a Communications major at Boston College and a frequent commuter between Boston and the Washington DC metropolitan area in Northern Virginia. A seasoned traveler, Patrick has lived in London and traveled extensively throughout Mexico, Canada, Austria, Germany, Italy, France, the Czech Republic, Greece, Scotland, England and Turkey.

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.

A bungalow at Dos Ganchos

By Patrick Connelly

While it may not sport the plethora of resorts that countries like Mexico offer, Brazil has recently built up a reputable armada of beachside all-inclusives and romantic getaways.  With over 7,000 km of coastline, the area is immense and options are numerous.  Here are a few of Brazil’s best resorts, with representatives from several different parts of the country.

1. Ponta Das Ganchos – Southern Brazil (Near Florianopolis/Sao Paulo)

Leave the kids at home.  Literally.  They won’t be allowed in.  Ponta Das Ganchos, located on a private peninsula, is Brazil’s most romantic getaway: no one under 18 is allowed.  Twenty-five beautiful bungalows situate perfectly between the white beach and the lush Atlantic Forest, creating an intimate, isolated environment while offering top notch amenities.  From spas to movie theatres to massage tents, Ganchos has everything a couple needs and more.  The resort also sports one of Brazil’s finest diving areas at nearby Arvoredo Island.

I’s seclusion and luxury at the highest level, and such privilages do come at a cost.  But the location is not only picturesque, but also very convenient; the resort can be reached easily from Rio, Sao Paulo, and Buenos Aires.

2. Rio Das Piedras - 45 Minutes from Rio de Janeiro

This resort you can bring your kids to.  In fact, this Club Med creation caters to the young extremely well, and is a perfect place for a family vacation.  Its everything that you’d expect from member of the Med hegemony: quality, efficiency, and a well-rounded approach.  Das Piedras, a stone’s throw from Rio de Janeiro, has plenty to offer the kids as well as the parents, from waterskiing to spa treatment to archery lessons, all included in the overall fee.  A massive 320 rooms, in both club and deluxe sizes, means that getting a room is not nearly as hard as it is at Dos Ganchos, but on weekends the resort can get crowded with Paulistas from Sao Paulo and other cities.

Das Piedras also offers great dining and bars, most of which is included (some old wines and spirits are not), as well as Club Med’s famous monitors that keep watch over the kids while parents relax.

3. Blue Tree Eco Resort Park - Angra dos Reis (90 miles from Rio de Janeiro)

Another resort that is a favorite of weekenders from the large cities, Blue Tree Eco Resort is part of the Blue Tree Hotel chain and is a top quality destination for families and couples alike.  As the name suggests, Blue Tree is focused around a natural experience, combining the beauty of the surrounding environment with modern perks.  Numerous small, tranquil bays and islands dot the coastline while the Atlantic Forest covers everything in brilliant green.  Many of the resort’s activities are centered around this unique setting, with extensive canopy walking through the forests and watersports amidst the islands.  Along with Das Ganchos, Blue True also has some of southern Brazil’s best dive spots.

View at the Enotel Resort