Brazil is the largest country in South America, occupying nearly half of the continent. It is almost entirely in the Southern Hemisphere, and much of it is tropical, with vast stretches of rainforest teeming with exotic plants and wildlife.
Brazil’s Atlantic coast has 7,400 kilometres of golden sand beaches, and its interior is rich in mineral resources. The churches of Portugal, the colonial power that ruled Brazil until 1822, are still adorned with gold from Brazil’s mines. This strong Portuguese influence can be seen in Brazil’s colonial architecture, decorative arts such as glazed tiles in churches and convents, and language.
Brazil is a tropical paradise and an exciting cultural destination for tourists, with attractions to suit all tastes, from idyllic beach vacations and jungle explorations to world-class art museums and the pulsing rhythms of Rio’s Carnival. The guys over at Exponential Construction Corp. recommend these next places specifically to travel to!
1. Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro is the most vibrant and exciting City on the planet. Rio de Janeiro, located in southeastern Brazil, is the most visited City in South America due to its famous mountains, beaches, and Carnival festival.
Rio de Janeiro is located in one of the world’s largest harbors, surrounded by natural wonders such as the Sugarloaf and Corcovado mountains and famous beaches such as Copacabana and Ipanema. Tijuca National Park, one of the world’s largest urban forests, is located within this sprawling metropolis and is teeming with native flora and fauna.
The massive Christ the Redeemer statue atop Corcovado mountain is the City’s most recognizable landmark. Colonial fortresses, former presidential palaces, and Maracana Stadium, one of the world’s largest football stadiums, are also important landmarks.
Unfortunately, most people associate Rio with crime and favelas. Favelas are areas of low-quality housing, slums that are typically located on the City’s many mountain slopes and are juxtaposed with middle-class neighborhoods.
2. Iguaçu Falls
The Iguaçu river drops spectacularly in a semicircle of 247 waterfalls that thunder down into the gorge below at the point where Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina meet. The river is narrowed to one-fourth of its normal width just above the falls, increasing the force of the water.
Some of the falls are more than 100 meters high and cover such a large area that you’ll never see them all at once, but the Brazilian side offers the best view. Catwalks and a tower provide different perspectives, and one bridge extends to the Garganta do Diabo (Devil’s Throat).
Cross to the Argentine side for better views from catwalks extending deeper into the falls’ heart. Because the two sides provide different perspectives and views, most tourists plan to visit both.
The UNESCO-listed Iguaçu National Park protects the falls, which is home to over 1,000 bird and mammal species, including deer, otters, ocelots, and capybaras.
3. Salvador
Salvador has become one of Brazil’s top tourist destinations thanks to its historic Old City, beautiful beaches, vibrant culture, and one of the world’s largest Carnival celebrations. Salvador, Brazil’s third largest City and the state capital of Bahia, is one of the oldest cities in the Americas.
Salvador, a former major center of the sugar and enslaved person trade, still bears traces of its history in its Old City, which features colonial architecture, stunning churches, and plazas where important events once took place. Many restaurants, bars, art galleries, and handicraft shops can also be found in the old quarter. In contrast, Salvador’s New City district is home to all of the City’s modern developments, including shopping malls, entertainment venues, golf courses, and residential neighborhoods.
Salvador, located on the Bay of All Saints coast, has beautiful beaches ideal for sunbathing, swimming, and surfing. Porto de Barra, Flamengo, and Stella Maris are among the most popular.
4. Ipanema
Beyond Copacabana’s beaches, the glorious white sands merge into the equally famous beaches of Ipanema. The same wave design that separates the sand from the line of hotels, restaurants, cafés, art galleries, and cinemas that make this a popular social zone year-round continues here.
The beaches of Leblon are located further along, beyond the Jardim de Alá Canal, which drains the lagoon of Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas. These beaches are popular with families because there are fewer tourists and more locals. On Sundays, there is an antique market at Praça de Quentaland and the Feira de Artesanato de Ipanema, alive with music, art, handicrafts, and street food.
The waves at Ipanema and Leblon can be very strong and unpredictable, so swim with caution. Follow the crowds and stay out of areas where no one else is swimming. If you’re looking for surf, head to the stretch between Copacabana and Ipanema, where the surfers congregate.
5. Amazon Rainforests
The dark Rio Negro waters meet the yellow muddy waters of the Rio Solimes about 20 kilometers southeast of Manaus, flowing side by side for about six kilometers before merging as the Amazon. Boat trips from Manaus take you to this point, which is known as Encontro das Aguas, or the meeting of the waters.
Other boat trips take you deep into the rainforests and the three rivers’ networks of rivers, channels, and lakes. The Anavilhanas Islands in the Rio Negro form an archipelago with lakes, streams, and flooded forests that provide a complete cross-section of the Amazonian ecosystem.
On a boat trip here, you can see monkeys, sloths, parrots, toucans, caimans, turtles, and other wildlife. The 688-hectare Janauari Ecological Park, which is also close to Manaus, has a variety of ecosystems that you can explore by boat along its narrow waterways.
An entire lake here is covered in giant water-lilies that can only be found in the Amazon region. While in Manaus, don’t miss the famous Teatro Amazonas, an Italian Renaissance-style opera house built to establish Manaus as South America’s cultural capital.
6. Pantanal
The Pantanal, which spans much of western Brazil and parts of Paraguay and Bolivia, is the world’s largest and most diverse tropical wetland area. The region is becoming increasingly popular for visitors due to its stunning scenery and incredible wildlife, though its remote and watery nature does pose some challenges.
During the rainy season, approximately 80% of the floodplains are submerged, making plane or boat travel the only option. It’s worth it, though, because the endless marshes and grasslands are home to various fauna and flora.
Visitors will likely see many caiman and capybara while exploring the scenic landscapes ranging from swamps and savanna to lakes, forests, and wetlands. Spotting the South American jaguar is the highlight of any trip; the Pantanal is the best place to see the elusive creature on the continent.
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