Brazil

Say the word Brazil, and the surroundings become a little more colourful and a little more joyful. This is a land of nearly 2,000 beaches, the mighty Amazon rainforest, the Rio festival, succulent and sinful cuisine, legendary soccer players, cheerful locals and the world-famous Brazilian coffee bean. Brazil is a bottle of sunshine, cheer and charm, so pop the cork, raise your glass and drink in that flavourful Brazilian essence.

So, shall we get started? Are you ready to explore the ins and outs of Brazilian Tourism?

Highlights of Brazil: Variety is the Spice

Cities in Brazil

If you’re considering exploring the length and breadth of Brazil, you might run into a small problem – Brazil is vast, diverse and impossible to cover in one trip. With over 1700 cities of varying sizes and varying charms, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Here are just a few to consider. Rio de Janeiro draws tourists in like a magnet – golden beaches like the Copacabana and Ipanema, stunning views from the Sugarloaf and Corcovado mountains, the welcoming arms of the massive Christ the Redeemer statue, the gorgeous Gunanbara Bay and more. Your next stop must be Sao Paulo, with a progressive cultural scene, the eclectic mix of clubs and cafes at Vila Madalena, the massive Ibirapuera Park and the lovely Museu de Arte de Sao Paulo.  At Brasilia, gaze in awe at the architectural wonders that crowd the city’s corners, these include the Cathedral of Brasilia, Itamaraty Palace, Palacio do Planato and more. Meet the waves that lap up to the next city on your list – Natal. Known for its stunning beaches, great nightlife, dune buggy rides and pure air this is relaxed beauty at its best. Other cities include Fortaleza, Salavador de Bahia, Manaus, Recife, Curitaba and more (a lot more).

Nature in Brazil 

You don’t need to look very hard for the green in Brazil. A large portion of this gorgeous country is covered in the shimmering green cover of the Amazon rainforest. Known as the lungs of the world, the Amazon houses plants, animals, insects and reptiles that can’t be found anywhere else. 390 billion independent trees, 16,000 species, 2.5 million insect species, 1300 species of birds and more. This is paradise, largely unexplored and home to secretive tribal communities. If you can tear your eyes away from the forest, then tune your ears to the roar of the Iguazu falls – the world’s largest waterfall system between Parana, Brazil and Argentina. Explore the tropical lushness of the wetlands in Pantanal, with its incredible diversity of fauna and flora. Witness the confluence of the sandy coloured waters of the Amazon river with the dark waves of the Rio Negro River, known as the Meeting of the Waters. Other areas to visit are Rocas Atoll, Lencois Maranhenses National Park, Fernando de Norohna, Cachoeira da Fumaca and more. 

Shopping in Brazil

Want to shop till you drop? Then Brazil is the place to do it. Head over to Rua Oscar Freire in Sao Paulo for accessories, high end brands and gourmet food shops. Rua 25 de Marco in the same city, is a more affordable shopping district for toys, textiles and gadgets. In Rio, Visconde de Piraja offers you great designer collections. The Santa Teresa District in Rio will cater to the more eclectic and bohemian amongst you. Feira Hippie is perfect for local handicrafts and art to decorate your home with. Brazil is famous for great swimwear, beautiful jewellery, coffee, Havaianas (flip-flops), brigadeiros (traditional sweets) and more. Make sure you grab these items for home, before you leave Brazil’s beautiful shores.

Cuisines of Brazil

Brazil has an incredibly diverse cuisine, which contains hints of European, Asian and Portuguese influences. Due to the size of the country, a popular dish can change ever so slightly based on regional influences. Nevertheless, Brazilian food is a taste bud’s dream. You must try Feijoada - a rich bean stew, filled with chunks of beef or pork, served with white rice, collard greens, toasted flour, fried bananas and orange slices. Or dig into the salted chunks of codfish baked with olives, potatoes, onion, tomato on white rice, with a drizzle of olive oil on top (known as Balcahao). A fish stew of coconut milk, coriander, tomatoes, onions, palm oil and chunks of white fish, will soothe any tummy. For a flavourful punch, try a bowl of Acaraje – crispy fritters filled with spicy shrimp. For your sweet tooth, dig into the soft texture of Quindim – a soft custard of egg yolk, coconut, sugar and butter.

The Rio Carnival  

You cannot miss the biggest carnival in the world, if you’re planning a trip to Brazil. The Carnaval do Rio de Janeiro is held every year before Lent and sees crowds as big as 2 million people celebrating on the streets. Floats, dancers, the beat of steel drums, parades at the Sambodromo, street parties and more make up the festival. The infectious rhythm of samba music fills the air, you’ll see costumes of every kind and revellers who spill out onto every inch of the city’s streets. This is celebration at its finest and frenzy-est. Don’t miss out on it.

Interesting Facts about Brazil: Big, Bigger, Biggest

• This is the largest country in South America
• The country got its name from the Brazilwood tree
• In terms of land area and population, Brazil is the 5th largest country in the world
• The country covers 3 time zones
• 60 percent of the Amazon Rainforest is found within Brazil’s borders

Location of Brazil: Stretching and Sprawling

The east of Brazil welcomes the waves of the mighty Atlantic Ocean, with a coastline that stretches 7,491 kilometres long. Brazil shares its borders generously, touching almost every other South American country, except for Ecuador and Chile. The country also sprawls comfortably over the continent of South America, covering almost 47.3% of the land.  

Best Time to Visit Brazil

A tropical haven, Brazil offers tourists warm weather throughout the year. When rain arrives, it falls in short and intense bursts. The sheer size and scale of Brazil means that each area experiences slightly different weather conditions. If you plan to travel to South Brazil, March to November is the dry season, while December to February sees more downpours. June to September is perfect for its cool evenings and sunny, cheerful days. North and Eastern Brazil sees an average of 26 to 30 degrees throughout the year. August to February reflects a drier season, while March to July sees the rain make a splash in this region. So choose the best time to visit Brazil wisely

How to reach Brazil: River and Runways

By Air: If you’re flying to Brazil, book your tickets for Sao Paulo or Rio de Janeiro – the largest airports in the country are based there. These airports are well connected to America, Europe, South America and certain cities in Asia and Africa. However, all major cities do have airports, though many of them are domestic – do your bookings according to your itinerary. Do note, that from India, there are no direct flights to Brazil. You’ll need to take a connecting flight via Abu Dhabi or Dubai to Sao Paulo. These flights are available from Mumbai, Delhi, Kochi, Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram. 

By Water: You can catch a boat to Brazil, from neighbouring countries like Venezuela, Colombia and Peru, via the Amazon tour. These journeys do take several days, so prepare for the long road (or river). You can check out more ways on how to reach Brazil

History of Brazil: Royalty and Republic

Prior to the 1500 AD, landing of the Portuguese explorer Pedro Alvares Cabral, Brazil was largely inhabited by diverse tribal nations. Alvares claimed Brazil as a part of the Portuguese Empire, and it remained so until 1808. This was when the capital was moved from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro. In 1815, the colony has bestowed the rank of Kingdom, and a mere 7 years later in 1822 Independence was achieved with the creation of the Empire of Brazil. In 1889, Brazil became a presidential republic, followed by the rise of an authoritarian military junta in 1985. Today, Brazil is a democratic federal republic.