Visiting Brazil - Things to do & see

Covering half of South America, Brazil is the 5th largest country in the world. Known as the 'Gateway to South America', this magnificent country has much to offer visitors from all walks of life. Visitors can experience the vibrant, lively cities of Rio and Sao Paulo with numerous shops, bars, restaurants, historical monuments and colorful festivals which take place on a regular basis. The vast tropical rain forest in the Amazon offers visitors the chance to truly get up close to some of the most beautiful natural landscapes in the world. When it's time to relax, weary travelers can head to one of the many golden beaches Brazil is home to, to sunbathe, swim or simply chill out.

Rio de Janeiro is Brazil's most famous city and well worth spending a few days here to take in the sights and relax on the popular Copacabana beach. A definite must see is the famous Christ The Redeemer monument. This amazing statue of Jesus Christ is situated at the top of Corcovado Mountain at 700 metres providing stunning views looking down onto Rio. Whilst in Rio, it is also recommended taking a thrilling cable car ride up to Sugar Loaf Mountain. Visitors will experience amazing views from the glass car as they travel between the peaks of Pao de Acucar and Cara de Cao.

When sightseeing has tired you out, why not chill out on the gorgeous Copacabana beach. The most famous beach in Brazil is a 2 mile stretch of golden sand, perfect for sunbathing, swimming or for the more energetic a wide range of water sports are on offer. Visited by over a 1000 people every day, Copacabana is a great place to lie back and people watch, you may even spot a celebrity or two! A host of restaurants, bars, hotels and clubs line the beach with samba music drifting across day and night. The beach is lit up beautifully at night time and it is well worth taking a stroll along the side walk or on the sand to appreciate the amazing sights. Whether you just want to chill out or party into the night, Copacabana has something to offer everyone.

If you would prefer somewhere more peaceful, it is very easy to find quieter beaches in Brazil, with over 2000 beaches scattered around the coast of this huge country. Fernando de Noronha to the North East of Brazil has some of the most beautiful beaches in the country. The year round tropical temperatures offer over 300 days a year of perfect sunny days to soak up the sun in peaceful surroundings. The area is home to 21 islands which are easily accessible by boat, although only one remains inhabited. These islands are a mecca for divers and snorkelers with crisp, clear, sparkling waters.

The largest city of Brazil, Sao Paulo offers many wonderful sights to impress visitors to this huge city. This large city is the most populated area of Brazil and can often seem quite daunting for foreign visitors when they first arrive. However, the city has much to offer with a diverse range of sights and places to visit. The impressive Sao Paulo Cathedral is a stunning building which was built in 1967 after decades of work. The Cathedral can hold up to 8000 people and the inside has beautiful marble designs which are definitely worth seeing. Visitors that are interested in history will enjoy a stroll along Born Retiro and Luz which is the historical area of Sao Paulo with stunning buildings and architecture to admire.

No one should come to Brazil without taking the time to visit the Amazon River and rain forest. Take a jungle tour and discover diverse wildlife and scenery like you have never seen. The rain forest in the Amazon basin constitutes more than half of all the remaining rain forest in the world. The forest consists of 62 National Parks and hundreds of conservation areas which protect some of the rarest plant species in the world. Travelers can also take a boat ride down the Amazon River which is 4000 miles long, making it the worlds second largest river. The river is home to over 3000 species of fish and new species are still been discovered all the time.

Another natural wonder which is a top destination for all tourists, are the amazing Iguazu Falls. The falls are situated on the border between Brazil and Argentina and are taller than Niagara Falls and over twice as wide. The Iguazu River features over 275 falls, with the most spectacular been The Devils Throat falls. Visitors on the Brazil side can walk along the canyon to reach the lower base of fall for breathtaking views.

This vibrant, colourful country is renowned worldwide for it's love of carnivals and festivals and, if you are visiting Rio de Janeiro at the time of the famous carnival in February, you will find it hard to miss this vast celebration. However, Brazil has numerous festivals taking place on a regular basis in all parts of the country. One popular festival is the St.Vito Festival that takes place every year in the city of Sao Paulo. This is a traditional Italian Festival which celebrates Saint Vito, the patron saint of Polignano a Mare City in Italy. At the end of the 19th century many Italians emigrated to Brazil and now Sao Paulo is home to over 6 million Italian descendants. This lively festival consists of a week long party, parade and eating traditional food.

In addition to traditional carnivals across Brazil, the country also hosts numerous food festivals for locals and visitors alike to experience some of the exquisite Brazilian food. Visitors to Brazil will be overwhelmed with the wide range of traditional Brazilian dishes that offer mouthwatering tastes.

Wherever you choose to visit in Brazil, travelers will be awed by this beautiful, vibrant country and are guaranteed to take long lasting memories away with them. The only problem visitors will experience in Brazil, is that there is too much to see in a short time. Even if you had a year to travel, it is doubtful that you would be able to experience all the sights and pleasures that this large country has to offer.

We would love any of our expats currently located in Brazil to add their comments to this post! Thanks in advance :)

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