South America

Brazil

WHERE THE WORLD GOES TO PLAY

Why We Love Brazil

Simply, one of the world’s great cities! The beautiful people that gather on the city’s magnificent beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana … the natural wonders of the mighty Amazon River to the massive Iguassu Falls … the rich Colonial heritage seen in Rio, Sao Paulo, Salvador de Bahia … the joie de vivre of the people and their infectious love of music, dance, and partying, all these combine to make every visit to Brazil a Carnival of experiences!

Inspired Experiences in Brazil

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Top Destinations in Brazil

Christ the Redeemer/Corcovado

Millions visit the iconic statue atop Rio’s highest peak, enjoying the stunning views of the city and ocean below. Half the fun is the cog railway that ascends through the Tijuca rainforest to reach the towering summit.

Sugarloaf Mountain

Glass-sided cable-cars whisk visitors to the top of this granite monolith rising above the waters of Rio’s Guanabana Bay.

Iguazu Falls

This Immense, scenic set of waterfalls on the border of Brazil and Argentina rival the size and scope of Niagara and Victoria falls.

Rio’s Beaches

Made famous by Carlos Antonio Jobim’s song, Rio’s famous in-city beaches at Ipanema and Copacabana are where the “tall and tan and young and lovely” go to see and be seen.

Manaus

This city of three million in northern Brazil is the gateway to the Amazon River and its myriad of natural wonders.

Salvador

Capital of the northeastern state of Bahia, Salvador offers Portuguese colonial architecture, Afro-Brazilian culture and more spectacular tropical beaches.

Pernambuco

This northeastern coastal state includes the bustling modern city of Recife, the second-oldest colonial town of Olinda and the gateway to the beautiful Fernando de Noronha island chain just offshore.

Paraty

This lovely Colonial town on the shore of the Ilha Grande offers pristine beaches, mountainside sugar cane and coffee plantations and wonderful dining.

Sao Paulo

Those who love cities will appreciate the multi-cultural, cosmopolitan scene in Brazil’s largest city, teeming with people and activity.

Articles

Best Brazilian Beaches

The Active Life
The Top Spots to Sit in the Sun Read More

Best Brazilian Beaches

The Active Life
The Top Spots to Sit in the Sun Read More

Overview

From the teeming jungle wilds of the Amazon basin to the crowds of sun worshippers on the beach at Copacabana, Brazil is a fascinating mix of people, places and things to see and do.

One of the world’s greatest cities Rio de Janeiro offers world-famous beaches, the towering edifice of Corcovado Mountain, the favelas that teem with life and music, and its rich cultural life.

The mighty Amazon which drains much of the South American continent, is an endless motherlode of natural wonders, ripe for exploration. And there are also the Pantanal, the largest wetlands on earth, and Iguacu Falls, an unforgettable natural cascade of hundreds of waterfalls.

In addition to Rio and its nightlife, there are other great cities to visit. Sao Paulo is one of the oldest Colonial cities in the New World. Brazil’s coastline contains thousands of miles of magnificent beaches, coral reefs to explore, sand dunes to hike, waves to surf.

And adding to all the fun are the Brazilian people themselves. Perhaps the most fun-loving people on earth, a visit to Brazil is a nonstop festival of music, dance, fine dining, laughter and delight. No matter where you go, you will find a winning smile and a warm welcome in Brazil.

Quick Facts

The official language of Brazil is Portuguese. However, English, Spanish and other European tongues are also spoken in the large cities and in tourist areas.

The currency in Brazil is the real (pronounced ree-ALL). The exchange rate is roughly 1 US dollar equals 4 Brazilian reals. Please check the current exchange rate before traveling, as it changes daily.

The electrical current in Brazil varies from place to place. In the large tourist cities, most hotels have outlets for both 220v and 110-120v appliances. There are two associated plug types, types C and N. Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins. Plug type N is the plug which has two flat parallel pins and a grounding pin. Travelers are advised to bring a converter and a surge protector.

Internet connections and WiFi spots are found throughout the country. Most major hotels provide good accessibility.

Most visitors to Brazil, including those from the United States, are required to obtain a visa prior to arrival. It can take up to 30 days to obtain a visa from the Brazilian government, although the process can be started online (https://formulario-mre.serpro.gov.br/). The cost of obtaining a Brazilian visa is USD$160. Separate visas are required for those visiting for tourism and those visiting for business purposes.

It is recommended that visitors use bottled water for drinking and teeth brushing.

While there are four time zones within Brazil, most of the country, including Rio de Janeiro is on Brasilia Time (GMT -3). (If it is noon in New York City, it is 1 p.m. in Rio de Janeiro).

Located in the Southern Hemisphere, Brazil’s summer/winter seasons are the opposite of the Northern Hemisphere. Peak tourist season is in their summer: December through March, peaking during Carnival in early February. However, as a mostly tropical nation, the climate is warm and humid year round in most locations.

Average High and Low Temperatures

Things To Do in Brazil

Samba

Learn to dance the samba, Brazil’s most popular dance and unique expression of its joie de vivre. Pick up the steps in an escola de samba (samba school), or visit a gafieira, a traditional dancehall, where several generations of Cariocas gyrate across the floor with natural fluidity.

Carnival

Whether in Rio or any other Brazilian city, the week-long party of Carnival goes on and on, with parades, samba-thons, music, costumes, revelry and surprise. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Football

The belo jugo, or beautiful game of football (soccer) is Brazil’s national pastime, and national obsession. Experience it anywhere in the country, but nowhere can Brazil’s worship for the game be better felt than at Rio’s Maracanã Stadium, one of the world’s largest.

Chapada Diamantina National Park

High-altitude landscape of rivers, valleys, caves and towering mesas are a playground for hikers, river rafters, ecotourists and spelunkers

Lencois Maranhenses National Park

It feels otherworldly in this amazing sandscape near the mouth of the mightly Amazon, where dunes form in the wind and capture freshwater lagoons of blue, green and black.

Favelas

Take a guided tour of some of Rio’s favelas where houses seem to grow atop each other, but the friendly people, great restaurants and clubs and indigenous culture welcome visitors.

Minas Gerais

The mountainous inland state of Minas Gerais has some of Brazil's best preserved colonial architecture. The old mining towns in the heart of the state, most notably Ouro Preto, Mariana, Sabará, and Diamantina, are historic gems.

Rio Grande do Sul

Visit the ruins of 300-year-old Jesuit missions in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, where the early missionaries played an important role defending the indigenous Guaraní people against colonial slavery.

Hotels and Resorts