Travel Guides: All Countries / South America / Brazil
 |  | Destination Guide : Brazil |
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| | | Natural wonders |  | Why go on holiday to Brazil?
Brazil has everything. This South American giant boasts the Amazon, the world's largest rainforest, and the Pantanal, the largest wetlands.
These two vast natural habitats are home to the richest variety of flora and fauna on the planet, as well as peoples whose cultures and lives have been constant for thousands of years.
How much does it cost?
Discounted flights from London to Rio start at about £300 for a single and £500 return. It pays to shop around for bargains. You'll pay around £30 for a night in a moderate hotel in one of the cities. A five-night package on Copacabana Beach costs from £800. A 14-day package including Rio and the Amazon with some meals costs from £2,000.
When should I go?
Brazil is mostly comfortable throughout the year. The only extreme seasonal changes occur down south where it gets incredibly humid in the summer and rains non-stop in the winter.
Brazilians tend to holiday between December and February and travel costs can rise accordingly. This is also the hottest time of year. Avoid if extreme heat isn't your thing.
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| | | Thrilling city life |  | What should I do when I'm there?
Enjoy the thrilling city life, explore the jungle, or find a spot on the thousands of miles of sandy beaches.
Brasilia, the capital, is a genuine curiosity. Built from scratch between 1957 and 1960, it is a World Heritage site and the most ambitious piece of modern town planning ever undertaken.
Rio is deservedly famous the world over for its magnificent sights, beaches and nightlife. It has plenty of problems, but remains an unforgettable place.
Corcovado, the peak with the huge statue of Christ the Redeemer, looks out over the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema. Take a cable car up Pao de Acucar (the Sugar Loaf Mountain) or throw yourself into Carnaval.
With 17 million inhabitants, Sao Paulo is a whopping megalopolis - if you're a city person, you'll love it. Highlights include the baroque Teatro Municipal, the Edificio Copan and the 16th-century Patio do Colegio.
Where can I see wildlife?
The Amazon is a truly mind-boggling area of forest and rivers which covers half of Brazil and stretches into neighbouring countries.
To this day, not all of it has been explored and an estimated 15,000 species of creatures call it home - monkeys, alligators, anacondas, big cats, numerous exotic birds and insects.
The Pantanal is an even better area for viewing wildlife, as there's no dense foliage for the animals to hide in. It's a vast wetlands in the centre of South America.
Where else is worth a visit?
Jericoacoara is a rough little fishing village and difficult to get to. Despite this, it is the place to go for backpackers and hip Brazilians.
The beaches are great and there's dancing every night. Laze around by day or hire a horse and gallop over the sands.
Olinda was once Brazil's capital and its colonial past shows in the winding streets and buildings. It has a thriving cultural scene and is a magnet for bohemians and aesthetes.
There are markets, museums and cafes, and a throbbing carnaval more intimate than in the big cities, but no less passionate.
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| | | Time to party | | Where's good for nightlife?
Almost anywhere. There seems to be a party going on somewhere all the time.
What's the food like?
Brazilian cuisine is based around white rice, black beans and manioc flour, usually with chicken, steak or fish.
Dishes to look out for are moqueca (seafood stew with coconut oil), caruru (an okra-heavy veg dish with shrimp) and feijoada (bean and meat stew).
Budget travellers will enjoy acaraje, fried balls of mashed beans and onions filled with seafood and pepper, sold by street vendors.
What should I buy?
Music, local crafts and artwork.
What is there for children to do?
Enjoy the beach! The major cities also have lots of museums and attractions to keep them entertained.
Tourist office
Brazilian Tourist Office, 32 Green Street, London W1K 7AT. Tel. 020 7629 6909.
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| | Available rental properties in Brazil |
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| |  | | Sophisticated city oceanfront apartment.
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|  | | Stunning view of Rio's Christ Statue
Rio's post card view of Corcovado's and Rodrigo de Freitas Lake. Located in Ipanema, walking distance to Rio's most famous beach and neighborhood.
|  | | Ocean Front - Ave. Niemeyer - Rio de Janeiro
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