Attractions of Brazil

Rio de Janeiro is one of the most beautiful and vibrant cities in the world. Known as the Cidade Maravilhosa (Marvellous City), its setting is almost unparalleled - crammed between stunning white beaches and soaring mountains with the peaks of Sugarloaf Mountain and the Corcovado guarding its bay. The 1,300-metre long cable car ride to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain gives you spectacular views across the city and Guanabara Bay, which are matched by those on Corcovado on top of which lies the magnificent statue of Christ the Redeemer, one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. Back in the city, Rio's famous beaches (Ipanema, Copacabana and Leblon) are filled with sun worshippers, the colonial part of the city has many historic buildings and museums and the picturesque barrio of Santa Teresa is known as 'The Montmartre of Rio'. Its at night when Rio really comes alive though, with the samba bars of Lapa and the bars and restaurants of Ipanema and Copacabana filled with live music, energy and people having fun. The whole city goes wild with parades and parties in the week leading up to the Mardi Gras Carnival every year in February. The contrast between the opulent downtown and the poverty in the hillside favelas can be seen on a tour of Rocinha (the largest in South America). Another must-see attraction is a football game at the world famous 95,000 seat Maracena Stadium to experience the unique Brazilian football atmosphere. For quiet time away from the city's bustle, the beautiful Botanical Gardens or tropical rainforest of Tijuca National Park provides a welcome break from the concrete jungle.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea

Ihla Grande is an island off the coast of Rio de Janeiro renowned for its beautiful beaches, rich vegetation and rocky landscapes. With no cars on the island, it's the perfect spot for relaxation and exploration on foot or by boat. The entire island is a protected area with an abundance of endangered wildlife that can be viewed on the 150km of trails through the pristine rainforest. The animal species here include red-browed Amazon parrot, broad-snouted caiman, maned sloth and brown howler monkey. Elsewhere the 6-7 hour hike to the Pico do Papagaio at 982 metres offers superb views of the island and surrounding waters while Antigo Presídio has the ruins of a once infamous prison for political prisoners.

Iguazu Falls can lay reasonable claim to being the most spectacular waterfalls in the world. Certainly, the sheer breadth of them, 275 distinct waterfalls across 2.5km, is without parallel while they are higher than Niagara Falls with heights of up to 80 metres. Located at the confluence of the Rio Iguazu and the Rio Alto Parana, the Falls can be viewed from both the Argentine and Brazilian side of the border - the Brazilian side gives great panoramic views, especially of the Devil's Throat area, with the Argentine side allowing you to get closer to the waters from above and below. A short helicopter ride over the waterfalls offers a different and spectacular vista. Close to the national park is the Parque das Aves which contains many examples of Brazil's subtropical birds as well as mammals and reptiles. There is also the option to visit the Itaipu Dam, one of the engineering wonders of the world and second only in size to the Three Gorges Dam in China. With a dam 8km long and 65 storeys high and a reservoir that covers 1400 km², Itaipu supplies 80& of Paraguay's electricity and 25% of Brazil's.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Iguaçu National Park

There are 25 reserved in the south-east of Brazil that contain extensive examples of the remaining Atlantic forests of Brazil, one of the world's richest and most endangered habitats. These complex ecosystems range from forested mountains to wetlands and islands and have high levels of endemism, including 70% of tree species and 40% of mammals. Animals of note found in these reserves include jaguar, bush dog, black-faced lion tamarin, muriqui and brown howler monkey.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves

The Pantanal is a vast area of wetlands in central Brazil that is one of the best areas in South America for wildlife viewing. Covering some 230,000 km², it is one of the world's largest freshwater wetland ecosystems. The diversity of animal species in the Pantanal is staggering - over 650 bird species, 400 fish, 50 reptile and 80 mammalian, with the landscape ensuring they are much easier to see than in other parts of the continent. Animals include jacare, giant anteater, ocelot, jaguar, cougar, giant river otter, capybara and pamba and march deer while some of the bird species of note are the hyacinth macaw (the world's largest parrot), jabiru storks and roseate spoonbill. The wetlands can be explored on foot, horseback, boat rides or on vehicles depending on the terrain and time of year.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Pantanal Conservation Area

The town of Bonito is located within the beautiful Serre da Bodoquena National Park. Surrounded by lush forests, rivers, waterfalls and caves, this is an area both of exceptional natural beauty and a place to try some exciting activities. These include abseiling into a cave at Anhumas abyss, rafting and kayaking on the rivers, exploring the caves and swimming and snorkelling in underground lakes and rappelling, as well as horse riding and trekking.

The Cerrado is one of the world’s oldest and most diverse tropical ecosystems which has served as refuge for several species during periods of climate change for millennia. Its two protected areas, the Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas National Parks, are home to many threatened and endemic species including the Pantanal deer, jaguar, maned Wolf, rhea, giant armadillo, giant anteater, capybara and tapir. The natural features of Chapada Dos Veadeiros are spectacular - the Rio Preto Falls are 120 metres high and the canyons in the park have depths up to 40 metres. Chapada dos Veadeiros is also the most luminous place on earth according to NASA due to the high levels of quartz crystal in its soil.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Cerrado Protected Areas: Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas National Parks

The Discovery Coast Atlantic Forest Reserves consists of eight protected areas in the states of Bahia and Espirito Santo. The 1,120 km² of Atlantic forest are the world's richest in terms of biodiversity with high levels of endemism and are important for conservation and scientific study.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Discovery Coast Atlantic Forest Reserves

The islands of the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago and Rocas Atoll off the north-eastern coast of Brazil represent more than half of the surface area of South Atlantic islands. The waters around the islands are important for the breeding and feeding of tuna, shark, turtle and marine mammals and are home to the largest concentration of tropical seabirds in the Western Atlantic.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Brazilian Atlantic Islands: Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas Reserves

The Amazon Rainforest is one of the most extraordinary and important ecosystems on earth, vital for the maintenance of life on the planet as well as for its own hugely diverse animal and plant populations. Staying in lodges in the jungle allows you to explore the pristine natural environment, learn about the variety of plant life and their uses by indigenous people and spot the myriad animal and bird life present. Fishing for piranhas, spotting caiman by torchlight, visiting indigenous communities and searching for pink dolphins on boat trips are some of the fascinating activities available. A boat journey along the Amazon or one of its many tributaries will also allow you to experience life on the waterways which are often the main means of communication and transportation in the region. Visiting riverside settlements, watching the jungle as you glide past and sleeping in a hammock underneath the stars makes for an unforgettable experience. The journey is best taken on a small, traditional two-decked riverboat for a more authentic experience and to allow you to get closer to the rainforest.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Central Amazon Conservation Complex