As the largest country in South America, Brazil has an abundance of activities on offer, varying from region to region. Most trips to Brazil begin in the vibrant Rio de Janeiro, where you can enjoy sugar-soft beaches, urban jungles, panoramic views, colonial to neoclassical architecture, hillside favelas and unrivalled carnival parades.
On a tailor-made itinerary to Brazil, we would recommend spending a few days in Rio to be able to discover everything this lively city has to offer. You can take a full-day tour to tick off the highlights as you visit the statue of Christ the Redeemer, which watches over the Cariocas from Corcovado Mountain, and take a cable car up Sugar Loaf mountain to enjoy panoramic views of Copacabana Beach. Other excursions include a 4×4 tour of Tijuca forest, a visit to the botanical gardens, or indulge in Brazilian cuisine on a food tour. One of our top tips when exploring Rio is to enter Parque Lage to get a unique view of Christ the Redeemer.
Just north of Rio is the city of Belo Horizonte, the main city of the quaint state of Minas Gerais. Here you can add a couple of nights in the Ibitipoca Reserve and stay in a converted fazenda. Or visit the dramatic scenery of Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park. We also recommend visiting the historic gold-mining town of Ouro Preto, where baroque churches decorate the colonial streets.
From Rio you have access to most parts of Brazil. To the north-west, visit the contemporary governmental buildings of Brasilia, made famous by architect Oscar Niemeyer. From Brasilia you can then fly to Cuiabà, the gateway to the flooded wetlands of the Pantanal, named one of the best places in the world to view wildlife.
Another highlight of a tailor-made itinerary to Brazil is the unmissable Iguaçu Falls, which can be seen from both the Brazil and Argentina side. You can experience the falls at sunset or sunrise while the park is closed to the public if you stay at the luxurious Belmond Hotel das Cataratas.
For those craving an off-the-beaten-track journey, we would recommend travelling to the north coast of Brazil to explore the white-powder dunes and turquoise lagoons of Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. To reach this oasis you begin your journey in São Luis before making the four-and-a-half-hour drive to Barreirinhas. From here you can access Lençóis Maranhenses, where you can take a dip in the freshwater lagoons. Continuing east, you can take a boat along the Rio Preguiças until you reach the Atlantic coast, where you can then choose to visit the tropical islands of the Parnaiba delta and the former fishing village of Jericoacoara.
Lastly, in the north of Brazil, you have access to the Amazon Rainforest and many Amazon cruises will begin from Manaus. You can speak to our travel consultants to find the best cruise for you.