Rio de Janeiro

There’s no doubt that Rio heads up the list for most people’s holiday in Brazil and there are plenty of good reasons why. From the postcard beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana, to the famous statue of Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain, the views are tremendous. With the possible exception of Sydney, Rio has to be the most attractive city in the world. The nightlife is exceptionally good as well, with some of the best bars, cafes and nightclubs in the world on your doorstep, and all with the laid-back charm which makes Rio so popular with holiday-makers from all over the world. And that’s without mentioning the famous Rio Carnival...

 

Iguazu Falls

Just a short flight inland from Rio, the spectacular Iguazu Falls are probably Brazil’s most famous natural attraction. This enormous cascade of waterfalls forms part of the border between Brazil and Argentina and the sheer beauty and power of the water has to be seen to be believed. Iguazu is usually one of the highlights of peoples’ holidays in Brazil.

 

The Pantanal

Another borderland attraction is the enormous Pantanal wetlands, which forms most of Brazil’s border with both Paraguay and Bolivia. Roughly the size of France, the Pantanal offers not just beautiful, unspoilt scenery of rivers, wetlands and pampas, but also an incredible level of bio-diversity – more even than the much more famous Amazon rainforest. If you want to snorkel in clear waters with clouds of tropical fish, or spot a jaguar by the riverbank as you edge past in your canoe, then the Pantanal is for you!

 

The Amazon

If it’s a pure wildlife experience that you are looking for on your Brazil holidays then the Pantanal is probably your best option but what it can’t offer is the majestic spectacle of the River Amazon itself. If you haven’t seen a river this big, it’s hard to get across just how big it is – easily big enough that you can’t even see one bank from the other at points. And then there’s the surrounding rainforest, of course, packed with monkeys and macaws, parakeets and piranha...

 

Salvador

Getting back to more man-made attractions, many people choose to end their Brazil holidays with a visit to the carnival city of Salvador de Bahia in the sunny north-east of Brazil. The weather here is warm year-round and so when you’ve finished exploring the city’s charming cobbled streets and colonial mansions then you can head out to one of the super beaches near the city, such as the gorgeous Praia do Forte, to soak up some rays and make sure your holiday in Brazil ends on the perfect relaxed note.

 

Dan Clarke works for Real Brazil Holidays, who specialise in tailormade holidays in Brazil. When he’s not working he’s busy counting down the days until his next trip to Rio and the Pantanal...