Samba, rainforest and beaches that run for thousands of kilometres.
Brazil is almost a continent of its own. Rio de Janeiro wraps around Sugarloaf Mountain, Copacabana and Ipanema, while the Amazon rainforest spreads across the north and the Pantanal wetlands offer some of the best wildlife watching anywhere. Salvador's colourful Pelourinho carries a strong Afro-Brazilian heritage, and the Brazilian side of Iguaçu Falls gives the widest views of the cascades.
Life is social and unhurried: grilled meat at a churrascaria, feijoada at the weekend, açaí and fresh juices on every corner. Domestic flights make the vast distances manageable. Carnival in February or March is the headline event, but the dry, comfortable months from May to October suit much of the country, including the Pantanal.
Best time to visit Brazil
May, June, August, September, October.
Places to visit in Brazil
Rio de Janeiro: A city wrapped around mountains and bays, with Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, Christ the Redeemer and a legendary Carnival.
São Paulo: Brazil's vast business capital, where travellers come for world-class restaurants, museums and some of the continent's best nightlife.
Iguaçu Falls: The Brazilian side of the Iguaçu Falls gives the grand panorama of hundreds of cascades, ending at a walkway into the spray.
Salvador: Brazil's first capital, with a colourful colonial old town, powerful Afro-Brazilian culture, capoeira and the best Carnival street parties.
Manaus and the Amazon: A river city in the heart of the Amazon, and the starting point for jungle lodges, river trips and the Meeting of the Waters.
Pantanal: The world's largest tropical wetland, where jaguars, caimans, capybaras and giant otters are far easier to see than in the Amazon.
Florianópolis: The capital of Santa Catarina spreads across an island with dozens of beaches, surf breaks and a lagoon lined with seafood restaurants.
Paraty: A car-free colonial town of whitewashed houses and cobbles, set on a bay of islands with Atlantic Forest behind it.
Lençóis Maranhenses: A national park of rolling white sand dunes where seasonal rains fill thousands of clear lagoons between the crests.
Fernando de Noronha: A volcanic archipelago far off the northeast coast, with some of Brazil's finest beaches, clear water and spinner dolphins.
Ouro Preto: A hilly colonial town built on 18th-century gold, with baroque churches, steep cobbled streets and the sculpture of Aleijadinho.
Chapada Diamantina: A highland national park of table mountains, canyons, caves and waterfalls, with the old diamond town of Lençóis as its base.
Olinda: A hillside colonial town of pastel houses and churches beside Recife, known for its art studios and exuberant street Carnival.
Brasília: Brazil's planned capital, laid out in the shape of an aeroplane, with Oscar Niemeyer's bold modernist buildings.
Bonito: A small town in Mato Grosso do Sul surrounded by clear spring-fed rivers, caves and sinkholes for snorkelling and diving.
Jericoacoara: A remote village with sand streets, huge dunes and strong steady winds that make it a world kitesurfing centre.
Essentials
Currency: Brazilian Real (BRL)
Language: Portuguese; English limited outside tourist areas
Plugs: Type C / N, 127 / 220 V
Driving: Right side
Time zone: UTC−5 to −2
Tipping: A 10% service charge is usually added in restaurants
Getting around: Domestic flights for long distances; buses and ride-hailing within and between cities
Entry: Check the official rules for your passport before booking