A vast country-continent bursting with energy, Brazil is no slouch when it comes to colorful images. But it's impossible to see it all in one go, as nature here reaches extremes of excess. So where to start? Here are just 6 suggestions.
By Eric Vancleynenbreugel
1. Rio de Janeiro, mythical
Famous for its Carnival, Rio is above all an extraordinary site, unique in the world. An incredible succession of spiky bays and beaches, a twisted relief, a perfect chaos. A city that invites you to take in the sights. Climb to the top of Sugarloaf and Corcovado. For some of the most fantastic views in the world, and to see the planes flying lower than you...
On the checklist:
- Break your piggy bank for a helicopter (or paraglider) flight over Rio.
- A less expensive option is a boat trip around the bay. Or to Paraty, famous for its paradise islands.
- Santa Teresa and Lapa, neighborhoods of colorful staircases and sloping alleys (ladeiras).
2. Brasilia, the aircraft city
Brasilia is only half a century old! This new city should also be seen from the air, or by climbing the television tower, free of charge and preferably at sunset. From up there, you can see that Brasilia is shaped like... an airplane. Other highlights include the cathedral and, above all, the Praça Très Poderes, flanked by the Senate and House buildings, which stand side by side.
On the checklist:
- The Santuario Dom Bosco, whose walls are covered with thousands of pieces of blue and purple glass!
- Visit the Memorial dos Povos Indigenas, with its collection of Brazilian Indian artefacts.
- For a bit of fresh air, the Parque Nacional de Brasilia - with its natural pools and protected fauna - stretches along the northern edge of the city!
3. Historic cities of Minas Gerais
This is the land of gold mines and precious stones. An Eldorado that gave rise to fortunes and opulent colonial cities such as Tiradentes, Mariana, Diamantina and Ouro Preto. The latter was once the capital of the «General Mines» state. A delightful city, built on a gold-rich mountain, that invites you to step back in time. Tiradentes, 150 km away, is a small, white town clustered around a river spanned by stone bridges.
On the checklist:
- Bichninho is just a few kilometers from Tiradentes. It's a cute, authentic little village with little tourism and no fuss.
- Take in a show at Ouro Preto's splendid Teatro Municipal, the oldest in Latin America.
- Take a wagon ride down the Mina de Ouro da Passagem, one of the largest gold mines open to the public in the world, and admire the crystal-clear waters of its underground lake.
4. Salvador de Bahia, the electric city
Salvador can be summed up in three words: carnival, capoeira, gastronomy... Brazil's Black Rome is bathed in a languorous tropical atmosphere. And it boasts a wealth of architecture: there are at least 365 churches... Salvador is a city full of life and atmosphere, and in the evening, it's a must to lose yourself in Pelourinho, the central district, full of musical bars.
On the checklist:
- Go to Morro de Sao Paulo (2-hour crossing by boat or a few minutes by small plane): a superb peninsula where time has stood still. There's no road, and you're greeted by a guide equipped with a wheelbarrow (for customers' luggage). The only addresses are: beach n°1, n°2, n°3 or n°4!
- Attend a candomblé ceremony, an Afro-Brazilian Christian rite: incense fumes, haunting rhythms, trances...
- Treat yourself to a session of capoeira, the slave dance born here, at one of the city's academies. Mestre Bimba's is the most renowned.
5. Natal, a city in the dunes
Natal lies almost on the equator. Temperatures hover around 28°C year-round, with water at 27°C! Hence its nickname of «cidade do sol», city of the sun, with over 300 days of fine weather a year. A stay in Natal is a total immersion in the culture and relaxed lifestyle of the Brazilians. Surrounded by immense sandy beaches, the city is a permanent invitation to idleness. Vacationers' preferred means of transport: the buggy. Brazilians claim it was even born here.
On the checklist:
- Rent a surfboard on Ponta Negra beach, in the middle of the city and swept by the region's biggest waves.
- Enjoy tapioca ice cream at the old Portuguese fort, Dos Reis Magos. Stunning views of Natal and the dunes.
- Party and drink a caipirinha in Ponta Negra's Alto district: lively bars and restaurants abound.
6. Pantanal, South American safari
In the west of the country, the Pantanal is nothing less than the world's largest biosphere reserve and the planet's largest wetland. A paradise for wilderness enthusiasts. At the lowest point in Brazil, dozens of rivers meet here before flowing into the Paraguay River. Here, dense forest covers only the riverbanks and certain knolls. As a result, the abundant fauna becomes particularly visible: 80 species of mammals and over 600 species of birds, including the rare Hyacinth Macaw.
On the checklist:
- Kayak the rivers to observe the incredible wildlife of this ecosystem up close. And finish off with a spot of lasso fishing!
- On the southern edge of the Pantanal, Bonito is renowned for its waterfalls, caves and crystal-clear lakes. An ecotourism paradise.
- Enjoy a horseback ride with the Pantanal cowboys.
