General Description

Brazil is the largest country in Latin America and the fifth largest country in the world. The mixture of races has made Brazil a culturally rich and at the same time unique country. This miscegenation began with the Indian, the African and the Portuguese, but soon after, immigrants from around the world began to arrive: Europeans, Asians, Jews and Arabs. The result is a happy people; open to everything new, a people one can only find in Brazil.

Brazil is internationally known for its Carnival, soccer and tourist attractions such as Christ the Redeemer and the Iguaçu Falls. Nature in Brazil also deserves special attention, with several ecological parks and extremely varied ecosystems: the tropical forest in the Amazon region, the stunted vegetation in the Northeast, the Atlantic Forest in the Southeast, the vast swamplands in the Midwest and the pampas in the South. Besides these, in cities such as Curitiba and Rio de Janeiro, it is possible to visit botanical gardens, which are a blend of historical value and Brazilian biodiversity.

  

Rio de Janeiro

 

Rio de Janeiro is located on the Atlantic Ocean coast and it’s privileged with wide beaches and impressive mountains. Known as “Cidade Maravilhosa” – the marvelous city – Riois a perfect combination of warm weather, beautiful sceneries, friendly people, music and happiness. A beauty comes from its natural tropical environment where mountains, forests, beaches, lagoons, and vegetation form a dramatic back-drop. The wonders of Rio can be admired from the top of the Sugar Loaf, impressive in its own height, guards the entrance of the Guanabara Bay. The Corcovado Statue blesses the entire city with open arms and dominates most of the Carioca skyline. Tijuca Forest is the largest urban forest in the world. Rio’s other natural attractions include the Botanical Garden, the Bay of Guanabara and Paquetá island and many parks and gardens. Discovered in 1502, Rio de Janeiro still has many vestiges of its historic past on show. Buildings which date from the 16th to the 19th centuries. Nightlife and entertainment in Rio are great! In Lapa and Santa Teresa there are the most typical bars playing old sambas in a setting that still preserves houses and old mansions. More sophisticated nightclubs can be found in Ipanema, Leblon, Barra and Gávea. Soccer is Rio’s main spectator sports with crowds of 100,000 or more for the major games at the Maracanã Stadium, the word’s largest stadium. The city’s 90 kilometers of beaches are an integral part of the Rio lifestyle. Riohas beaches run through its very heart and they are a center of entertainment and relaxation for the residents and visitors.

Amazon

 

The Amazon Rainforest is the largest tropical forest in the world, covering 6 million km2 in 9 different countries (in Brazil, circa of 60%). At a first look, forest seems to be rather uniform in physiognomy but in fact there are many typological variations and ample species diversity. The forest canopy is frequently discontinuous, giving space for special ecological niches. At the heart of this region lies the huge Amazon River, the second longest watercourse of the world. The Amazon holds more than 20% of the planet's fresh water, has at least 1,000 tributaries. The Rio Negro is its largest tributary.

 

Manaus

 

The first settlement in the area of Manaus was created by Captain Francisco da Mota Falcão who built the São José do Rio Negro fortress in 1669. In the year 1889 when Brazil became a republic, Amazon's became a state. During the exploration of rubber trees, the area experienced a progress boom that spanned the years of 1895 until 1911. The São José do Rio Negro fortress received the name of Manaus in 1856. During the "rubber" years, it was a thriving port and a cultural center. Manaus bears today witness to that period with highlights such as the Manaus Opera House, the Manaus Floating Dock, Rio Negro Palace (Government) and the Customs Building. For the last 10 years, Manaus has become the main entranceway to the Amazon rainforests.

 

Salvador

 

Bahia, known as the Land of All Saints, is situated on the Northeast coast of Brazil and is a lovely tropical state with white sandy beaches, coconut groves, golden sunshine, refreshing blue sea and great weather year round. It is the heart of Brazil, colonial, modern and mystical and the first capital of the country. White settler from Europe, black slaves from Africa, along with the native Indians have built a harmonious life, which still prevails today. Salvador is divided into “Lower City”, which is at sea level with old port and commercial district, “Upper City” is reached by stone steps and Lacerda elevator with old governmental buildings, residential district, museums and churches. There are churches for each day of the year; both majestic and simple, made of gold, silver and stone. Pelourinho, historical centre with its old mansions and houses is considered the most important architectural setting in the world that has completely restored recently. The “Baianos” are warm and open people, mulattos - mixture of races: black, white and Indian. Religious festivals like the Capoeira, a dance game originated from the slaves using amusical bow “berimbau”, are fascinating.

Iguassu Falls


The Iguassu Waterfall is a true wonder of nature and it is a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. Taller and wider than Niagara Falls, Iguassu Falls are divided by various islands into separate waterfalls. The waterfall is located right at the border of the countries of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. The waterfall itself is physically located in Argentina, but the panoramic view of the Falls is best from the Brazilian side. There are many activities offered in the vicinity of the falls, including hiking, wildlife viewing, helicopter rides and boat adventures.