Huge in size and personality Brazil has long been up there on the leader board of aspirational travel destinations.
Home to South America’s major iconic attractions, the vast Amazon, Copacabana, Rio’s famous Carnival and Sugar Loaf Mountain, the Iguassu Falls and the Pantanal, Brazil is nevertheless so much more than the sum of her parts.

This fascinating country is an intriguing mix of untamed wilderness and sophisticated glamour.

An extraordinarily rich bio diversity makes Brazil a paradise for nature lovers and aspiring photographers, while party animals will find the call of hedonistic Rio hard to resist.

Whether you arrive in search of Indiana Jones or Girl from Ipanema Brazil will envelop you in her intoxicating atmosphere, fill up your senses and send you home with samba in your soul.

With so many natural wonders in one country, Brazil is perfect for adventure holidays.
Wildlife watching in the Pantanal, a spectacularly rich ecosystem in the Matto Grosso home to jaguars, caiman, giant river otters, toucans and hundreds of other species. But be quick, blue macaws, aardvarks and black panthers are already facing extinction

Brazil has 8,000km of coastline and thousands of beaches to choose from – with pristine golden beaches that stretch for more than a day's walk in either direction

The majestic Iguassu Falls are one of the great wonders of the Americas. Take a jet boat beneath the awe-inspiring cataracts, a helicopter ride over the top will reward you with breathtaking aerial views.

Families, venture away from the beach and give the kids an educational experience like no other in an eco friendly lodge deep in the Amazon Rainforest. Encounter the amazing wildlife and indigenous cultures of the jungle first hand.

If you love football, don’t miss the chance to see a soccer match in Rio’s Maracanã Stadium. Football in Brazil is a passionate, colourful affair and the atmosphere is electric. Kick off is usually at 4.00.

If Lotus Eating is more to your liking, Brazil is nothing if not easygoing.
Dance in the street in Salvador de Bahia. African influences have given the city its unique identity and fun-loving culture. Beautiful colonial architecture, the smell of delicious food and rhythmic drum music all contribute to the easy going, contagious atmosphere.

Soak up the beauty and colours of "Brazilian Polynesia”, Salvador to Praia do Forte and visit the Tamar sea turtle conservation project.

Board the cog train in Rio through the lush urban Tijuca Rain Forest, take the cable car to Sugarloaf Mountain in time to see the sun set over Copacabana Beach.

People watching at Copacabana is de rigueur. Nearby Ipanema is slightly more chic and relaxed. Watch the local kids practicing their capoeira, and visit the famous Hippie Fair held each Sunday

No stay in Rio de Janeiro is complete without experiencing the glamour and rhythm of a colourful samba show. Visit the Sambadrome where the world-famous carnival parade takes place.

Sample Brazil's national dish, Feijoada, a hearty stew made of black beans and pork, followed by a Caipirinha, Brazil’s signature sugarcane rum & lime juice cocktail.

When to go
The seasons are opposite those in the northern hemisphere, summer is December to March. Coastal cities of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Salvador are consistently warm all year round, and get hot and humid during the summer.

May to November for North East beaches when heat is tempered by constant breezes on the coast. This is also a less expensive season in which to visit

Travel in the Amazon is best done when much of the region floods from January to June. Though the humidity is higher and rainfall more substantial, rivers become navigable, allowing visitors to see more wildlife.

Visit the Pantanal toward the end of its wet season in April, when the area is flooded and fauna are stranded on the remaining spots of dry land, making them easier to spot.

Travel in and around Brazil can also be difficult during the following annual events:
New Year: December 31 - January 1 Accommodation in Rio de Janeiro can be especially difficult to find during this period as up to 2 million people gather to party the night away.

Carnival Rio: late February - early March - when finding accommodation anywhere in Brazil can be difficult.

Getting there
BA fly non stop to Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, TAM to Sao Paulo. Iberia, KLM and Lufthansa fly via their national hubs and US airlines via the USA. Flying time 12 hrs to Rio de Janeiro from London.

What to Buy
Leather goods, Amazonian Indian crafts such as ceramics, painted figures, woven bags, baskets and hammocks. Lace from Fortaleza, Brazilian soccer team t-shirts, Brazilian coffee. Gemstones and jewellery, Brazil is one of the world's largest producers of gold and the largest supplier of coloured gemstones, particularly diamonds, aquamarines, topaz, amethysts, emeralds, rubellites, and tourmalines.