Brazil City Breaks

A guide to Brazil

Over recent years, South America has fast emerged as the hot new continent for travellers to visit, and arguably the one place most synonymous with the region's exuberance and exoticism is Brazil. Thrilling canoe rides down the Amazon, trekking through dense jungle, sunning yourself on long beaches of powdery white sand, exploring tropical islands dotted about a turquoise sea, and although a long trip, Brazil is an exotic paradise that you won’t want to leave. As well as the sultry appeal of the rainforest and tropical terrain, the country is home to some of the most colourful, vibrant and thrilling cities on the planet; a pulsating mix of Latino samba beats, buzzing nightlife, ramshackle favelas, and carnival culture.

Sultry, sizzling Rio de Janeiro

Exhilarating, captivating and bursting with life, Rio de Janeiro is the southern hemisphere’s most visited city. Nestled between mountains climbing high into the sky, lush, dense rainforest and the huge expanse of deep blue Atlantic Ocean, here you will find one of the most beautiful locations on earth. The endless white sands of the world-renowned Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, the dizzying heights of look–out points Corcovado and Pao de Acúcar, the sexual tension of the sauna-like dancehalls, open-air cafes, brash skyscrapers, crumbling colonial buildings - Rio is awe-inspiring and unforgettable. There is a wide variety of accommodation options available here, ranging from 4-5 star hotels to budget backpacker hostels and guesthouses, meaning once you’ve forked out for the initial cost of the plane ticket, you can manage to keep the costs down on your trip.

Vibrant, vivacious Sao Paulo

Brazil is infamous for its incendiary nightlife; clubbing here is an altogether unique experience, with the Lapla and Botifago districts best for the hottest all-night bars and clubs. For the party of a lifetime, the world-famous Rio Carnival held every year before Lent is an absolute must. Apart from Rio, another fantastic destination is the gargantuan Sao Paulo, an important cultural hub, and a mix of different cultures and traditions with influences including Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Arabic, and Japanese amongst others. The city also boasts of number of beautiful parks, impressive monuments and important museums, including the Sao Paulo Museum of Art.