Brazil

Continent

South America

Best States to Visit

Rio de Janeiro
São Paulo
Bahia
Maranhão
Alagoas

Best Cities to Visit

Rio de Janeiro
Salvador
Florianopolis
Manaus
Sao Paulo

Size

8,515,767 KM²

Population

210,147,125

GDP

$3,328,000,000,000

Spending Budget

$9,675 - $1,189

Famous For

Brazil is legendary for its iconic carnival festival and its talented soccer players like Pelé and Neymar. Brazil is additionally known for its tropical beaches, exquisite waterfalls, and therefore the Amazon rainfores

Best Time to Visit

January
February
March
December

History

Brazil was officially "discovered" in 1500, when a fleet commanded by Portuguese diplomat Pedro Álvares Cabral, on its way to India, landed in Porto Seguro, between Salvador and Rio de Janeiro . Brazil's first colonizers were met by Tupinamba Indians, one group in the vast array of the continent's native population. At the end of the 17th century, the news that fabulous veins of emeralds, diamonds, and gold had been found in Minas Gerais exploded in Lisbon. The region began to export 30,000 pounds of gold a year to Portugal. Bandeirantes and other fortune hunters rushed in from all over, and boat loads of carpenters, stonemasons, sculptors, and painters came from Europe to build cities in the Brazilian wilderness. In 1763, the capital was moved to Rio de Janeiro for a variety of political and administrative reasons. The country had successfully staved off invasions by other European nations and it had roughly taken its current shape. It added cotton and tobacco to sugar, gold, and diamonds on its list of exports. As the interior opened so did the opportunities for cattle ranching. Still, Portugal's policies tended toward stripping Brazil of its resources rather than developing a truly local economy. The arrival of the royal family, who were chased out of Portugal by Napoléon's armies in 1808, initiated major changes.

Present Day

Brazil is a regional power and a middle power in international affairs, ranking 84th in the Human Development Index. It is a newly industrialized country, with the largest share of global wealth in Latin America. Brazil's economy is the world's thirteenth-largest by nominal GDP and the eighth-largest by PPP. It is one of the world's major breadbaskets, being the largest producer of coffee for the last 150 years.Brazil is a founding member of the United Nations, the G20, BRICS, Mercosul, Organization of American States, Organization of Ibero-American States, and the Community of Portuguese Language Countries. It is also home to the world's thirteenth-highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Future

Tourism in Brazil is a growing sector and key to the economy of several regions of Brazil. The country had 6.589 million visitors in 2018, ranking in terms of the international tourist arrivals as the second main destination in South America after Argentina and third in Latin America after Mexico and Argentina.[2] Revenues from international tourists reached US$5.8 billion in 2015, continuing a recovery trend from the 2008–2009 economic crisis.2030 and 2050 might are far away, but according to projections from PwC*, Brazil is expected to be a major contributor to the global economy in the long run. Brazil is predicted to jump from the world’s sixth largest economy in 2012 to fifth in 2030 and fourth by 2050. Brazil’s strong ties with other explosive economies like China are positive indicators of this trend. Along with many of its neighbors in South America, including Peru, Columbia and Chile, Brazil’s middle class is growing in size and purchasing power. Even so, Brazil still struggles with significant income inequality and there are many challenges this group faces. However, an optimistic and politically engaged youth is hopeful for positive changes in the future. Perhaps a point that has not been proven yet, but Brazil is beginning to act more like the economic power that it is. Recently, Brazil made waves internationally for taking a pointed stance on the crisis in Gaza. Regardless of agreeing or disagreeing with Brazil’s stance, this demonstrates Brazil’s desire to be heard and respected on the international stage.

Must Visit Places ------------

Porto de Galinhas

One of Brazil’s booming beach destinations, Porto de Galinhas attracts hordes of tourists during holiday times. So what makes Porto de Galinhas so special? For starters, it boasts pretty white sand beaches, beautiful weather, warm waters, and a nice selection of accommodations in all price ranges. But what truly sets Porto de Galinhas apart is the stunning natural pools that form in the reefs at low tide where visitors can swim with large schools of colorful fish.

Campos do Jordao

Campos do Jordao is probably best known for its Winter Festival, a popular classical musical event held in July that draws musicians from around the world. This town is also a popular draw with active visitors, who can choose from a large variety of outdoorsy outings, including horseback riding, jeep tours and cable car rides.

Buzios

Travelers who like beaches are likely to gravitate to Buzios, a resort town 105 miles from Rio de Janeiro. Buzios has 23 beaches, catering to a different tourist, i.e., surfers will like Geriba while families may prefer Tartaruga. The waterfront features a fishing village with a harbor filled with colorful boats. Popular activities include snorkeling, scuba diving, hiking, bike riding, shopping for crafts, and dining on the Rua das Pedras.

Christ the Redeemer

Christ the Redeemer is the famous statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro. Located at the peak of the 700 meters (2,300 ft) Corcovado mountain, it provides a sweeping panorama from the interior of Guanabara bay to the north, to Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas to the south. The Christ the Redeemer statue stands 39.6 meters (130 ft) tall, including its 9.5 meters (31 ft) pedestal and has become an icon of Rio and Brazil.

Iguaçu Falls

One of the great natural wonders of the world, Iguaçu Falls is situated on the border between Brazil and Argentina. The waterfall system consists of 275 falls along the Iguazu River. The most impressive of them all is the Devil’s Throat a U-shaped with a height of 82 meter (269 ft). The falls can be reached from the cities Foz do Iguaçu in Brazil and Puerto Iguazú in Argentina, as well as from Ciudad del Este in Paraguay. On the Brazilian side there is a long walkway along the canyon with an extension to the lower base of the Devil’s Throat.

Amazon River

At approximately 6,400 km (4,000 miles) the Amazon River is the second longest river in the world, just slightly shorter than the Nile, and the largest river by volume. The Amazon has over 3,000 recognized species of fish and new species are still being discovered. The Amazon Basin is covered by half of the planet’s remaining rainforests. Although a tenth of the world’s estimated 10 million living species live in the Amazon rainforest, jungle tours are more about the boating upriver into the damp, buzzing, oppressive ambience than actually spotting animals.

Rio Carnival

There are carnival celebrations in virtually every corner of Brazil, the best-known ones taking place in Recife together with the neighboring Olinda and Salvador. But the biggest and most famous carnival is undoubtedly the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. The Rio Carnival attracts two million people per day on the streets and almost half a million foreigners during its 4 day celebration. The Carnival is all over the place, in the streets and squares, bars, clubs and all other venues in Rio, concluding in the spectacular Rio Samba Parade at the Sambadrome.

Pantanal

The Pantanal is the world’s largest wetland, lying mostly in Western Brazil but extending into Bolivia and Paraguay as well. Famous for its wildlife, it is one of Brazil’s major tourist attractions. Unlike the Amazon rainforest, in the Pantanal you are virtually guaranteed to actually see the wildlife. Capybara and the Yacare Caiman are present in the millions. The Pantanal is also home to one of the largest Jaguar populations in the Americas.

Salvador

Salvador is the capital of the state of Bahia, with an attractive colonial town, a vibrant musical scene and loads of exceptional beaches all around. The beaches range from calm inlets, ideal for swimming, diving and sailing, as well as open sea inlets with strong waves, popular with surfers. There are also beaches surrounded by reefs, forming natural pools of stone, ideal for children.

Olinda

Another well preserved colonial city, Olinda is located on the Brazil’s northeastern coast, just north of Recife. Olinda is a colorful city, with its red-roofed white buildings that contrast with the blue of Brazil’s north Atlantic coast. The city features a number of major touristic attractions, such as a historic downtown area, churches, and the famous Carnival of Olinda. Many bars, restaurants, artist and craftspeople studios add charm to the old-town setting.

Bonito

Bonito is the jumping off point for some of the most unique natural attractions in Brazil, including stunning waterfalls and caves. However, its most popular draw is its extremely clear waterways, where you can swim with fish. And for the most adventurous, there is Abismo Anhumas, where visitors can rappel to the bottom of a cavern and walk among stalagmites and other cave formations

Fernando de Noronha

Fernando de Noronha is a beautiful archipelago with pristine beaches, landscapes and wildlife, situated 354 km (220 miles) off the northeastern coast in Brazil. The archipelago was discovered by Amerigo Vespucci in 1503 and temporarily occupied by the Dutch and French before Portugal established dominion in 1737. Today only the largest of the 21 islands is inhabited with a population of about 3,500. The islands are a Mecca for divers and snorkelers with warm waters year-round and very good visibility even at depths of 50 meters.

Teatro Amazonas

Teatro Amazonas or Amazon Theatre is an opera house located in Manaus, in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest. It was built during the heyday of rubber trade using materials from all over the world, with furniture from Paris, marble from Italy, and steel from England. On the outside of the building, the dome was covered with 36,000 decorated ceramic tiles painted in the colors of the Brazilian national flag. The first performance was given on January 7, 1897, with the Italian opera La Gioconda. The opera house was closed down soon after however as the rubber trade declined and Manaus lost its main source of income. There wasn’t a single performance in Teatro Amazonas for 90 years until 1990 when it reopened its doors

Ouro Preto

One of Brazil’s best-preserved colonial towns, Ouro Preto, meaning “black gold”, was founded at the end of the 17th century. It quickly became the epicenter of a new gold rush in the state of Minas Gerais. The city contains well preserved Portuguese colonial architecture, while modern buildings must adhere to historical standards maintained by the city. 18th- and 19th-century churches decorated with gold and the sculptured works of Aleijadinho make Ouro Preto one of the most popular tourist attractions in Brazil.

Copacabana

Copacabana is one of the world’s most well-known beaches. It is approximately two miles long and lined with hotels and expensive homes, though there are also much more modest residences scattered in between. A beautiful boardwalk with a black-and-white checked pattern of Portuguese stone flanks the sand.

Parati

Travelers who enjoy walking without fear of hit by motor vehicles will appreciate Parati (also spelled Paraty) as vehicles aren’t allowed in the historic town center. With colorful buildings and pristine beaches, Paraty is considered one of Brazil’s historic gems.

Jericoacoara

Jericoacoara, more commonly known as Jeri, may be hard to reach, involving bouncing over dirt roads, but the trip to reach this unspoiled beach town just may be worth it. Hammocks over the water, white sand beaches, sandy roads that usually don‘t allow motor vehicles all combine to make Jeri a charming place to just chill out. A popular activity is watching stunning sunsets from atop the Por do Sol dune.

Ilha Grande

Ilha Grande, or “Big Island,” is a beautiful island off Rio de Janeiro that is largely undeveloped. It was first a leper colony and then was home to a maximum security prison that closed in 1994. Consequently, beautiful tropical beaches and virgin Atlantic rainforest abound on Ilha Grande. Vila do Abraão, the largest city on the island, has only 1,900 people. Motorized vehicles are banned from the island.

Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park

Chapada dos Veadeiros is a national park in Goias state about 240 km (150 miles) from Brasilia. Many travelers say their visit here was the highlight of their Brazilian trip: cascading waterfalls, lush greenery, wildlife and hiking trails. They warn, however, that some of the hiking trails are demanding so hikers need to be in good physical condition. They recommend at least two days in the park

Pelourinho

Pelourinho is the historic center of Salvador, which was the first colonial capital of Brazil, and one of the oldest cities in the Americas, being established in 1549. The Pelourinho, which translates as “pillory.” is where slaves were punished

Cathedral of Brasilia

The Cathedral of Brasília is unique among cathedrals. It is composed of 16 concrete columns, each weighing 90 tons, which resemble an Indian teepee more than a church. Completed in 1970, statues of the Four Evangelists, designed by Dante Croce, grace the front. Indeed, there is nothing very traditional about this innovative church.

Buzios

Aparados da Serra National Park

One of Brazil’s first national parks, Aparados da Serra was created to protect Itaimbezinho, one of the most impressive canyons in Brazil. Fringed with subtropical forest, the narrow canyon features sheer parallel escarpments with a depth of almost 720 meters (2360 feet). Two waterfalls cascade into a stone plunge pool that spills over into the Rio do Boi, which winds its narrow way along the canyon bottom. A steep rocky path leads to river from the canyon rim, but it’s a tough, hair-raising walk that shouldn’t be undertaken lightly.

Museu de Arte Contemporanea

Depending on one’s perspective, the Museu de Arte Contemporânea (Modern Art Museum) looks either like an upside down light fixture, a UFO or an elegant serving bowl. Designed by noted architect Oscar Niemeyer, the museum opened in 1996 in the Niteroi suburb city of Rio where it overlooks Rio and the bay. Some visitors say the building itself is more impressive than its contents.

Praia de Pipa

Blessed with postcard-worthy beaches, tall cliffs and clear waters, Praia de Pipa has become one of Brazil’s best-known beach destinations and is a favorite with both locals and tourists. The town is also known for its vibrant nightlife and offers visitors a slew of activities, including boating and surfing. But as popular as it is, the town, itself, is limited in size as it is surrounded by Environmental Protected Areas. That means that visitors can still enjoy the natural beauty of this area and swim in waters that are teeming with dolphins and turtles.