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Top things to do in Brazil
View Rio de Janeiro from up high from Sugar Loaf and Corcovado mountains, explore exotic Salvador and look for amazing wildlife. Experience the ultimate celebration of the Rio carnivals or take a step into serenity and relax on one of Brazil's stunning beaches.
Here are the top things to do on a Brazil holiday, as chosen by our South America specialists.
Experience the ultimate celebration
Carnival in Rio is a riot of music, dance and colour, unrivalled outside Brazil. Watch the carnival parade at the purpose-built Sambodrome, where thousands of dancers compete, and witness a dazzling spectacle of thundering drums, dancing beauties, spectacular floats and elaborate costumes. Alternatively, take part in the procession or join the festivities at a sophisticated gala ball.
Look for amazing Wildlife
Cruise the rivers of the Amazon and take in the sights and sounds of the jungle, explore Iguaçu Falls National Park, or go to Panatal, where the lack of dense vegetation makes spotting birds, capybaras and jaguars an even easier task.
View Rio de Janeiro from up high
Rio’s most iconic sights of Sugar Loaf & Corcovado provide breathtaking views over the city’s spectacular panorama of mountains, beaches, islands and bays. Take an early train through tropical forest to the outstretched arms of the statue of Christ on Corcovado mountain, and a cable car at sunset to the top of Sugar Loaf. Helicopter rides offer a bird’s eye view and leave no doubt as to why Rio is dubbed cidade maravilhosa (‘marvellous city’).
Explore Salvador
Overlooking the beautiful All Saint’s Bay, Salvador is one of the most exotic cities in the north-east of Brazil. Once a centre for the sugar and slave trade, it has a distinct atmosphere due to the rich mixture of Latin and African cultures. The delightful historic district of Pelourinho has impressive baroque churches and colourful colonial architecture, while its cobblestone streets are filled with spicy aromas, graceful movements and the sounds of drumbeats. We recommend an evening Bahian show for an unforgettable insight into Afro-Brazilian religion, music and dance.
Relax on Brazil's Beaches
Brazil’s vast coastline of more than 9,000km is fringed with thousands of stunning beaches and islands. These range from golden sands in the south, pounded by strong surf and frequented by southern right whales in the cooler months, to the endless tropical stretches of the north where the ocean is always warm. White sandy beaches and crystal clear waters can be combined with chic shops and fine dining in Buzios, whale watching off the southern coast, or complete serenity on a palm-fringed stretch of the Bahia and Northeast.
