10. Ouro Preto
Ouro Preto, in the state of Minas Gerais, is one of Brazil’s best-preserved colonial towns, a UNESCO world heritage site, and one of Brazil’s most popular attractions. Ouro Preto formed the booming epicenter of the gold rush in the early 1700s, and today evidence of the immense wealth of its glorious past is still evident in the whitewashed mansions, intricately decorated churches, winding cobblestone streets, and historic ambiance. Ouro Preto has been largely preserved in the original state of its heyday and has escaped irrevocable signs of modern urbanization, making this a prime off-the-beaten-path destination.
9. Salvador
The coastal town of Salvador is renowned for its easy-going and friendly locals, authentic Brazilian culture, beautiful beaches, and charming Old Town. As Brazil’s oldest city, Salvador is rich with Brazilian culture and traditions, including; West African cuisine, architecture, the biggest carnival on the planet (an estimated 2 million people are said to take part in the week long festivities), funk music, and handicrafts.
8. Amazonas
Amazonas, the largest state in Brazil, is of course also home to the largest and most diverse rainforest in the world. Manaus, a modern city of 2.5 million inhabitants, serves as a good starting point for numerous adventure tours into the immense jungle. The Amazon basin is an intricate network of rivers, lakes, and channels, hosting an abundance of wildlife (of which the mosquito is probably the most prolific), and while every experience of this enormous area is unique, make sure to pick a reputable tour operator and be prepared to take a few extra days in order to truly reach the more wild and remote areas of the jungle.
7. Brasilia
On a list of stunning natural beauty it is perhaps strange to find Brasilia, Brazil’s inland capital; but this planned city is a masterpiece of modernist architecture and a listed World Heritage Site (as the only city built in the 20th century). The city certainly lacks the charm of many other Brazilian cities, yet urban planner Lucio Costa and architect Oscar Niemeyer created a seeming futuristic city of innovative buildings and spectacular monuments. Highlights include the imaginative Catedral Metropolitana, The Three Powers Square (hosting Congress, the Presidential Palace, and the Supreme Court), President Kubitschek’s Memorial, and the sensational TV Tower.
6. Lençóis Maranhenses
In the remote northeastern corner of Brazil, Lençóis Maranhenses can only be described as surrealistic. This endless desert landscape of tall white sand dunes is transformed every rainy season (usually between May and September) as countless crystal clear lagoons and lakes fill up with rainwater. Tour operators in the neighboring town of Barreirinhas offer jeep rides, boat rides, hikes, and even plane tours for visitors to truly experience the immense scale of this vast and unique ecosystem. Be advised that it is not permitted to enter the park with our own car, and facilities inside the park are extremely limited.
5. São Luis
São Luis on Brazil’s northeastern coast is a markedly Portuguese colonial city distinguishable by its well-preserved historic center and a distinctive cultural offering. The Old Town is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its colonial architecture, tiled facades, cobblestone streets, and picturesque squares. São Luis is so much more than a postcard-perfect cityscape; however, it is also rich with cultural heritage. Every year in June the city comes alive with the Bumba Meu Boi festival, a grand comic-dramatic musical pantomime performed by local troupes with elaborate costumes and rhythmic music styles on street corners throughout São Luis. Moreover, this diverse city is known for variants of Afro-Brazilian dance, religion, and cuisine, and is said to be the birthplace of the Brazilian martial arts style Capoeira.
4. Ipanema beach, Rio de Janeiro
Rio’s world-famous and centrally-located Ipanema Beach epitomizes everything Brazilian beach life at its best has to offer. Ipanema beach is beyond trendy, it is trend setting. For over fifty years contemporary statements have emanated in music, fashion and dance. Today, you can absorb the trendy atmosphere, look at beautiful people, swim in water that is even more inviting than at nearby Copacabana, and gaze at the beautiful view of the two mountains called the “Dois Irmãos.”
3. Pantanal
Located in southwestern Brazil, this sprawling wetland is officially the largest and considered to be among the most diverse freshwater wetland ecosystems in the world. Pantanal is perhaps most famous with visitors for its wealth of wildlife, and even a day-trip in this wetland landscape will ensure more wildlife sightings than a 3-day trip in the Amazon. The thousands of Caiman crocs, millions of Capybaras (the largest living rodent in the world, closely related to the guinea pig), and countless birds are guaranteed sightings, but lucky tourists may also encounter Giant River Otters, Piranha, and, although slightly rarer, Jaguar.
2. Iguaçu Falls
This epic series of falls is actually a complex network of 275 different waterfalls spanning a width of over 1.2 miles. Adding to the imposing might of these waterfalls is the accessibility combined with the seeming pristine wilderness of this area. Several walkways and panoramic views on both the Argentine and Brazilian side of the falls provide visitors with stunning views and excellent photo opportunities, yet, the hanging forest and the abundance of wildlife makes this an awesome natural experience.
1. Fernando de Noronha
In a country known for world-class beaches, this remote 21-island archipelago (of which only one is inhabited) off the northeastern coast features the very best beaches in Brazil. The beaches of Sancho, Porcos, and Leão are regularly highlighted as some of Brazil’s best beaches, and they are all only a short buggy ride apart. Apart from pristine beaches this island paradise boasts an abundance of marine life as a consequence of it being a marine sanctuary. An profusion of spinner dolphins, sea turtles, and sharks makes this a Mecca for divers and snorkelers alike. While the flight to the islands is cumbersome, a special permit to visit the islands is required from the Brazilian natural protection agency, and lodging is limited and expensive, the captivating beauty of this wild and remote place makes all the hassle definitely well worth it.
Ouro Preto, in the state of Minas Gerais, is one of Brazil’s best-preserved colonial towns, a UNESCO world heritage site, and one of Brazil’s most popular attractions. Ouro Preto formed the booming epicenter of the gold rush in the early 1700s, and today evidence of the immense wealth of its glorious past is still evident in the whitewashed mansions, intricately decorated churches, winding cobblestone streets, and historic ambiance. Ouro Preto has been largely preserved in the original state of its heyday and has escaped irrevocable signs of modern urbanization, making this a prime off-the-beaten-path destination.
9. Salvador
The coastal town of Salvador is renowned for its easy-going and friendly locals, authentic Brazilian culture, beautiful beaches, and charming Old Town. As Brazil’s oldest city, Salvador is rich with Brazilian culture and traditions, including; West African cuisine, architecture, the biggest carnival on the planet (an estimated 2 million people are said to take part in the week long festivities), funk music, and handicrafts.
8. Amazonas
Amazonas, the largest state in Brazil, is of course also home to the largest and most diverse rainforest in the world. Manaus, a modern city of 2.5 million inhabitants, serves as a good starting point for numerous adventure tours into the immense jungle. The Amazon basin is an intricate network of rivers, lakes, and channels, hosting an abundance of wildlife (of which the mosquito is probably the most prolific), and while every experience of this enormous area is unique, make sure to pick a reputable tour operator and be prepared to take a few extra days in order to truly reach the more wild and remote areas of the jungle.
7. Brasilia
On a list of stunning natural beauty it is perhaps strange to find Brasilia, Brazil’s inland capital; but this planned city is a masterpiece of modernist architecture and a listed World Heritage Site (as the only city built in the 20th century). The city certainly lacks the charm of many other Brazilian cities, yet urban planner Lucio Costa and architect Oscar Niemeyer created a seeming futuristic city of innovative buildings and spectacular monuments. Highlights include the imaginative Catedral Metropolitana, The Three Powers Square (hosting Congress, the Presidential Palace, and the Supreme Court), President Kubitschek’s Memorial, and the sensational TV Tower.
6. Lençóis Maranhenses
In the remote northeastern corner of Brazil, Lençóis Maranhenses can only be described as surrealistic. This endless desert landscape of tall white sand dunes is transformed every rainy season (usually between May and September) as countless crystal clear lagoons and lakes fill up with rainwater. Tour operators in the neighboring town of Barreirinhas offer jeep rides, boat rides, hikes, and even plane tours for visitors to truly experience the immense scale of this vast and unique ecosystem. Be advised that it is not permitted to enter the park with our own car, and facilities inside the park are extremely limited.
5. São Luis
São Luis on Brazil’s northeastern coast is a markedly Portuguese colonial city distinguishable by its well-preserved historic center and a distinctive cultural offering. The Old Town is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its colonial architecture, tiled facades, cobblestone streets, and picturesque squares. São Luis is so much more than a postcard-perfect cityscape; however, it is also rich with cultural heritage. Every year in June the city comes alive with the Bumba Meu Boi festival, a grand comic-dramatic musical pantomime performed by local troupes with elaborate costumes and rhythmic music styles on street corners throughout São Luis. Moreover, this diverse city is known for variants of Afro-Brazilian dance, religion, and cuisine, and is said to be the birthplace of the Brazilian martial arts style Capoeira.
4. Ipanema beach, Rio de Janeiro
Rio’s world-famous and centrally-located Ipanema Beach epitomizes everything Brazilian beach life at its best has to offer. Ipanema beach is beyond trendy, it is trend setting. For over fifty years contemporary statements have emanated in music, fashion and dance. Today, you can absorb the trendy atmosphere, look at beautiful people, swim in water that is even more inviting than at nearby Copacabana, and gaze at the beautiful view of the two mountains called the “Dois Irmãos.”
3. Pantanal
Located in southwestern Brazil, this sprawling wetland is officially the largest and considered to be among the most diverse freshwater wetland ecosystems in the world. Pantanal is perhaps most famous with visitors for its wealth of wildlife, and even a day-trip in this wetland landscape will ensure more wildlife sightings than a 3-day trip in the Amazon. The thousands of Caiman crocs, millions of Capybaras (the largest living rodent in the world, closely related to the guinea pig), and countless birds are guaranteed sightings, but lucky tourists may also encounter Giant River Otters, Piranha, and, although slightly rarer, Jaguar.
2. Iguaçu Falls
This epic series of falls is actually a complex network of 275 different waterfalls spanning a width of over 1.2 miles. Adding to the imposing might of these waterfalls is the accessibility combined with the seeming pristine wilderness of this area. Several walkways and panoramic views on both the Argentine and Brazilian side of the falls provide visitors with stunning views and excellent photo opportunities, yet, the hanging forest and the abundance of wildlife makes this an awesome natural experience.
1. Fernando de Noronha
In a country known for world-class beaches, this remote 21-island archipelago (of which only one is inhabited) off the northeastern coast features the very best beaches in Brazil. The beaches of Sancho, Porcos, and Leão are regularly highlighted as some of Brazil’s best beaches, and they are all only a short buggy ride apart. Apart from pristine beaches this island paradise boasts an abundance of marine life as a consequence of it being a marine sanctuary. An profusion of spinner dolphins, sea turtles, and sharks makes this a Mecca for divers and snorkelers alike. While the flight to the islands is cumbersome, a special permit to visit the islands is required from the Brazilian natural protection agency, and lodging is limited and expensive, the captivating beauty of this wild and remote place makes all the hassle definitely well worth it.
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