brazil tourism wiki

Tourism in Brazil

Tourism 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 . [3]

International tourism

Arrivals by country of origin, comparison with other destinations, tourist visa, amusement parks, paleontological tourism, domestic tourism, tourism by regions of brazil, external links.

Brazil offers for both domestic and international tourists an ample range of options, with natural areas being its most popular tourism product, a combination of leisure and recreation , mainly sun and beach, and adventure travel , as well as historic and cultural tourism . Among the most popular destinations are beaches at Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catarina , beaches and dunes in the Northeast Region , business trips to São Paulo city, cultural and historic tourism in Minas Gerais , the Iguazu Falls and the Pantanal in the Center-West Region . [4]

In terms of the 2015 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI), which is a measurement of the factors that make it attractive to develop business in the travel and tourism industry of individual countries, Brazil ranked in the 28th place at the world's level, third in the Americas, after Canada and United States. [5] [6] Brazil main competitive advantages are its natural resources, which ranked 1st on this criteria out of all countries considered, and ranked 23rd for its cultural resources, due to its many World Heritage Sites . The 2013 TTCI report also notes Brazil's main weaknesses: its ground transport infrastructure remains underdeveloped (ranked 129th), with the quality of roads ranking in the 121st place, and quality of air transport infrastructure in 131st; and the country continues to suffer from a lack of price competitiveness (ranked 126th), due in part to high and increasing ticket taxes and airport charges, as well as high and rising prices more generally. Safety and security improved significantly between 2008 and 2013, moving from 128th to 73rd place, [6] before slipping to 106th by 2017. [7]

Foreign tourists mainly come from Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Mexico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, the United States, Canada, China, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Chile, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Greece, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Portugal, and Russia.

According to the World Tourism Organization , international travel to Brazil began to grow fast since 2000, particularly during 2004 and 2005. However, in 2006 a slow down took place, and international arrivals have had almost no growth both in 2007 and 2008. [10] [13] [20] [21] In spite of this trend, revenues from international tourism continued to rise, from USD 3.9 billion in 2005 to USD 4.9 billion in 2007, a one billion dollar increase despite 333 thousand less arrivals. This favorable trend is the result of the strong devaluation of the American dollar against the Brazilian real , which began in 2004, but on the other hand, making Brazil a more expensive international destination. [22] This trend changed in 2009, when both visitors and revenues fell as a result of the 2008-2009 economic crisis . [15] By 2010, the industry recovered, and arrivals grew above 2006 levels to 5.16 million international visitors, and receipts from these visitors reached USD 5.9 billion. [16] In 2012, the historical record was reached with 5.6 million visitors and US$6.6 billion in receipts. [3]

Despite continuing record breaking of international tourism revenues, the number of Brazilian tourists travelling overseas has been growing steadily since 2003, resulting in a net negative foreign exchange balance, as more money is spent abroad by Brazilian than receipts from international tourist visiting Brazil. Tourism expenditures abroad grew from USD 5.76 billion in 2006, to USD 8.21 billion in 2007, a 42,45% increase, representing a net deficit of USD 3.26 billion in 2007, as compared to USD 1.45 billion in 2006, a 125% increase from the previous year. [23] This trend is caused by Brazilians taking advantage of the stronger Real to travel and making relatively cheaper expenditures abroad. [23] Brazilian traveling overseas in 2006 represented 3.9% of the country's population. [24]

In 2005, tourism contributed with 3.2% of the country's revenues from exports of goods and services, and represented 7% of direct and indirect employment in the Brazilian economy. [25] In 2006, direct employment in the sector reached 1.87 million people. [26] Domestic tourism is a fundamental market segment for the industry, as 51 million traveled throughout the country in 2005, [27] and direct revenues from Brazilian tourists reached USD 21.8 billion, [28] 5.6 times more receipts than international tourists in 2005.

In 2005, Rio de Janeiro , Foz do Iguaçu , São Paulo , Florianópolis , and Salvador were the most visited cities by international tourists for leisure trips. The most popular destinations for business trips were São Paulo , Rio de Janeiro , and Porto Alegre . [29] In 2006, Rio de Janeiro and Fortaleza were the most popular destinations by national visitors. [30]

The following is a comparative summary of Brazil's tourism industry key performance indicators as compared with countries considered among the most popular destinations in Latin America , and relevant economic indicators are included to show the relative importance that international tourism has on the economy of the selected countries.

Notes: Green shadow denotes the country with the top indicator. Yellow shadow corresponds to Brazilian indicators. (1) Visitors and receipts for Cuba correspond to 2011.

Tourist visa requirements have been waived for citizens of Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the United States, Uruguay, Vatican City, and Venezuela.

Tourist visas also applies to lecturers at conferences , for visiting relatives and/or friends , unpaid participation in athletic or artistic event or competition (in this case an invitation letter from the sponsoring organization in Brazil is required), and unpaid participation in a scientific / academic seminar or conference sponsored by a research or academic institution (in this case, an invitation letter from the sponsoring organization in Brazil is required). [35]

In 2023, according to the "Best Amusement and Water Parks" ranking, from the "Travelers' Choice" award, from the TripAdvisor website, Brazil had 4 of the 25 best entertainment parks in the world: Beto Carrero World (2nd), in Santa Catarina; Beach Park (3rd), in Ceará; Terra Mágica Florybal Park (13th), in Rio Grande do Sul; and Hot Park [ pt ] (18th), in Goiás. [36]

Geopark Paleorrota is the main area of geotourism in Rio Grande do Sul and one of the most important in Brazil. With 83,000 km 2 (32,000 sq mi ) inside 281,000 km 2 (108,000 sq mi) of the state , where many fossils of the Permian and Triassic period, with ages ranging between 210 and 290 million years ago, when there were only the continent Pangaea .

In the region Metropolitan Porto Alegre there are 5 museums to visit. In Paleorrota Geopark there are 7 museums, the Palaeobotanical Garden in Mata and the Paleontological Sites of Santa Maria to be visited. The BR-287 , nicknamed Highway of Dinosaurs , crosses 17 of 41 municipalities of the geopark.

Bonito , in Mato Grosso do Sul , is considered the Brazilian capital of ecotourism. [37] This type of tourism also occurs in places like Pantanal and Amazon rainforest , [38] [39] Brotas , Cambará do Sul , Canela , Caravelas , Chapada Diamantina , Chapada dos Veadeiros , Ilha Grande , Ilha do Mel , Iporanga , Itacaré , Itatiaia , Itaúnas State Park , Jalapão , Jericoacoara , Monte Verde , Morro de São Paulo , Pirenópolis , Socorro , Ubatuba and many others. [40]

Domestic tourism is a key market segment for the tourism industry in Brazil. In 2005, 51 million Brazilian nationals made ten times more trips than foreign tourists and spent five times more money than their international counterparts. [27] The main destination states in 2005 were São Paulo (27.7%), Minas Gerais (10.8%), Rio de Janeiro (8.4%), Bahia (7.4%), and Santa Catarina (7.2%). The top three states by trip origin were São Paulo (35.7%), Minas Gerais (13.6%). [27]

In terms of tourism revenues, the top earners by state were São Paulo (16.4%) and Bahia (11.7%). For 2005, the three main trip purposes were visiting friends and family (53.1%), sun and beach (40.8%), and cultural tourism (12.5%). [24]

Rio de Janeiro : Rio de Janeiro , Angra dos Reis , Paraty , Resende , Visconde de Mauá , Itatiaia National Park , Petrópolis , Vassouras , Teresópolis , Serra dos Órgãos , Nova Friburgo , Saquarema , Arraial do Cabo , Cabo Frio , Búzios , Ilha Grande ;
Espírito Santo : Vitória , Vila Velha , Guarapari , Anchieta , Piúma , Marataízes , São Mateus , Conceição da Barra , Domingos Martins , Santa Teresa ;
Minas Gerais : Belo Horizonte , Sabará , Ouro Preto , Congonhas , Mariana , Lavras , São João del-Rei , Tiradentes , Diamantina , Serro , Araxá , Caxambu , São Lourenço , São Thomé das Letras , Capitólio , Camanducaia , Caparaó National Park , Pico da Bandeira , Serra do Cipó National Park , Serra da Canastra National Park ;
São Paulo : São Paulo , São Sebastião , Ilhabela , Boiçucanga , Poá , Guararema , Guarujá , Santos , Iguape , Cananéia , São Vicente , Campos do Jordão , Holambra , Campinas , Ribeirão Preto , São José dos Campos , Sorocaba , Americana , Araçatuba , Araraquara , Araras , Atibaia , Barretos , Birigüi , Botucatu , Bragança Paulista , Itu , Jaú .
Paraná : Curitiba , Morretes , Antonina , Paranaguá , Ilha do Mel , Superagui National Park , Foz do Iguaçu , Iguaçu Falls , Guaratuba ;
Santa Catarina : Florianópolis , Santa Catarina Island , Joinville , Blumenau , Itapema , Itajaí , Balneário Camboriú ;
Rio Grande do Sul : Porto Alegre , Torres , Aparados da Serra National Park , Serra Gaúcha , Canela , Gramado , Paleorrota ;
Federal District : Brasília ;
Goiás : Goiânia , Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park , Pirenópolis , Goiás Velho , Caldas Novas , Emas National Park , Araguaia River ;
Mato Grosso : Cuiabá , The Pantanal , Chapada dos Guimarães National Park , Tangará da Serra , Barra do Garças , Alta Floresta , Cáceres , Barão de Melgaço , Poconé ;
Mato Grosso do Sul : Campo Grande , Corumbá , Bonito , Ponta Porã , Aquidauana , Coxim , Jardim .
Bahia : Salvador , Cachoeira , Lençóis , Morro de São Paulo , Ilhéus , Itacaré , Porto Seguro , Arraial d'Ajuda , Trancoso , Chapada Diamantina National Park , Abrolhos Marine National Park ;
Pernambuco : Recife , Olinda , Itamaracá , Igarassu , Caruaru , Porto de Galinhas , New Jerusalem , Garanhuns , Triunfo , Fernando de Noronha , Catimbau Valley , Petrolina ;
Ceará : Fortaleza , Aracati , Canoa Quebrada , Jericoacoara , Tatajuba , Camocim , Sobral , Baturité , Ubajara National Park , Juazeiro do Norte ;
Sergipe : Aracaju , Laranjeiras , São Cristóvão , Estância , Propriá ;
Alagoas : Maceió , Maragogi , Penedo , Barra de São Miguel , Paripueira , Porto de Pedras ;
Paraíba : João Pessoa , Campina Grande , Cabedelo , Ingá , Baía da Traição , Sousa ;
Rio Grande do Norte : Natal , Mossoró , Tibau do Sul , Tibau , Parnamirim , Touros , São Miguel do Gostoso , Galinhos , Caicó , Macau , Martins , Maxaranguape , Cape São Roque ;
Piauí : Teresina , Sete Cidades National Park , Parnaíba , Serra da Capivara National Park ;
Maranhão : São Luís , Lençóis Maranhenses National Park , Alcântara , Imperatriz , Carolina .
Amazonas : Manaus , Parintins , Tefé , Mamirauá ;
Pará : Belém , Marajó Island , Santarém ;
Tocantins : Palmas , Ilha do Bananal , Natividade ;
Amapá : Macapá , Oiapoque ;
Roraima : Boa Vista , Monte Roraima ;
Rondônia : Porto Velho , Guajará-Mirim , Guaporé Valley ;
Acre : Rio Branco , Xapuri , Brasiléia , Assis Brasil .

Visa policy of Brazil
Ministry of Tourism (Brazil)
Tourism in the city of São Paulo
Seven Wonders of Brazil

The 10 most incredible places to visit in Brazil

Mar 1, 2024 • 9 min read

A man throwing confetti in the air at a street party in Olinda, Brazil

The scale of Brazil can be overwhelming but we're here to help with picking the best parts of it to visit © MesquitaFMS / Getty Images

One of the world’s most dazzling destinations, Brazil is packed with steamy rainforests, tropical savannas, wetlands and exciting cities.

The ecosystems found in this giant of South America are home to the largest collection of plant and animal species found anywhere in the world.

But even if exploring the natural world is not top of your Brazil to-do list, plenty of life can be found in the country’s musical metropolises, too. When it comes to relaxing, Brazil has sand to spare: 2095 beaches, to be precise, dotting its 7242km (4500-mile) Atlantic coastline.

With such a massive footprint and a wide variety of things to do, planning an itinerary here can feel overwhelming. Let us help get you started with our 10 favorite places to visit in Brazil.

1. Ouro Preto and the towns of Minas Gerais

Ouro Preto (meaning “black gold”) in Minas Gerais was at the heart of Brazil’s 18th-century gold rush.

Nearly two dozen churches, lavishly ornamented with gold filigree, still ring out their bells across the hillsides of this rural town, which at its height was home to 110,000 residents – the majority of whom were enslaved people.

One of Ouro Preto’s most famous residents was the sculptor Aleijadinho, who studied European baroque traditions and developed his own unique style. His sculptures and reliefs – some of which he carved after losing his fingers to a disease – adorn churches across the region, including in Tiradentes , Congonhas and São João del Rei .

The historical Royal Road links up most of these towns and makes for an adventurous road trip . An essential detour for art lovers is nearby Inhotim , the world’s largest open-air contemporary art museum.

A colonial-era church in Paraty, Brazil, seen from the water, with palm trees and green mountains beyond

2. Paraty and the Saco de Mamanguá

The other terminus of the Royal Road, seaside Paraty was where the precious metals extracted from Minas Gerais were shipped out in the early days of Brazil’s gold rush.

The town lost some of this export trade to Rio de Janeiro in the early 1700s, yet its architecture was impeccably preserved – and it’s all the more impressive for being sandwiched between steep, jungle-covered mountains and the warm, clear waters of the ocean.

A forgotten gem for centuries, Paraty has in recent decades attracted writers and artists from all over the world.

The city plays host to a number of prestigious events, including the literary festival FLIP , a jazz festival and a pinga festival (an excuse to drink lots of pinga , slang for cachaça, the Brazilian cane spirit that’s produced locally).

Getting out on the water to explore some of Paraty’s 65 islands and 300 beaches is a must. Motor boats and schooners can be rented, but for a close-up connection with nature join a kayak tour in the Saco de Mamanguá – a “tropical fjord” – and paddle to deserted beaches, mangroves, waterfalls and Caiçara fishing communities.

3. Amazon rainforest

The Amazon has a mysterious pull that has fascinated people for centuries.

One of the wildest places on the planet, the region is almost too big to comprehend, spanning about 42% of Brazil and swaths of eight neighboring countries.

Each region offers something different in terms of ecology, tourism and local culture; doing your research before visiting is essential as it’s neither an inexpensive nor easy-to-reach destination.

You'll gaze at the unending expanse of green for hours as you fly overhead into Manaus , the region’s largest city and a good jumping-off point for many of the lodges and Amazon jungle experiences .

You can try canoeing through flooded forests at Anavilhanas National Park , heading further afield to the recently formed Xixuaú Reserve or spotting river dolphins in the Mamirauá Reserve.

A few hundred miles east, Santarém is another access point for seeing the majestic trees deep in the Tapajós Forest or beach hopping along the banks of the Arapiuns River, a tributary of the Tapajós River near Alter do Chão .

4. Brasília

The city of the future that’s forever stuck in the past, Brasília is a fabulous paradox. The federal capital officially opened for business in 1960, becoming the ultimate symbol of modernity for an urbanizing nation and a long-hoped-for kick-start for the economic development of the country’s interior.

Built in the middle of the hot, dry landscape of Brazil’s Center-West, Brasília is an open-air monument to the people who shaped and built it, including urban planner Lúcio Costa and architect Oscar Niemeyer.

Thousands of tons of concrete and steel were poured into a series of Modernist architectural gems that are worth spending a day or two to explore – though not on foot, as the sprawling city was designed for cars not pedestrians.

Niemeyer’s much-loved curves can be spotted everywhere, most notably in the metropolitan cathedral , with its white columns rising up to the heavens in a hyperboloid structure studded with stained glass.

A woman in a swimsuit in a natural pool in Jalapão State Park, Brazil

5. Jalapão

In a country teeming with rainforests, pristine beaches and other natural wonders, the tropical savanna hinterlands of the Cerrado certainly hold their own.

While the Cerrado has borne the brunt of Brazil’s agribusiness boom in recent decades, pockets of conservation do exist, including the relatively unexplored Jalapão State Park – 34,000 sq km (13,127 sq miles) of scrubland, grasslands, forest, caves and unusual rock formations.

The best time to visit is the dry season (from May to September) when, despite the dry landscape, water is the main attraction.

Splash in the glassy pools of waterfalls or kayak down rapids – you can also take a dip in the so-called fervedouros (boiling pots), natural springs where the bubbling water buoys swimmers. Sand dunes and chapadas (mountain formations) also make for some spectacular hiking.

Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park (400km/248 miles south) and Emas National Park (to the west) are two much larger conservation areas that are home to dozens of species of flora and fauna at risk of extinction.

Lucky hikers might cross paths with giant anteaters, giant armadillos, maned wolves and rheas, South America’s largest bird.

6. Pantanal

The largest wetland region in the world, the Pantanal offers the best wildlife spotting in Brazil.

South America’s largest mammal (tapir) and largest bird (rhea) call the Pantanal home, as do more than 230 species of fish and 650 species of bird – plus such apex predators as jaguars, caimans and anacondas.

Spanning an area more than half the size of France, the Pantanal can be explored in a number of different ways.

The most accessible is by road, on the Estrada Transpantaneira, though small airplanes and motorboats open the doors to more remote zones and secluded, upscale lodges.

It’s easier to spot wildlife during the dry season, from May to September – but when the water levels rise from October onwards, the rivers flood their banks and inundate the surrounding plains, spurring on an abundance of flora and flocks of wading birds.

The wet season also brings the arrival of river cruises: the sundeck of a 15-cabin boat cruise to the Serra do Amolar mountains near the border with Bolivia is an ideal vantage point from which to contemplate the grandeur of this region.

7. Fernando de Noronha

An archipelago of islands some 320km (200 miles) off the northeast coast, Fernando de Noronha is high on many honeymoon wishlists.

Of Noronha’s 21 islands, only the largest one is accessible to tourists – and even then, its boundaries lie safely within Brazil’s largest marine park .

Dreamy beaches – including Baía do Sancho , Baía dos Porcos and Praia do Leão – all compete for the top slot on rankings of the best beaches in the country .

Silky-soft sands and clear blue waters would have holidaymakers flocking here if this place were on the mainland; happily, its remote location and a cap on visitor numbers keep the crowds to a welcome minimum.

Just off the shoreline, Noronha is an underwater paradise that’s home to 230 fish species, 15 varieties of coral, five types of (harmless) shark and the greatest concentration of tropical marine birds in the Atlantic.

You can dive to spot corals and shipwrecks in the marine park or watch hundreds of dolphins doing water acrobatics at sunrise before snorkeling in shallow tide pools. Noronha offers Brazil’s natural beauty at its absolute best, and this place warrants going the extra mile.

Two backpackers looking at view of Sugarloaf, Rio de Janeiro

8. Rio de Janeiro

The most-visited city in Brazil, Rio de Janeiro didn’t earn its title of cidade maravilhosa (“marvelous city”) for nothing. In the eyes of Cariocas, it’s the most beautiful place on earth. Visitors would be hard-pressed to disagree.

Dense high-rises are stacked like sugar cubes between mountains cloaked in rainforest and studded with naked granite peaks jutting skywards.

Visitors hit the famous beaches to lounge in the sun, but the locals go to get active – surfing, running, cycling or diving into the sand over a sweaty game of beach volleyball. People-watching is a serious beach sport in its own right.

Come evening, Rio’s own special blend of tropical rhythms draws the crowds out onto the city’s streets to meet friends at botecos (bars) or join impromptu street parties.

You’ll also discover a wealth of culture and history – the city was the capital of the Kingdom of Portugal in the 19th century, and, until 1960, the capital of Brazil.

9. Ribeira Valley and the Atlantic Forest

The Mata Atlântica (Atlantic Forest) is Brazil’s “other” tropical forest. Regrettably, it’s also one of the most endangered biomes in the world, with just 12.5% of it remaining in disparate fragments along Brazil’s southeast-facing coastline.

Teeming with life, the forest has a wider variety of flora and fauna per hectare than the Amazon, with half of its species not found anywhere else in the world. In short, it’s a hidden gem within easy reach of Brazil’s largest cities.

The Ribeira Valley – a 28,489 sq km (11,000 sq mile) river valley straddling the São Paulo – Paraná state border, is home to the largest continuous stretch of remaining Atlantic Forest.

Here, visitors can explore some of the biggest caves in Brazil (at PETAR ), stay at traditional quilombos (communities that were formed by escaped enslaved Africans ), hike through the forest and raft down rivers.

Private nature reserves like the whopping 310 sq km (120 sq mile) Legado das Águas offer a range of ecotourism activities.

An ambitious plan to connect Atlantic Forest conservation areas (including the Ribeira Valley) with one long trail – the Caminho da Mata Atlântica – has been gathering pace in the last few years, though no one has yet attempted to hike its full 4000km (2485 miles) length.

A woman and a man eating traditional food in the municipal market of São Paulo

10. São Paulo

Last but by no means least is South America’s most populous city. São Paulo may not have beaches, vast swathes of forest or even clean rivers, but it has a kinetic charm all of its own.

Poet Mário de Andrade called it “the hallucinated city,” which seems a fitting description for a megalopolis of 20 million residents. It’s a city whose soul is young and restless, a party-mad colossus with cutting-edge theaters, world-class chefs and a fascinating art scene, among countless other draws.

With layer upon layer of immigrant influences and centuries’ worth of boom-and-bust cycles, São Paulo attracts people from all over the world who thrive on its energy.

Its delights are not served up on a plate – visitors have to seek them out. But once you get a taste, you'll be hooked.

This article was first published Jan 5, 2022 and updated Mar 1, 2024.

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Travel Guide South America Brazil

Introduction

Porto Alegre - Central Market

Brazil is undoubtedly one of South America's finest destinations. From the dense jungles enveloping the mighty Amazon River , to the mountainous terrain on the southern coastline, to the many miles of beautiful sandy beaches, Brazil has something for everyone. But beyond its natural beauty, the Brazilian people and their culture is what makes Brazil a great destination. The four day festivities of the world-renowned Carnival , held around late February, are a fantastic attraction for many travellers. Although Brasilia is the capital of Brazil, Rio de Janeiro (literally 'January River' ) is often considered the heart of the country.

Warning : The mosquito-borne Zika virus can cause severe damage to a child in the womb. There are defenses, such as long sleeves and mosquito repellents, but there is no vaccine and no cure. The risk is severe enough that some Latin American governments have advised citizens not to become pregnant and the US government lists 22 countries where they advise pregnant women not to travel .

Brief History

It remains somewhat of a shiboleth that Brazil was 'discovered' by the Portuguese in the 1500's because unlike many of the other Andean tribes Brazils indigenous people have left little evidence of their existence.

On the 22nd of May 1500 Pedro Alvares Cabral led the colonisation of Brazil by the Portuguese. During the first century of occupation the major export was Brazilwood (Caesalpinia echinata) giving the country its name. However the Portuguese interest in the country was fairly slack which led to successive attempts by the French and Dutch to invade. The Dutch sacked Bahia in the 1600's and successfully captured Salvador, they formally withdrew in 1661 after successfully occupying the Nordeste for about 30 years.

Interestingly Brazil is one of only two countries among the 'new worlds' that housed an effective legal monarchical state (the other was Mexico ), for a period of almost 90 years. Brazil's capital city from 1808 to 1821, Rio de Janeiro , was the head of the Portuguese empire during that time. The monarchy was deposed on November 15, 1889 by a Republican military coup led by general Deodoro da Fonseca, who became the country's first de facto president through military ascension. In 1985 the military regime peacefully ceded power to civilian rulers.

Brazil extends over 8.5 million square kilometers, occupying just under half (47%) of the area of Latin America. Including its Atlantic islands, Brazil lies between latitudes 6°N and 34°S, and longitudes 28° and 74°W. Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world, and third largest in the Americas. This includes Arquipelago de Fernando de Noronha , Atol das Rocas, Ilha da Trindade, Ilhas Martin Vaz, and Penedos de Sao Pedro e Sao Paolo. It borders with Argentina , Bolivia , Colombia , French Guiana , Guyana , Paraguay , Peru , Suriname , Uruguay and Venezuela . Its coastline is 7,491 kilometres and its highest point is Pico da Neblina (3,014 metres). Terrain is mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills, mountains, and a coastal belt. The main upland area occupies most of the southern half of the country. The northwestern parts of the plateau consist of broad, rolling terrain broken by low, rounded hills. The southeastern section is more rugged, with a complex mass of ridges and mountain ranges reaching elevations of up to 1,200 metres. These ranges include the Mantiqueira and Espinhaço mountains and the Serra do Mar. In the north, the Guiana Highlands form a major drainage divide, separating rivers that flow south into the Amazon Basin from rivers that empty into the Orinoco River system, in Venezuela, to the north. Brazil has a dense and complex system of rivers, one of the world's most extensive, with eight major drainage basins, all of which drain into the Atlantic . Major rivers include the Amazon (the world's second-longest river and the largest in terms of volume of water), the Paraná and its major tributary the Iguaçu (which includes the Iguazu Falls), the Negro, São Francisco, Xingu, Madeira and Tapajós rivers.

Land use is composed of; arable land: 5%, permanent crops: 1%, permanent pastures: 22%, forests and woodland: 58%, other: 14%. Natural resources include bauxite, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, platinum, tin, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber. Main agricultural products include coffee, soybeans, wheat, rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa, citrus; beef and main industries in textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment.

Brazil is divided into 26 states (known as estados ) and one federal district ( Distrito Federal ) in five main regions:

Belém - city along the tropical northern coast, gateway to the Amazon River;
Belo Horizonte - one of the biggest cities, north of Rio;
Brasilia is the nation's capital;
Campo Grande - gateway to the southern Pantanal ;
Corumba - another entry point to the southern Pantanal, on the border with Bolivia ;
Cuiaba - in Mato Grosso , gateway to the northern Pantanal and southern Amazon;
Curitiba - pleasant city, not far from Sao Paulo;
Florianópolis is Brazil's top touristic destination;
Fortaleza - in the tropical north, popular beach destination;
Foz do Iguacu - gateway to the Iguazu Falls;
Goiânia - central Brazil;
João Pessoa - in the north, popular beach hang-out;
Maceió - capital and largest city in the northeastern state of Alagoas;
Manaus is the capital of the Amazon;
Natal - in the northeast, with great nearby beaches;
Porto Alegre - southernmost big city in Rio Grande do Sul;
Porto Velho - in the extreme east, southern gateway to the Amazon;
Recife - in the northeast and great for Carnival and beaches;
Rio de Janeiro is the second largest city in Brazil, home to an amazing carnival and some wonderful beaches;
Salvador - the most African city in the country;
Sao Luis - colonial city in the central north;
Sao Paulo (City) is Brazil's largest city and economic centre.
Tabatinga - border with Colombia ( Leticia );
Tefé - small city and great Amazonian surroudings.

Sights and Activities

Amazon rainforest.

Night spotting in the Amazon

Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park

Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park is a national park of Brazil located in the Chapada dos Veadeiros, an ancient plateau with an estimated age of 1.8 billion years. Based in the Brazilian state of Goias , the park was created on January 11, 1961 by President Juscelino Kubitscheck, and listed as a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 2001. It occupies an area of 655 square kilometres in the municipalities of Alto Paraíso de Goiás, Cavalcante and Colinas do Sul. The park is maintained by Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation. With altitudes between 600 and 1650 metres, it is the highest plain in Central Brazil. The highest point of the park and of the state of Goiás is Serra da Santana, at 1691 metres above sea level. Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park is noted for its waterfalls. Those which range from 80 to 120 metres include the Corredeiras, Cannyon I, Cannyon II, the Carioquinhas Waterfall and the Jardim de Maitréya.

Chapada Diamantina National Park

The Chapada Diamantina National Park is unique, wonderful and natural. It boasts beautiful landscapes, waterfalls, canyons and a big natural swimming pool. Enjoy reading the full Chapada Diamantina National Park article for your options to visit the main sights.

Fernando de Noronha

Fernando de Noronha Island

Fernando de Noronha is an UNESCO World Heritage site with fine beaches, marine wildlife and great landscapes to admire. It is part of the state of Pernambuco , but located around 350 kilometres off the northeast coast of the country and can only be excessed by plane from places like Salvador, Recife or Rio de Janeiro.

Iguazu Falls

Bordering Brazil and Argentina , the Foz do Iguacu comprise of 275 waterfalls which cascade along the cliff edges for some 2,700 metres, falling from heights of up to 80 metres. The Brazilian side offers the nicest overall views but isn't worth spending more than half a day or so. You get more close and personal with the falls from Argentina, where you'll also find better hikes and more to do. You can easily spend days here and the town of Puerto Iguazu is also nicer and smaller to stay, with better budget options. For more information, have a look at the Iguazu Falls article.

Ilha Grande

Ilha Grande view from boat

Little Caymans, Pantanal

Teatro amazonas.

Other Sights and Activities

Beaches in Brazil are amazing. Many of the great beaches are between Fortaleza and Salvador in the northeast and not to forget the Ipanema and Copacobana beaches in Rio de Janeiro . Jericoacoara near Fortaleza is a famous small fishing village with a relaxed atmosphere.
Ouro Preto , together with Olinda , has amazing colonial architecture.This southern town has some of the finest examples of towns with colonial style architecture and just like its northern counterpart on the UNESCO World Heritage List .

Salvador - Pelourinho Square, "Rosario dos Pretos" Church

Salvador de Bahia is home to a mix of African, European and indigenous people and famous for its Carnival. It has some fine colonial buildings including churches as well.
Brasilia is the capital and is not as often visited as Rio or Sao Paulo , but has some very fine modern architecture.
Olinda is located close to Recife in the northeast, this is probably one of the best examples of colonial style buildings, combined with great coastal scenery. Many of the buildings date back to the 16th and 17th centuries and the town is on the UNESCO World Heritage list .
The southern state of Rio Grande do Sul is a world apart from much of Brazil, with some gaucho culture, wine regions and both Italian and German influences, reflected in both building style as well as food.
Ilha do Mel - a beautiful and popular island off the coast of the state of Parana .

Events and Festivals

Carnival time

Although Carnival (or Carnaval ) is a festivity that is celebrated in vast (Catholic) areas in the world, the best is definately found in Brazil . Almost every city has its own Carnival, but the most famous one definately is in Rio de Janeiro . Carnival is the most famous holiday in Brazil and has become an event of huge proportions. Everything in the country comes to a complete stop for almost a week and festivities are go on day and night. The celebrations happen in almost every city and town and is a mixture of Christian, Pagan and Native Brazilian traditions. Carnival is an annual festival held forty-six days before Easter. It is held the 4 days before Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent. Roman Catholics and some other Christians used to abstaine from the consumption of meat and that is where the name "carnival," meaning "to remove or raise meat", originally comes from. Rhythm, participation, and costumes vary from one region of Brazil to another. In Rio and Sao Paulo , enormous parades are led by samba schools meant to be watched by the public, while smaller parades allow public participation and these can be found in other smaller cities. The northeastern cities of Salvador , Porto Seguro and Recife have organized groups parading through streets. Just be ready to dance and have a crazy time! The most extreme Carnival cities are Rio De Janeiro , Salvador da Bahia , Recife , Ouro Preto , Mariana and Diamantina . Remember that Carnival is different in every city and to really experience the festival it is best to go to different cities every year.

Rio de Janeiro Carnival

Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is the greatest partiy on Earth. And this partying tradition goes a long way back: the first carnivals in Rio were celebrated in 1723. The Rio de Janeiro Carnival , or "Carnaval do Rio de Janeiro" for locals, is held four days before Ash Wednesday, usually in February, but sometimes as early as late January or late as early March (like in 2011). Quite different to the European celebrations due to its mixed African , Native, Portuguese , German and other European countries elements, Carnival in Brazil has also variations by region. In the southeast (Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo), Carnival focuses on organised parades. This carnival parades are carried out by "samba schools" (or, in Portuguese again, "escolas do samba") which compete in the "sambodromo". In this kind of Carnival only affiliates can parade. However, on smaller cities, since there are no large public events but the municipalities promote celebrations in clubs or beaches. Since the 1930s the parade traditionally goes from Sunday evening until early morning Monday in the Sambadrome, which is a large structure that includes several buildings forming a large open circle and covers 700 metres of Marquês de Sapucaí Street, converted into a permanent parade ground. The "Sambódromo", as it is called in Portuguese has bleachers for spectators on both sides and it can seat ninety thousand people.

Festa de Iemanja

The festival of Iemanja is a great way to ring in the upcoming year. It is held after the New Year’s Eve celebrations die down, on January 1, predominantly along the beaches of Rio de Janeiro. It celebrates the Water Goddess, Iemanja, and sees thousands of people flock to the water where gifts are provided to the goddess. Singing, dancing and swimming usually follows.

Often simply called Lapinha, the Reis Holiday is predominantly celebrated in the large city of Salvador on January 5. The event commemorates the Three Wise Men that visited Jesus Christ upon his birth eons ago. The city hosts a famous procession, which travels through the streets of Salvador and ends at Lake Igreja da Lapinha. While at the lake, tourists can watch plays or enjoy traditional cuisine.

Boi Bumba is a smaller rendition of Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival, held in June on the island of Paratins. The celebrations usually last for three nights, without much of a break in between. When in full swing, tourists can embrace the culture mojo that Brazil is so famous for. The colors, music, dance, and rhythms radiating from the celebrations are incredible.

Festival of St Benedict

Taking place in the month of July, the Festival of St Benedict is an interesting celebration that is held in the central western region of the country. Cattlemen are at the center of attention with cowboys dressed completely in leather ‘uniforms’ or costumes, while priests bless the feasts in front of them. Deep fried rice, bolinhos, and cheeses are the main ingredients eaten.

Virgin of Nazareth Festival

More than two million people descend on the city of Belem the second Sunday in October to join a procession from the center of town to the Nazareth Basilica. Even though the event actually has Portuguese origins, it is still widely renowned in the nation of Brazil.

Children’s Day

On October 12, Brazil enjoys a national holiday celebrating the patron saint of the country, Our Lady Aparecida. However, Bahia’s central park is where the most important celebrations are found. Bahia also boasts plenty of events throughout the malls of the city, including shows and concerts that are kid-friendly.

Christmas of Light

Certainly the most important Christmas festival in Brazil, Christmas of Light is a beautiful and enticing celebration that lasts for 60 days throughout November and December. Every night, festive lights are displays across Gramado in the Rio Grande du Sol. Traditional cuisine, tree lighting, nativity reenactments, and nightly music make this festival a popular attraction for visitors of all ages.

Although 90% of the country is within the tropical zone, more than 60% of the population live in areas where altitude, sea winds, or cold polar fronts moderate the temperature. There are five climatic regions in Brazil: equatorial, tropical, semi arid, highland tropical, and subtropical.

The hottest part of Brazil is the northeast where, during the dry season, between May and November, temperatures may reach above 38 °C . Along the Atlantic coast from Recife to Rio de Janeiro , mean temperatures range from 23 °C to 27 °C . Inland, on higher ground; temperatures are lower, ranging from 18 °C to 21 °C . South of Rio, the seasons are more noticeable and the annual range of temperature greater. The average temperature for this part of the country is in the range between 17 °C and 19 °C .

Brazil's most intense rainfall is found around the mouth of the Amazon River (around Belém ), and also in the upper regions of Amazônia where more than 2,000 mm (78 inches) of rain falls each year. The rest of the country has moderate rainfall of between 1,000 and 1,500 mm (39 to 59 inches) a year, most of which falls in the summer, between December and April with winters tending to be dry.

Getting There

Brazil shares borders with 10 countries. Travelling overland from all of these countries except Suriname is possible. Many people arrive by air as well and Brazil has international airports all over the country.

If arriving by air, there are a few airports which will likely be your starting point in Brazil. These are Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) in Guarulhos, 25 kilometres from Sao Paulo and Galeão International Airport (GIG) in Rio de Janeiro . Brasilia International Airport is the third busiest with some international connections as well.

Although Varig is the national flag carier, TAM Airlines is the biggest Brazilian airline with flights to/from several cities in Europe , North America and South America .

Foreign airlines serving these cities directly from Europe are Air France , KLM and TAP Portugal . The latter has direct flights to Brasilia , Recife and other cities in Brazil as well.

From North America most cities mentiond above are served by several airlines as well. Also, unlike flights from Europe, it is possible to fly directly into Manaus , for example from Miami .

Within the region, GOL has an extensive network of destinations. In the north there are several airlines serving The Guyanas ( Guyana , Suriname and French Guiana ) from for example Belem and Manaus. Airlines among which to search are Meta and Suriname Airways.

There are no direct train connections from neighbouring countries into and out of Brazil. There is, however, the option to travel to Bolivia from Corumba and take the train from Quijarro to Santa Cruz, also known as the Death Train.

Crossings to and from Brazil]] are possible from all South American countries except Ecuador , Chile and Suriname . It does share borders with the latter one, but you have to go via Guyana or French Guiana . Those crossings require a 4wd for part in Brazil (to French Guiana) or the part in Guyana. Crosssings to and from Bolivia and Peru are also along rough roads, while crossings into Colombia are possible at the border near Leticia, though you have to get there by boat or plane first. Venezuela, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay can be reached along good tarred roads, though once across the border, especially the roads in Paraguay can be a little rougher. Have your documentation and insurance regarding the car in order and be sure to have an international driver's licence.

There are many options to get into Brazil by bus from neighbouring countries directly.

Argentina - From Argentina, the most used crossing is the Puerto Iguazu - Foz do Iguacu crossing and further south there is the Paso de los Libres to Uruguaiana crossing. Both are served by direct buses from Buenos Aires. From Buenos Aires, there are direct buses to Porto Alegre, Florianópolis , Curitiba, Sao Paul and Rio de Janeiro. The latter takes 46 hours!
Bolivia - The main crossing with Bolivia is at Corumba, opposite the Bolivian town of Quijarro (see train above). This one is particularly interesting when you want to visit the southern Pantanal . At the northern Pantanal section it is best to travel from Caceres towards the Bolivian border town of San Matias, which is about 2 hours. There are also daily direct connections from Caceres all the way to Santa Cruz in Bolivia. In the extreme west there is a crossing from Brasileia to Cobija in Bolivia. It is about 4,5 hours by bus from Rio Branco in the Acre State.
Chile - There are direct buses from Santiago in Chile to Curitiba (52 hours), Porto Alegre (36 hours), Sao Paulo (56 hours) and Rio de Janeiro (72 hours!).
Colombia - Crossing is between Tabatinga and Leticia in Colombia .
French Guiana - Crossing is between Oiapoque and Saint Georges in French Guiana .
Guyana - Crossing is between Bonfim and Lethem in Guyana .
Paraguay - The main crossings are between Foz do Iguacu and Ciudad del Este and between Ponta Pora and Pedro Juan Caballero.
Peru - Not many border crossings, but the best is in the south of Peru between Inapari and Assis Brazil. Also possible by boat (see below).
Uruguay - Most used crossing between Chuy and Chui, border is at the main street in this twin town. Other crossings are Rio Branco - Jaguarao, Isidoro Noblia - Acegua, Rivera - Santana do Livramento, Artigas - Quarai, and Bella Union - Barra do Quarai. Direct buses travel between Montevideo and Porto Alegre (12 hours), Florianopolis (19 hours) and Curitiba (24 hours).
Venezuela - To and from Venezuela , the main crossing is between Pacaraima and Santa Elana de Uairen in Venezuela. There are direct connections between Manaus and Boa Vista in Brazil to Ciudad Bolivar further north in Venezuela.

Peru and Colombia The Amazon functions as the riverine highway of Brazil and many neighbouring countries. Although there are no scheduled services to other countries, you can travel the entire lenght from Belem in the east to the border with Colombia and Peru in the west on many boats. Accommodation is usually in hammocks and it is a great way to experience local Amazonian life. The border is also called the triple frontier and from here on you can travel the Amazone even further into Peru to the city of Iquitos and even Pucallpa . Bolivia Boats also cross the river Rio Mamore from Guajara-Mirim (Rondonia) to Guayaramerin in Bolivia. This crossing is about 5.5 hours from Porto Velho . You can reach this crossing as well from Trinidad in Bolivia by boat, which takes 5 days and is a very adventurous off the beaten track experience. Peru Not many border crossings, but the best is in the south of Peru between Inapari and Assis Brazil by ferry across the Rio Acre.

Getting around

Because of the size of Brazil many travellers make the choice to fly between cities, particularly into Manaus for access to the Amazon as the road through the central states has been closed for several years. There are about 30 airports across Brazil offering domestic flights and a handful of these are international. Rio de Janeiro's Galeão Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport is the main international airport in Brazil with dozens of international and domestic airlines offering services.

Domestic business is dominated by GOL , TAM and Varig and cheap flights can best be obtained while inside the country. Other airlines, operating flights to smaller places include TRIP Linhas Aereas , Rico and Ocean Air .

Travellers who are not of Brazillian nationality should note that it is virtually impossible to reserve/pay for flights directly online with Brazillian airlines unless you have a credit card issued by a Brazillian bank. Foreign credit cards are not accepted for payment as you have to have a CPF# to make an online booking. (The CPF# is the Brazilian ID card.) The airlines cross reference the name associated with the CPF# and the name on the credit card to prevent credit card fraud.

There are few existing trainlines in Brazil. Still, there are several scenic tourist lines which are definately worth a try. These include the scenic Serra Verde Express which operates between Curitiba and the port city of Paranaguá. Stops include Morretes and Marumby State Park and although it is only 100 kilometres the landscape and scenery is spectacular.

Brazil boasts some of the best buses in South America . Prices vary generally as a function of distance and journey length. There are dozens of companies in the country but you can start checking Expresso Brasileiro and AutoViacao . Some buses travel from south all the way north to places like Belem and can take over 3 days! It is better to either break up your trip, or look for cheaper deals regarding flights, as prices of long distance buses can add up.

Travelling around by car is getting more and more popular in Brazil, especially in the coastal areas. Although road conditions vary widely throughout Brazil, roads are generally in a relatively good condition, but not all and not everywhere! The government offers an up to date online service for checking road conditions. [1]

Driving behaviour of the Brazilians and busy traffic in certain parts of Brazil are certainly worth thinking twice before you rent a car, but don't let this scare you too much. Many cities and airports have facilities, with both local and international agencies like Hertz and Avis . Remember that 21 is the minimum age to be able to rent a car.

Foreigners that have an international driving license issued abroad are normally allowed to drive in Brazil for 6 months from the date of arrival.

Although in most parts of Brazil, you will just be fine travelling around by land or plane, the Amazon is the place where you really need a boat to get to most places, unless you want to take flights all the time. You have a choice of taking slow boats to most places and several fast boats to a few places as well, although these only travel between Manaus, Tefé and Tabatinga in western direction and to Santarem in eastern direction.

Slow boats travel across the Amazon River between Belem and Tabatinga on the border with Peru and Colombia . It takes around a week downstream but over one and a half upstream to cover the route. Other options include routes between Manaus and Porto Velho in the south along the Rio Madeira and north from Manaus to São Gabriel da Cachoeira travelling along the Rio Negro. The first takes about 4 days, the second almost a week!

On all these boats you have a choice to spend the nights in a hammock or for a little bit more you can get a cabin, sometimes with airconditioning, usually only with a fan. In the latter case, it can become very hot in the cabins, so travel like the locals do and learn to sleep in a hammock, enjoying the fresh nightly air.

Other options outside the Amazon include ferries by Barcas S/A between Rio de Janeiro and Niteroi , and between Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande .

Brazil has a reciprocal visa policy with many countries, meaning that when visa fees and restrictions are applied to Brazilian visiting a country, Brazil generally adopts the same measures for that country's visitors.

Citizens from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela may enter the country with a valid ID card and stay up to 90 days. As of 2018, citizens of Canada, Japan, Australia, and the USA can apply for an electronic tourist visa. This electronic visa is valid for multiple entries within two years and stays of up to 90 days in a one-year period and costs US$45. Citizens of the same four countries will be able to enter Brazil visa-free for up to 90 days, effective June 17, 2019.

No visa is required for stays of up to 90 days from holders of passports from these countries, unless otherwise indicated: Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Rep., Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong SAR passport, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, South Korea, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macau, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Singapore (30 days, ordinary passports only), Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom (Including British National (Overseas) passport holders), Uruguay, Venezuela (60 days) and Vatican City. The immigration officer has the right to restrict your visa to less than 90 days, if he deems fit. (This has been done routinely for lone male travellers arriving in Fortaleza, allegedly to combat prostitution tourism.) He will then state the number of days (e.g. 60 or 30) in pen writing inside the stamp just given in your passport; if not, it remains as 90 days.

Citizens from all other countries do require a visa . The fees vary depending on reciprocity: for example, US citizens have to pay at least US$160 for a tourist visa and US$220 for a business visa. Cost of Brazil visa for citizens of Taiwan or Taiwanese passport holder pay US$20 (Reference from Embassy of Brazil in Lima, Peru) and 5 days to process. The reciprocity, however, also frequently applies to visa validity: US citizens can be granted visas valid up to 10 years and, likewise, Canadian citizens for up to 5.

Tourist visas (including those granted on the spot in immigration control) can be extended at any office of the Policia Federal. Tourist Visas granted to citizens of the Schengen Area can not be extended. All state capitals, and most border towns and international ports have one. Tourist visas will only be extended once, for a maximum of 90 days, and under no circumstances can you be granted more than 180 days with a tourist visa for any 365-day period. You should contact the federal police about 1 week before your visa expires. The handling fee is R$67 (Oct 2008). You may be asked for an outbound ticket (book a fully refundable one on the internet, then cancel when your visa is extended), and a proof of subsistence (for which your credit card is mostly accepted.) In order to apply for the extension, you must fill out the Emissão da Guia de Recolhimento on the Federal Police website, which you will carry to the Banco do Brasil in order to pay the fee. Do not pay the fee until you have spoken with a federal police officer about your case. If she/he denies the extension of your visa, you must have a bank account in Brazil in order to receive a refund.

The requirement to first enter Brazil within 90 days of the issue of the visa now only applies to nationals of Angola, Bahrain, Burma, Cambodia, Cape Verde, China, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Greece, Honduras, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Libya, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, The Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Syria, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, and Tunisia. Failure to enter Brazil within 90 days will invalidate the visa, no matter how long it is otherwise valid for.

By law you are required to produce your outbound ticket upon entry, but this is only enforced in exceptional cases. Even if you are asked, you could often get away with explaining that you are taking the bus to Argentina, and couldn´t buy the ticket in, say, Europe.

If you overstay your tourist visa, you will be fined R$8.28 per day (as of October 2007), for a maximum of 100 days. This means that even if you stay illegally for 5 years, the fine will never exceed R$828. You will be made to pay this at the border crossing. As this can take time, it could be wise to do it a few days up front at a federal police office, especially if you have a domestic to international flight connection. The federal police will then give you 8 days to get out of the country. If you don´t pay your fine upon exiting, you will have to pay the next time you enter. The fact that you have been fined for overstaying in the past does not normally imply future difficulties with immigration, but you´d better keep all receipts and old passports for reference.

If you want to enter/exit the country for some reason without coming in contact with the immigration authorities, there are numerous tiny border towns that have virtually no control. You will perhaps be told by the local police (who don´t have stamps or computer registers for immigration) to contact the federal police in such and such nearby town.

When you are travelling from certain tropical regions to Brazil you need a yellow fever vaccination and the certificate showing you had this. It is illegal to bring in animals, meat, dairy, seeds, plants, eggs, honey, fruit, or any kind of non-processed food without a permit. Contact [ [email protected] ] for more information.

Brasilian Reais

Brazil's currency is the Brazilian Real (BRL) (pronounced 'hay-AHL'), plural Reais ('hay-EYES'). The subunit is called centavo(s) (cents). There are notes for R$1, R$2, R$5, R$10, R$20, R$50 and R$100. [2]

Coins vary in size and colour and come in 1 centavo, 5 centavos, 10 centavos, 25 centavos, 50 centavos and R$1. BRL1 is roughly US0.55 USD/€0.45 EUR/0.35 GBP (check Oanda for up to date conversions).

Use of travellers cheques is restricted and must be exchanged. Exchange centres can be found across Brazil in all major cities called 'casas de cambio. Holders of major credit cards can use most major ATMs to access accounts and withdraw cash (other transactions limited).

Portuguese is the official language of Brazil. [3]

Language is one of the strongest elements of Brazil's national unity. Portuguese is spoken by nearly 100% of the population. The only exceptions are some members of Amerindian groups and pockets of immigrants, primarily from Japan and South Korea , who have not yet learned Portuguese. The principal families of Indian languages are Tupí, Arawak, Carib, and Gê.

There is about as much difference between the Portuguese spoken in Brazil and that spoken in Portugal as between the English spoken in the United States and that spoken in the United Kingdom . Within Brazil, there are no dialects of Portuguese, but only moderate regional variation in accent, vocabulary, and use of personal nouns, pronouns, and verb conjugations. Variations tend to diminish as a result of mass media, especially national television networks that are viewed by the majority of Brazilians.

English is not widely spoken except in some touristy areas. Don't expect bus or taxi drivers to understand English, so it may be a good idea to write down the address you are heading to before getting the cab. In most big and luxurious hotels, it is very likely that the taxi fleet will speak some English. If you are really in need of talking in English, you should look for the younger people (-30 years), because they, generally, have a higher knowledge of the language and will be eager to help you and exercise their English.

Spanish speakers are usually able to get by in Brazil, especially towards the south. While written Portuguese can be quite similar to Spanish, spoken Portuguese is much harder to understand.

Brazil is a huge country with vary diverse cuisine depending on the area in the country. Some of the more common food may seem a bit boring, especially in the poorer areas of the country. The national dish is Feijoada (Meat Stew) and might be a bit much for some tourists because of its use of organs and other innards.

A must try for people that eat meat is Brazilian BBQ ( Churrasco ), which is amazing. The different kinds of meat are cooked on a spears and waiters bring the spears to you and pull off pieces of food. On each table will be a little card that is green on one side and red on the other. As long as the green side is up more meat will be brought to you. This is always an all you can eat kind of meal. The restaurants that specialize in this form of cooking are called churrascarias and can be found anywhere in the country, even at truck stops. You will find them throughout the country, but probably the best ones are in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul , with some of the best in Porto Alegre .

Large chains have started to dominate the country nationwide. One of the most well known is Bob's, which is similar to McDonalds although a little better. Habib's is also common and is a Middle Eastern fast food chain found in most of the country. Chains like Burger King, Subway and Pizza Hut have started to appear although not super common. Most Brazilians do not like touching there food and will eat finger food with napkins and even use a fork to eat french fries.

It is common among locals to tip 10% of the bill. Sometimes this 10% will be included in the bill, although it is not mandatory to pay it. It is actually a customers legal right to ignore the tip if they think they got bad service. If eating at a restaurant regularly it is best to make friends with a waiter by giving a larger tip and in the long run get better service. Some restaurants do not allow the waiters to keep the tip, therefore it might be better to slip the tip to the waiter discreetly while leaving, in cash, so he or she may keep it.

High season in Brazil follows the school holidays calendar, December and January (summer) being the busiest months. New Year, Carnival (movable between February and March, see Understand above) and Holy week are the peak periods, and prices can skyrocket, especially in coastal cities like Rio and Salvador. Also, during those holidays, many hotels restrict bookings to a 3 or 4-day minimum and charge in advance.

Hotels are plentiful in just about all areas of Brazil and can range from luxury beach resorts to very modest and inexpensive choices. The Brazilian tourism regulation board imposes specific minimum attributes for each type of facility, but as the 1-5 star rating is no longer enforced, check in advance if your hotel provides the kind of services you expect.

Pousada means guesthouse (the local equivalent of a French auberge or a British boarding house), and are usually simpler than hotels, and will offer fewer services (room service, laundry etc.). Pousadas are even more widespread than hotels.

In wilderness areas like the Pantanal, travelers usually stay in fazendas , which are ranches with guest facilities. In small towns of Minas Gerais people are fond of hotéis-fazenda (farm hotels) where you can swim, ride, walk, play football, and camp as well as sleep in picturesque barracks. Also there is great fun in going on a boat hotel which will take you to inaccessible places on the rivers and lakes for great fishing trips or for simply relaxing and watching and photographing the wildlife which is very abundant in the Pantanal. The boats are large, safe, and comfortable with air-conditioned rooms (very necessary). Several small aluminum boats with outboard motor, carried by the boat hotel, driven by experienced fisher/guide will take 2 or 3 tourists to the best "points".

Youth hostels are increasingly common in most places.

Brazil's national booze is cachaça , a 40% sugar-cane liquor known to knock the unwary out quite quickly. It can be tried in virtually every bar in the country. Famous producing regions include Minas Gerais, where there are tours of distilleries, and the city of Paraty. Pirassununga is home to Caninha 51, Brazil's best-selling brand.

Drinking cachaça straight, or stirring in only a dollop of honey or a bit of lime juice, is a common habit on the Northeast region of the country, but the strength of cachaça can be hidden in cocktails like the famous caipirinha , where it is mixed with sugar, lime juice and ice. Using vodka instead of cachaça is nicknamed caipiroska or caipivodka; with white rum, it's a caipiríssima; and with sake it's a caipisaque (not in every region).

Beer in Brazil has a respectable history because of the German immigrants. Most Brazilian beer brands tend to be way less thick and bitter than German, Danish or English beer. More than 90% of all beer consumed in Brazil is Pilsner, and it is usually drunk very cold (at a temperature close to 0 °C ). The most popular domestic brands are Brahma, Antarctica, and Skol.

Rio Grande do Sul is the leading wine production region. There are a number of wine-producing farms that are open to visitors and wine tasting, and wine cellars selling wine and fermented grape juice. One of these farms open to visitors is Salton Winery, located in the city of Bento Gonçalves. The São Francisco Valley, along the border of the states of Pernambuco and Bahia, is the country's newest wine-producing region. Brazilian wines are usually fresher, fruitier and less alcoholic than, for instance, French wines.

Brazil is known world-wide for its high-quality strong coffee . Café is so popular that it can name meals: breakfast in Brazil is called café da manhã (morning coffee), while café com pão (coffee with bread) or café da tarde (afternoon coffee) means a light afternoon meal. Cafezinho (small coffee) is a small cup of strong, sweetened coffee usually served after meals in restaurants (sometimes for free, just ask politely). Bottled filtered coffee is being replaced by stronger espresso cups in more upscale restaurants.

Mate is an infusion similar to tea that is very high in caffeine content. A toasted version, often served chilled, is consumed all around the country, while Chimarrão (incidentally called mate in neighbouring Spanish-speaking countries) is the hot, bitter equivalent that can be found in the south and is highly appreciated by the gaúchos (Rio Grande do Sul dwellers). Tererê is a cold version of Chimarrão, common in Mato Grosso do Sul and Mato Grosso state.

Guaraná is a carbonated soft drink made from the guaraná berry, native to the Amazon area. The major brands are Antarctica and Kuat, the latter owned by Coke.

Keep Connected

Internet cafes (Lan houses) are increasingly common, and even small towns often have at least one spot with more or less decent connections. An increasing number of hotels, airports and shopping malls also offer hotspots for Wi-Fi with your laptop computer or of course smartphone. Sometimes it is free, sometimes you need to register and there is a time limite and sometimes you need to pay a small amount for (day) use.

External Links

Official Governmental Website
Official Tourism Website
1 Road Conditions
2 Banco Central Real Notes
3 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Brazil

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Brazil Travel Helpers

I traveled to Brazil during two totally different trips. But out of the main cities and far away from the beaches. If you are going to the Iguacu Falls, Pantanal and Amazon Basin on the other hand, I might be of some use to you! This also applies to the extreme south: Rio Grande do Sul.

Travelled in 2002. Sao Paulo, Florianopolis, Iguaçu and Rio de Janeiro.

I am brazilian, so any doubts concerning routes, seasons, festivals, what to do or not or maybe a companion for journeys, just get in touch! bye!

I am a Brazilian and know quite well my Country. There are a lot of concerns of the travellers when coming to South America specially to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I would be very helpful on dismistifing all bad things people here abroad about us, besides revealing the beauties of our region.

I am professional travel consultant, Brazil specialist, and I know almost all Brazilian states

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Travel, Tourism & Hospitality

Travel and tourism in Brazil – statistics & facts

Brazil's natural attractions, covid-19 impact on the brazilian tourism sector, key insights.

Detailed statistics

Total tourism GDP in Latin American countries 2021

Internal travel and tourism consumption in Latin American countries 2019

Brazil: tourism revenue by segment 2020

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Current statistics on this topic.

Tourism revenue in Brazil 2019-2022

Inbound tourism volume in Brazil 2010-2021

Inbound tourism volume in Brazil 2021, by origin

Recommended statistics

Regional overview.

Basic Statistic Share of total tourism contribution to GDP in Latin American countries 2022
Basic Statistic Share of tourism in total employment in Latin American countries 2022
Premium Statistic Most competitive Latin American countries for tourism 2021
Premium Statistic Number of natural parks in Latin American countries 2023

Share of total tourism contribution to GDP in Latin American countries 2022

Travel and tourism as percentage of gross domestic product in Latin America in 2022, by country

Share of tourism in total employment in Latin American countries 2022

Travel and tourism as percentage of total employment in Latin America in 2022, by country

Most competitive Latin American countries for tourism 2021

Leading countries for tourism in Latin America in 2021, based on the Travel and Tourism Development Index

Number of natural parks in Latin American countries 2023

Number of natural parks in Latin America as of August 2023, by country

Key figures

Premium Statistic Tourism revenue in Brazil 2019-2022
Premium Statistic Contribution of tourism spending to Brazilian GDP 2010-2021, by type
Basic Statistic Share of travel and tourism spending in Brazil 2022, by origin
Premium Statistic Hospitality businesses in Brazil 2010-2021
Premium Statistic Hospitality headcount in Brazil 2016-2021
Premium Statistic Average trips by Brazilian travelers 2023, by economic level
Premium Statistic Tourism development in Brazil 2021, by pillar

Revenue generated by the tourism sector in Brazil from 2019 to 2022 (in billion Brazilian reals)

Contribution of tourism spending to Brazilian GDP 2010-2021, by type

Tourism expenditure as share of gross domestic product in Brazil from 2010 to 2021, by type

Share of travel and tourism spending in Brazil 2022, by origin

Distribution of expenditure by tourists in Brazil in 2022, by main origin

Hospitality businesses in Brazil 2010-2021

Number of companies in the accommodation and food service industries in Brazil from 2010 to 2021 (in 1,000s)

Hospitality headcount in Brazil 2016-2021

Number of employees in the accommodation and food service industries in Brazil from 2016 to 2021 (in 1,000s)

Average trips by Brazilian travelers 2023, by economic level

Average number of trips taken by tourists from Brazil as of July 2023, by social class

Tourism development in Brazil 2021, by pillar

Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI) in Brazil in 2021, by pillar

Brazilian tourists

Premium Statistic Domestic rail travelers in Brazil 2010-2021
Premium Statistic Number of air travelers in domestic flights in Brazil 2000-2021
Premium Statistic Travel product online bookings in Brazil 2024
Premium Statistic Attitudes towards traveling in Brazil 2024
Premium Statistic Favorite domestic destinations in Brazil 2023
Basic Statistic International mobility for passport holders from Brazil 2023, by visa type

Domestic rail travelers in Brazil 2010-2021

Number of domestic rail passengers in Brazil from 2010 to 2021 (in millions)

Number of air travelers in domestic flights in Brazil 2000-2021

Number of domestic air passengers in Brazil from 2000 to 2021 (in millions)

Travel product online bookings in Brazil 2024

Travel product online bookings in Brazil as of March 2024

Attitudes towards traveling in Brazil 2024

Attitudes towards traveling in Brazil as of March 2024

Favorite domestic destinations in Brazil 2023

Preferred travel destinations for domestic tourists in Brazil as of July 2023

International mobility for passport holders from Brazil 2023, by visa type

Number of countries where Brazilian passport holders need or do not need a visa as of August 2023

International tourists

Premium Statistic Inbound tourism volume in Brazil 2010-2021
Premium Statistic Inbound tourism volume in Brazil 2021, by origin
Premium Statistic Inbound tourism volume in Brazilian states 2021
Premium Statistic Travel spending of inbound visitors in Brazil 2010-2021, by purpose
Premium Statistic Favorite international destinations in Brazil 2023

Number of international tourist arrivals in Brazil from 2010 to 2021 (in 1,000s)

Number of international tourist arrivals in Brazil in 2021, by region of origin (in 1,000s)

Inbound tourism volume in Brazilian states 2021

Number of international tourist arrivals in Brazil in 2021, by state (in 1,000s)

Travel spending of inbound visitors in Brazil 2010-2021, by purpose

Travel expenditure of international tourists in Brazil from 2010 to 2021, by travel purpose (in billion U.S. dollars)

Favorite international destinations in Brazil 2023

Preferred travel destinations for international tourists from Brazil as of July 2023

Lodging industry

Premium Statistic Hotels, beds, and rooms available in Brazil 2017-2021
Premium Statistic Share of hotel rooms in Brazil 2022, by hotel size and origin
Premium Statistic Hotel room occupancy in Brazil 2010-2023
Premium Statistic Average daily revenue of hotels per occupied room in Brazil 2010-2023
Premium Statistic Hotel RevPAR in Brazil 2010-2023
Premium Statistic Main hotel brands in Brazil 2022, by number of rooms

Hotels, beds, and rooms available in Brazil 2017-2021

Number of establishments, rooms, and beds in the hotel industry in Brazil from 2017 to 2021 (in 1,000s)

Share of hotel rooms in Brazil 2022, by hotel size and origin

Distribution of hotel rooms in Brazil as of July 2022, by size and origin of hotel

Hotel room occupancy in Brazil 2010-2023

Occupancy rate of hotel rooms in Brazil from 2010 to 2023

Average daily revenue of hotels per occupied room in Brazil 2010-2023

Average daily rate of hotels in Brazil from 2010 to 2023 (in Brazilian reals)

Hotel RevPAR in Brazil 2010-2023

Revenue per available room of hotels in Brazil from 2010 to 2023 (in Brazilian reals)

Main hotel brands in Brazil 2022, by number of rooms

Leading hotel brands in Brazil as of July 2022, by on number of rooms

Package holidays & travel companies

Premium Statistic Revenue of the package holidays industry in Brazil 2019-2028
Premium Statistic Travel agencies in Brazil 2017-2021
Premium Statistic Most recalled travel agencies in Brazil 2023
Premium Statistic CVC Corp: net revenue 2015-2022
Premium Statistic Despegar: number of transactions 2019-2023, by market

Revenue of the package holidays industry in Brazil 2019-2028

Revenue of the package holidays market in Brazil from 2019 to 2028 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Travel agencies in Brazil 2017-2021

Number of travel agencies in Brazil from 2017 to 2021 (in 1,000s)

Most recalled travel agencies in Brazil 2023

Most memorable travel agencies in Brazil in 2023

CVC Corp: net revenue 2015-2022

Net revenue of CVC Brasil Operadora e Agência de Viagens S.A. from 2015 to 2022 (in million Brazilian reals)

Despegar: number of transactions 2019-2023, by market

Number of transactions completed on Despegar.com platforms from 2019 to 2023, by market (in millions)

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3 Other destinations
4.1 Climate
6.1 By plane
7 Get around
12 Stay safe

Southeast Brazil is the cultural and economic hub of the country, and contains three of the four largest cities: São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Belo Horizonte. It is the richest region of the country and it leads the country in population, urban population, population density, industries, universities, airports, ports, highways, hospitals, schools, houses and many other areas. It also has a lot to see outside of the cities, with national parks such as Itatiaia and Serra da Canastra and a long and beautiful coastline with popular destinations like Paraty , Caraguatatuba , and Guarapari .

-19.928056 -43.941944 1 Belo Horizonte - Third largest city in the country, and capital of Minas Gerais .
-22.883333 -43.103611 2 Niterói - The city across the Guanabara Bay from Rio de Janeiro. There are beautiful beaches and mountains you can go to the top of them and view all the beauty of Rio. A visit to Itacoatiara beach is recommended.
-20.385278 -43.503611 3 Ouro Preto - Most beautiful colonial town in Brazil, has a large collection of Baroque art of the 16th and 17th centuries, the golden age in the country. Monumental churches, museums and urban tracks are now protected as World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
-23.219444 -44.714722 4 Paraty - Quaint coastal colonial town with cobblestone streets, hiking options, and access to hundreds of small islands in the Bay of Ilha Grande
-22.911111 -43.205556 5 Rio de Janeiro - Brazil's "marvelous city", with famous beaches such as Copacabana and Ipanema
-23.550394 -46.633947 6 São Paulo - Largest city in South America, a sprawling metropolis with a vast array of cultural, culinary, and shopping options.
-23.933599 -46.32864 7 Santos - An important port city in São Paulo state, home of the football club for which Pelé played most of his career.
-21.11 -44.177778 8 Tiradentes - A well preserved historic town in the state of Minas Gerais .
-20.310556 -40.297222 9 Vitória - The capital of the state of Espírito Santo . It is famous for its beautiful bay, the alongside Convento da Penha (a hilltop Franciscan convent dating from the 16th century), its beaches and nightlife.

Other destinations

-20.133333 -43.5 1 Caraça
-23.133333 -44.166667 2 Ilha Grande
-22.354247 -44.653294 3 Itatiaia National Park
-20.413056 -41.023056 4 Pedra Azul State Park — the main attraction of this 12 square meters park is its 1909 meters high peak, Pedra Azul , which got its name due to the blue tonality reflected on the rock at some moments of the day
-20.25 -46.5 5 Serra da Canastra National Park
-22.416667 -44.85 6 Serra da Mantiqueira
-22.963 -44.67 7 Serra da Bocaina National Park

Since the 18th century, Brazil’s Southeast has been the heart of the country’s economy. Firstly, with the intense gold and diamond mining in the state of Minas Gerais, which gave birth to several colonial towns - many of them still well-preserved, as well as the transfer of the country’s capital from Salvador to Rio de Janeiro in 1763. When the mining activities declined, the coffee produced in the region took its place as the country’s main export, followed by Brazil’s industrialization, which helped develop the region from the 1930s on. Today, the Southeast is still the most populous and economically powerful of the country’s regions, besides being the epicenter of the Brazil’s cultural industries. Nevertheless, it is still to overcome problems that plague the rest of the country, such as the extreme contrast between the rich and the poor, and the lack of security in the metropolises. In spite of that, São Paulo and Rio are the main gateways to Brazil, both for business and leisure travelers, and the region offers countless attractions to all its visitors.

The diverse landscapes of the southeast can have very different climates altogether – check the state articles for details. As a general rule, areas along the coastline can be hot and humid year-round – less so in winter. Northern Minas Gerais is also hot, but drier. In higher altitude areas (such as São Paulo (city), southern Minas Gerais and the mountains of Rio state) winters are usually cool. Summer is the wettest season whereas winters are generally drier.

English is normally spoken only at the tourism businesses (hotels and a few more tourist-oriented restaurants), and by the well-educated upper classes. Do not assume everyone speaks Spanish. Brazilians do not like to be mistaken for Spanish-speakers and some can find it rude to be approached in Spanish. Portuguese is spoken with variations in accent and a few tweaks in vocabulary. Some of them may be interesting for the traveller to know:

Semáforo (traffic lights): Sinal (in Minas and Rio), farol (in São Paulo)

São Paulo has the country's largest number of international links. Note that some connections to domestic flights may require a change between airports, from Guarulhos International ( GRU IATA ) to Congonhas ( CGH IATA ), which is a busy national hub.

Rio de Janeiro ( GIG IATA ) also receives international flights, including the only direct flight to Angola . Rio's other airport ( SDU IATA ) serves only domestic destinations.

Other cities with international connections are Belo Horizonte (from Portugal ) and Cabo Frio, in the Buzios region, with flights to and from Buenos Aires.

Colonial heritage is preserved in many small towns such as Paraty , Ouro Preto , Tiradentes , and Diamantina . Old churches in Brazilian baroque style, courthouses, manors, and town halls recall the stories of early immigration, the Inconfidência Mineira against the Portuguese crown, and the gold and diamond rushes for which Minas Gerais is named.
Bonete Jungle Trail (Trilha do Bonete) – A beautiful 2-day jungle trail on Ilhabela island with picturesque waterfalls, refreshing river pools, beautiful beaches, and flora and fauna of the Atlantic rain forest.
Estrada Real – Cutting through the States of Minas Gerais and São Paulo to the port cities of Paraty and Rio de Janeiro , the Royal Road is one of the oldest roads in the Americas. It thrived during the diamond and gold-digging ages, linking many of the most important historic towns in the region.

One may enjoy a delicious caipirinha. This drink is Brazil's national cocktail, made with cachaça (pronounced [kaˈʃasɐ]), sugar and lemon. Cachaça is Brazil's most common distilled alcoholic beverage. While both rum and cachaça are made from sugarcane-derived products, most rum is made from molasses. Specifically with cachaça, the alcohol results from the fermentation of sugarcane juice that is afterwards distilled.

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Brazil is the largest country in South America and the fifth largest nation in the world. It forms an enormous triangle on the eastern side of the continent with a 4,500-mile (7,400-kilometer) coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. It has borders with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador .

The Brazilian landscape is very varied. It is most well known for its dense forests, including the Amazon, the world's largest jungle, in the north. But there are also dry grasslands (called pampas), rugged hills, pine forests, sprawling wetlands, immense plateaus, and a long coastal plain.

Northern Brazil is dominated by the Amazon River and the jungles that surround it. The Amazon is not one river but a network of many hundreds of waterways. Its total length stretches 4,250 miles (6,840 kilometers). Thousands of species live in the river, including the infamous piranha and the boto, or pink river dolphin.

Map created by National Geographic Maps

PEOPLE & CULTURE

Most Brazilians are descended from three ethnic groups: Amerindians, European settlers (mainly from Portugal), and Africans. Starting in the 19th century, waves of immigrants from Europe, the Middle East, and even Japan added to this mix. This diversity of cultures has created a rich religious, musical, and culinary culture.

Brazilians are soccer crazy, and their country has produced some of the best players. The most famous of all is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé. Brazil has won the World Cup soccer finals five times, more than any other nation.

Brazil has the greatest variety of animals of any country in the world. It is home to 600 mammal species, 1,500 fish species, 1,600 bird species, and an amazing 100,000 different types of insects . Brazil's jungles are home to most of its animal life, but many unique species also live in the pampas and semidesert regions.

In the central-western part of Brazil sits a flat, swampy area called the Pantanal. This patchwork of flooded lagoons and small islands is the world's largest wetland. Here live giant anacondas , huge guinea pig relatives called capybaras, and fierce South American alligators called caimans .

For thousands of years, people have been exploiting the jungles of Brazil. But since Europeans arrived about five centuries ago, forest destruction has been rampant. Most of Brazil's Atlantic rain forest is now gone, and huge tracts of the Amazon are disappearing every year. The government has established many national parks and refuges, but they only cover about 7 percent of the country.

GOVERNMENT & ECONOMY

Brazil is a federal republic with a president, a National Congress, and a judiciary. From 1888 until recently, the country struggled with democracy. But in 1985, the military government was peacefully removed, and by 1995, Brazil's politics and economy had become fairly stable.

Brazil has many different soils and climates, so it can produce a great variety of crops. Its agricultural exports include sugarcane, latex, coffee, cocoa beans, cotton, soybeans, rice, and tropical fruits.

Brazil is also South America's most industrial nation, producing chemicals, steel, aircraft, and cars.

Until recently, scientists thought Brazil was first settled by Asians about 10,000 years ago. But new evidence shows there were people living there at least 32,000 years ago. Some experts think they may have arrived from islands in the Pacific Ocean.

Brazil was added to the map of the world during the great European explorations in the late 15th century led by Portugal and Spain. When Europeans first reached the coast of Brazil, the country was home to about 30 million indigenous people, or Amerindians. Today, only about 300,000 remain, living primarily in Brazil's remotest places.

Portugal established its first colony in Brazil in 1530. Colonists created sugarcane plantations along the coast and sent diamonds and gold back to Europe. Soon, people from West Africa were brought to Brazil to work as slaves. The discovery of large inland gold reserves brought thousands of people from the coasts and as far away as Europe to the interior of the country.

In 1789, Brazilians tried to kick out their Portuguese rulers. The rebellion was soon put down, but it started a movement toward independence. By 1822, Brazil was a sovereign nation. Kings of Portuguese blood ruled until 1888, when military leaders and landowners expelled the king, and Brazil became a federal republic.

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IMAGES

Tourism in Brazil
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Tourist attractions in Brazil

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COMMENTS

Tourism in Brazil
Tourism 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 ...
Brazil
Brazil (Portuguese: Brasil) is the largest country in South America and the fifth largest in the world. Brazil is an incredibly diverse country, in people, culture, and landscapes—from the famous summer carnaval in Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Olinda, and Recife to the wild power of nature in the Amazon and Iguaçu Falls.You'll find bustling cities, laid-back beaches, and traditional lifestyles ...
Brazil
Brazil (Portuguese: Brasil) is the largest country in South America and fifth largest in the world. Famous for its football tradition and its annual Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Recife and Olinda. It is a country of great diversity, from the bustling urban mosaic of São Paulo to the infinite cultural energy of Alagoas, Pernambuco and Bahia, the wilderness of the Amazon rainforest and ...
Brazil
Tourism in Brazil is a growing sector and key to the economy of several regions of the country. The country had 6.36 million visitors in 2015, ranking in terms of the international tourist arrivals as the main destination in South America and second in Latin America after Mexico.
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro is the second largest city in Brazil, on the South Atlantic coast.Rio is famous for its breathtaking landscape, its laid-back beach culture and its annual carnival. The "Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea" has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.. The harbour of Rio de Janeiro is comprised of a unique entry from the ocean that makes it appear as the ...
Salvador
History []. Founded in 1549, Salvador was the capital in the heyday of the slave trade. The legacy remains today in its large Afro-Brazilian population, and the resulting culture in many ways outshines the rest of Brazil; in music, many of the greatest names from the mid-20th century to the present hail from Salvador, such as Dorival Caymmi, Gilberto Gil, and Caetano Veloso.
Tourism in Brazil
Tourism 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. Revenues from international tourists reached US$5.8 billion in 2015, continuing a recovery ...
Brasilia
Brasilia (Portuguese: Brasília), the capital of Brazil and the seat of government of the Distrito Federal, is a planned city in the Central Highlands of Brazil.Inaugurated in 1960, it is a masterpiece of modernist architecture listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and attracts architecture enthusiasts worldwide. Brasilia is also an important transportation hub for travel within Brazil.
Category:Tourism in Brazil
Ministers of Tourism of Brazil‎ (9 P) O. Outdoor recreation in Brazil‎ (1 C) R. Resorts in Brazil‎ (3 C, 1 P) T. Tourist attractions in Brazil‎ (28 C, 6 P) Pages in category "Tourism in Brazil" The following 4 pages are in this category, out of 4 total.
Brazil travel
Build a memorable collection. Get to the heart of Brazil with one of our in-depth, award-winning guidebooks, covering maps, itineraries, and expert guidance. South America. $ 29.99.
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro is the main destination for lesbian and gay travellers from all over Brazil and the rest of the world. The city has been chosen as the best lesbian and gay international destination in 2009, and the sexiest gay place in the world in 2010 and 2011. Brazil has an extensive and functional treating of AIDS.
Tourism in Brazil
Rio de Janeiro, the most visited destination in Brazil by foreign tourists for leisure trips, and second place for business travel. Sancho Bay, Fernando de Noronha, elected the most beautiful beach in the world by TripAdvisor. Tourism 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 ...
South (Brazil)
Santa Catarina Island (Florianópolis) — between São Paulo and Porto Alegre, this island is one of the top travel destinations in south Brazil, with its 42 beaches and incredible landscape; Understand [edit] The South is the smallest of Brazilian regions, and also, economically speaking, one of the most developed.
10 best places to visit in Brazil
7. Fernando de Noronha. An archipelago of islands some 320km (200 miles) off the northeast coast, Fernando de Noronha is high on many honeymoon wishlists. Of Noronha's 21 islands, only the largest one is accessible to tourists - and even then, its boundaries lie safely within Brazil's largest marine park.
Travellers' Guide To Brazil
The area actually containing forest is slightly smaller and is divided by 9 countries of which Brazil has the largest part. Manaus is the gateway to the Brazilian central Amazon, and although there are many trips from here, you are better of if you venture deeper into the rainforest and visit from for example Tefe,where you can travel further towards the fantastic Mamiraua Sustainable ...
Brasilia
Brasília, the capital of Brazil and the seat of government of the Distrito Federal, is a planned city. Inaugurated in 1960 in the Central Highlands of Brazil, it is a masterpiece of modernist architecture listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and attracts architecture aficionados worldwide. Brasilia is also an important transportation hub for travel within Brazil.
Travel and tourism in Brazil
The Brazilian travel and tourism sector was strongly hit by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. According to 2020 figures, Brazil lost around 1.4 million tourism jobs by the end of the year ...
Visa policy of Brazil
t. e. Brazilian visa. Visitors to Brazil must obtain a visa from one of the Brazilian diplomatic missions unless they are nationals of one of the visa-exempt countries or have the option to obtain an electronic visa. For stays longer than 90 days or for employment in Brazil, all foreign nationals must have a visa or residency authorization.
Southeast (Brazil)
Southeast. Southeast Brazil is the cultural and economic hub of the country, and contains three of the four largest cities: São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Belo Horizonte. It is the richest region of the country and it leads the country in population, urban population, population density, industries, universities, airports, ports, highways ...
Brazil Country Profile
Brazil is the largest country in South America and the fifth largest nation in the world. It forms an enormous triangle on the eastern side of the continent with a 4,500-mile (7,400-kilometer) coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. It has borders with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador. The Brazilian landscape is very varied.
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, with a city population of about 12 million and almost 22 million in its metropolitan region. It is the capital of the Southeastern state of São Paulo, and also a beehive of activity that offers a jovial nightlife and an intense cultural experience. São Paulo is one of the richest cities in the southern hemisphere, though inequality between the ...
Paraty
Paraty (also spelled Parati) [1] is a coastal historic town in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was first settled by the Portuguese in 1667. Its old churches, cobbled streets and nearby forests, waterfalls, islands and emerald-green sea attract lots of tourists interested in mixing cultural tourism and more natural settings.
Wikitravel
In 2017 rock on at one of Georgia's 75 music festivals, such as June's AthFest in Athens, home of the B-52's and R.E.M. Open source travel guide featuring up-to-date information on attractions hotels restaurants travel tips and more. Free and reliable advice written by Wikitravellers from around the globe.