Vacationing in Brazil

Brazil is the largest country from South America, bordering each country of the continent except for Ecuador and Chile. It is a country of contrast, of great beaches, the fantastic Amazon forest, great soccer players and of course Carnival time. Brazil has a lot to offer: an extraordinary mixture of races and cultures, a wide range of weather patterns, great cities with a mix of high technology and slums.

What to Visit

Some of the most visited places in Brazil are Sao Paolo, Rio de Janeiro (the two megacities on the south-east coast), Fernando de Noronha Island, the city of Salvador in the northeast and the colonial towns of Olinda and Ouro Preto. If you want to experience the natural beauties of Brazil, you can visit Iguacu Falls. The best time to visit Brazil is, of course, the time of the Carnival.

The Carnival is held every ear four days before Ash Wednesday. It exhibits Native, African, Euro and German elements and the rhythm, participation and costumes vary from one region to another. The best place to experience it is Rio de Janeiro, where you can watch the annual parade of the Samba Schools.

The most visited and modern resort in Brazil is the small Praia de Pipa, located in the NE of the country. It is a very popular city with foreign tourists as well as with Brazilians. The friendly and open locals have a laid-back attitude and this might be a most welcomed destination if you are eager for a change.

In southern Brazil a touristic destination that you might visit is the state of Santa Catarina, which is visited every year by a lot of people who prefer quiet places. There are a lot of beaches not far from the medium size cities. Some of them are Estaleiro, Taquaras, Mariscal and Garopaba. Praia de Pinho situated in the most important touristic area from southern Brazil is the first official nude beach in the country and it is also a paradise for naturists. There are a lot of activities available in the region, like trekking, diving, fishing and rafting.

Eating In Brazil

The food in Brazil is characterized by a wide variety. Local people prefer a simple breakfast composed of milk, bread, jam and coffee and sometimes ham, cheese and fresh fruit. In addition to this, there might be papayas, mangoes, watermelons or avocado cream. For lunch or dinner, there are countless restaurants to choose from, from sumptuous ones to family small restaurants where meals are dispatched in terms of weight of the food. Pay attention to the fact that Brazilians prefer not to eat anywhere on the street or during riding, walking and doing any other things.

Excellent seafood can be found in the coastal towns, especially in the northeastern part. There are also self-service restaurants where you can opt for an all-you-can-eat price (Rodizio) or "por quilo," meaning that you weight the food after serving yourself.

Getting Around Brazil

Getting around Rio de Janeiro is extremely easy and you don't actually need a car, because there are a lot of subways and buses even in the most isolated areas. The most convenient and economical way to travel between Brazilian regions is the long-distance bus. The train is not a good option since the railway system was frequently wrecked in the time of the military regimes and nowadays there are very few passenger lines left.

Renting a car is not a good idea as well, as the road safety in Brazil is not among the best in the world. If you still want to do it, there are some car hire agencies, but be sure you have plenty of water and a good map.