Top 10 Places to Visit in Brazil

The South American country of Brazil gets all the hype during the FIFA world cup for its amazing national football team. However, people do tend to forget the gem of a country that is Brazil. Located in the northeast of South America, it borders the country up until Chile and Ecuador.

Nature and culture- both have been flourishing for centuries in this region and tourists flood the capital every year to explore the gems that are hiding in this Latin American Nation. Below are the Top 10 Places that should be there on your Brazil Travel Bucket List.

São Paulo

It is not only the largest city in Brazil but also is one of the largest cities in the world in terms of population. The city has a range of ethnic groups living together and is home to most Japanese people after Japan itself. The city is known for its robust lifestyle, skyscrapers and passion for food. The nightlife of Sao Paulo is one to remember. Multiple shopping sites, rapid business growth and enormous population have labelled this place as a concrete jungle but it does have a rainforest and a lot of public parks in the city.

Ouro Preto

This is one of the most picturesque sites on the whole planet. This preserved colonial town tucked in the mountain of Minas Gerais was one centre for the Gold Rush back in the day. Resting on the cuts of hills, this pretty town has churches from the 18th century. There are some museums, galleries that you can visit during your stay. The galleries have paintings of Aleijandinhoor Ouro Preto’s mining past. You can also take a guide with you to get details to look into the enriching past of these places. Recently the Carnival hosted in the city has gained popularity and have been welcoming travellers.

The Mesmerizing City of Bonito

Located in the southwest corner of Mato Grosso do, Bonito is a small town in Brazil that is a perfect stay if you are looking to explore the Pantanal region. Blessed with natural wonders, this place is full of lakes, waterfalls, gushing rivers and lakes filled with caves. Hiking in the rainforest is another way of exploring the local flora and fauna. A perfect spot for nature lovers indeed.

Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park

This national park is a three-hour drive from the capital city of Brasilia to the city of Goias. This park is full of lakes, waterfalls, and vegetation. The uneven land in the national park is the best for hiking around. There are numerous breathtaking waterfalls and lakes that you might come across while hiking inside. The main attraction of Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park is the moon valley which has a lunar landscape. 

Pantanal

Stretched from Brazil to as far as Bolivia, Pantanal is the largest and the most diverse tropical wetland region. Despite being a challenging place to visit, this location attracts a huge number of tourists every year. The scenic beauty and the wildlife is one of a kind in this region. In monsoon, the best way to explore the region is through a boat or a plane. The diverse landscape ranges from Swamps, Lakes to Savanna, the highlight of any trip is spotting a Latin American jaguar.

Salvador

Another extremely picturesque city in Brazil is Salvador. With its age-old charm, the city has been a lively, culturally diverse and colourful city. The carnival festivals of Salvador are the most popular in the world. A past centre of sugar and slave trade, this city still bears its history on its bosom. As mentioned in this Brazil Travel Guide, the third biggest city of Brazil has some of the busiest cafes and art galleries you’ve ever seen. The museums and galleries do take care of the forgotten and the living past. The beaches are stunning too as they are perfect for sunbathing, swimming and surfing. However, the real joy of Salvador can only be experienced during the Carnivals. So book the dates around that time.

The Astonishing Falls of Foz do Iguacu

Compared to the giants like Niagra and Victoria Falls, this astonishing fall lies in the Argentina-Brazil border. Surrounded by cascades stretched for more than 3 kilometres and enclosed with deep-rainforest- this is the largest waterfall system in the world. The Brazilian side of the fall has a spectacular view while most of the waterfall resides on the Argentinian side. Going on a boat ride around the falls or hiking in the rainforest is a good idea to explore this beautiful fall, which should definitely be there on your South American Travel Bucket List.

Rio De Janeiro

The most visited city of Brazil is Rio De Janeiro, which is famous among tourists for its mountains, beaches and carnivals. The turquoise beaches like Copacabana and Ipanema and tall mountains like Sugarloaf and Corcovado mountains are natural attractions that pull most people. However, there is one wonder of the world that has been the centre of attraction pulling in millions of visitors every year. That is the statue of Christ the Redeemer on top of Corcovado mountain. Other spots of attraction include the Presidential palace and one of the largest football stadiums.

Ipanema Beach

One of the prettiest beaches in the country of Brazil after the Copacabana, is this one with white sand on the shares. The beach does have unpredictable waves, so be extra cautious while swimming on the beach. Sunday’s are especially Occupied here as the antique market at Praça de Quentaland and the Feira de Artesanato de Ipanema come alive with music, art, handicrafts, and street food on that day.

The Amazon Rainforest

Undoubtedly the most revered place to go in Brazil would be the Amazon Rainforest. The Rio Negro and the Rio Solimões come together and flow side by side for six kilometres before mixing up as Amazon. Being the largest rainforest in the world, the trip will be challenging. A guided boat ride will be a wise decision to explore the interiors of the Amazon. If you are lucky enough you can get to meet some harmless inhabitants and explore the flora and fauna with them.

So these were the Top 10 Places to visit in Brazil. All these places have some unique aspects waiting to surprise you. This part of the world is indeed much different from what we are familiar with. So, it’ll take a lot of research and patience to understand this place and look at it from a new perspective.