Brazil: Samba de Janeiro!

The country covers close to 50% area of the South American continent, and for no better reason is it a blessing for tourists that it has some of the most captivating sights not only in South America, but even the rest of the world. White sand beaches that seem to stretch for miles altogether into eternity (practically speaking – 7000 kms!). Along this coastline, tropical islands, colonial towns and global metropolis’ adorn the seaside like jewels. Going inwards, there is an altogether different kind of sight-seeing experience, with red rock canyons, scintillating waterfalls and rivers being just the starting point of the vast reservoir of natural beauty Brazil offers. True, the more prominent attractions are the Amazon and the Pantanal, with the spectacular wildlife watching opportunities, but there are also many adventure sports one can indulge in – kayaking, trekking, snorkelling and surfing. The country is also home to some of the most exciting cities in the world, and it’s not just the carnivals that are the most happening thing in Brazil, for there is so much more to explore in every nook and cranny of this lively country.

Rio De Janeiro: Known better as cidade maravilhosa (marvellous city), Rio is nothing short of non-stop excitement for everybody who steps foot onto its lands. Topographically speaking, this city has it all, with white sand beaches (a Brazilian signature, by all means), lush rainforests and sky-high & spectacular mountains. The local population, known as cariocas, certainly are quite the envy of the rest of the world, for they live in the world’s most spectacular setting! The sounds of samba too, add on to the feeling of exhilaration one feels when parties begin building tempo. The world famous beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, as well as the sights of Corcovado and Pao de Acucar are also great places to hang out, if not the best. In short, Rio has since forever been seen as the personification of the word paradise for the rest of the world, and while some might find that far-fetched, those who have been here think of it as more of an understatement. One can hike through Tijuca’s rainforests, indulge in surfing at Prainha, sail across Guanabara, and lose oneself in music at Lapa – there’s so much to do, and always so little time!

Salvador: Originally known as Salvador de Bahia, the destination has an untouched beauty that very few cities across the world can match. Salvador is the Afro-Brazilian jewel of the country which was once the capital of Portugal’s New World colony. At its centre lies the most brilliant spectacle of 17^th and 18^th century architecture known to mankind, at least on this continent. The city is also the culminating point of the Brazilian arts movement. However, the city is typically Brazilian, and hence, does have a wild side to it in the form of festivals and carnivals all year round!

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Brazil: Tropical is the way to go

A vacation might mean a lot of things to a lot of people. For some, it would be a break from the everyday routine, and for others, it might be just a sojourn into an unknown land. Regardless of the reason, the ultimate purpose is to relax and unwind, and there's no better place to do it than in Brazil.

Rio de Janeiro: Known as cidade maravilhosa (marvelous city), the city of Rio de Janeiro is certainly the most exhilarating destination in all of South America. Surrounded by picturesque mountains and flanked by white beaches set amidst the backdrop of dense rainforests on one side and the sea on the other, the city has everything a person would want in a holiday destination. It's little surprise that people coming here once don't ever want to leave, or at least pledge to return once every year, at the very least. The cariocas, or the local population, certainly know how to live life kingsize, for the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, as well as the beauty of Corcovado and Pão de Açúcar is enjoyed to the hilt by them. However, it's not all about getting close with nature, as there are plenty of pubs and cafés that are interspersed in the city. One just has to choose his/her mode of relaxation, or addiction; it could be surfing the great breaks off Prainha, sailing near Guanabára, hiking in Tijuca's rainforests or simply dancing as much as one can in Lapa. For those who just like lounging about, soaking in the ambiance, Ipanema Beach is the perfect spot.

Salvador da Bahia: The city has a captivating energy that runs through its beautiful sights. Known as Bahia by the locals, Salvador is the Afro-Brazilian paradise of the country, as well as of the continent, and was also at one time the capital of the Portuguese New World colony. The city centre is nothing short of a museum of 17th and 18th century architecture, along with churches comprising of more than necessary gold in the construction material. However, there is more to the city than is visible at an initial glance. It is also the instigator of an incredible arts movement. There are also quite the loud festivals happening more often than one would expect, much to the amazement of an unsuspecting tourist. Drum corps unleash the magic of loud sound with colonial buildings in the surroundings, resulting in a powerful fusion of the past and present. And in the parts of the city where there is not sp much excitement and fervour, religious followers connect with the African gods at the Candomblé ceremonies, making Salvador the only place in the world where descendants of African slaves have preserved their culture to such an extent

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Go Brazil - The land of never-ending parties

Spread across an area close to half of the South American continent, tourists have been frequently 'invading' the Brazilian lands (and coasts more often) for more than 500 years now, speaking very conservatively. The inviting white sands that are interspersed with palm trees facing the deep blue Atlantic ocean make for the picture perfect scenery that is enticing and exciting to millions who visit every year. The coastline stretches for an amazing 7000 kms – plenty of room for everyone – and the ocean is also lined with exotic islands and colonial towns. Closer to land, there are scintillating waterfalls,sparkling rivers and red-rock canyons. However, the main attractions, i.e., the Amazon and the Pantanal, are yet to come! The country is a haven for wildlife lovers, as well as those who crave for adventure, since rakting, snorkelling and surfing are order of the day for practically everyone who is a native.

Ilha de Santa Catarina: A 'more exotic than other parts of Brazil' coastline that has an amalgamation of wild partying crowds and solitary spaces by the seaside is truly the highlight of this island, but there is plenty more than just the beaches to make tourists fall in love with Ilha de Santa Catarina. A forest of protected pines towards the east coast and the dunes close to Praia da Joaquina creating a lunar landscape, along with an expanse of mountains adorned by the Mata Atlântica (Atlantic rain forest) complete the blissful picture. Florianópolis Santa Catarina's political capital and cultural capital of southern Brazil, is the gateway to this island. The northern part of the island is overdeveloped in more ways than one, and the phenomenon is evident with the swarms of pubs, hotels and restaurants on the shores of Lagoa da Conceição. However, the best beaches, for surfers in particular, are along the east coast, and the southern side is grossly underdeveloped.

Recife: The capital of Pernambuco is also the most exciting city in the north-eastern part of Brazil. The culture in itself is addictive, and the entertainment scene bustling with energy. The coast proves to be the perfect setting for the many carnivals that take place here, and the destination in itself is an out and out urban metropolis with high rise buildings having glass curtains dominating the skyline view. For someone absolutely new to this place, it might take a while to jostle through the streets with all the heavy traffic. A word of caution though, unlike Ilha de Santa Catarina, there are no happening beaches here. A bit of trivia that might seem handy goes that Recife takes its name from the offshore reefs that pacify the waters of the shoreline. The town of Olinda lies towards the northern edge of Recife, located 6 kms from the city center. A majority of tourists choose a stay in Olinda and a day trip to Recife.

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Gods own playground- Brazil

Brazil is one of the most exciting and exotic destinations not only in South America, but in the world. Housing what can arguably be called the best soccer team in the world, the Brazilian beaches and weather are simply outstanding for any tourist to spend a vacation in. Following is a glance at the top 'places to be' in this country.

Rio de Janeiro: Just a first look is enough to give a tourist a clear idea of how exhilarating the ride is going to be during one's stay at Rio de Janeiro. Also known as cidade maravilhosa (marvelous city), the city is surrounded by beautiful mountains, white beaches and rainforests resting alongside the sea. The natural beauty is so striking that it feels hard to believe that one is actually in a metropolis. The residents of Rio, also known as cariocas, seem to have all done a great deal of study in living well, and why not, for they have practically every resource one needs to lead a care-free and enjoyable life – then be it the Copacabana and Ipanema beaches or the cliff-side views from the Corcovado and Pão de Açúcar, not to forget open air cafes, bars and dance halls. Tourists from all parts of the world flock to this wonderland to surf, hike, sail, or simply dance till they drop!

Salvador da Bahia: Known as Bahia by the local population, this city's energy is unparalleled by any other destination across the world. The city was once the capital of Portugal’s new world colony. The city centre, so to speak, is practically a trip down the memory lane, with 17th and 18th century architecture visible in the churches, but that is not all to Bahia, since it also played a vital role in the arts movement. There are tons of festivals going on all through the year, and drum corps continue to churn soul-stirring rhythms on a regular basis. At night, plazas, and practically every open air space for that matter, is filled with capoeira circles, while the air gets overloaded with the fragrance of acarajé (bean and shrimp fritters) and other delicacies. In other parts of the city, religious followers conduct ceremonies of a different kind as they try to form an alliance with the African gods at the Candomblé ceremonies, which also makes Bahia the only place where the lineage of African slaves has preserved the heritage.

Foz do Iguaçu: Many centuries before these falls were discovered, they were the holy burial place for the Tupi-Guarani and Paraguas tribes. They were declared a World Heritage site in 1986, and have since been a place of avid interest for tourists. Although Argentina has the privilege of housing the major portion of the falls, there is a national park on both sides of the border, which is perfect for tourists seeking adventure. Brazil's share, the Parque Nacional do Iguaçu, gives a brilliant view of the 275 falls, and is thus the better of the two.

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Visit Brazil – Nature's own playground

Brazil, the biggest country in South America, is known the world over as one of the most exotic places to go for a vacation. Geographically, it borders every country on the continent except Ecuador and Chile. There's a lot to look forward to in Brazil – the great Amazon, splendid beaches, Carnivals et all.

Let's start from the place that's most famous in Brazil, the Amazon forests. True, there are no air-conditioned shopping malls or speciality restaurants that offer sumptuous delicacies, but the world's largest forest houses a world of its own that is unlike anything you have seen before. Just by listening to the chanting of the monkeys and the croaking of the toads, one can feel closer to nature, to say nothing of the lush green flora and fauna that is present in every inch of this natural paradise. The heart of the Amazon, Manaus, is located 1600 kms upstream from the river's mouth. Mostly, tourists reside here for 3-4 days and their itineraries include visits to the ecological park and the giant water lilies, canoeing in the river and other lakes, as well as swimming, fishing, trekking and visiting the caboclos settlements.

Next up, the Iguassa Falls, the largest is the world, are located in the southern region of Brazil at the river of the same name, 650 kms from the coast. The Falls are situated close to the place where the Iguassa and Parana rivers meet. Comparing the Niagara Falls to this aquatic spectacle is like trying to compare a bath tub to a sea, the former just does not match up in any manner whatsoever. The nearby forest is home to hundreds of butterfly species, and has a visual treat in the form of rainbows that seem to be permanently stuck to the sky, owing to the mist and foam caused from the Falls.

Coming to the beaches, the most famous city for the same is Rio de Janerio, including the mythical Ipanema and Copacabana. However, these don't hold the distinction of being the best Brazilian beaches, that have warm temperature, marvelous fishing villages and reserved tropical resorts, not to forget the eco-destinations. The combination of Rio's beaches with its breathtaking landscapes and nightlife makes for a very potent offering for the tourists to enjoy all year long. Such beaches are also interspersed along the Northeast Coast, some of them being Porto Seguro, Maceio, Salvador da Bahia, Natal, Porto Galinhas and Ilheus.

The last major attraction of Brazil is the world's largest wetland, Pantanal. Located 2360 kms from Manaus, it resembles an African Savannah, but also shares something common with the Amazon, its vast collection, so to speak, of animal and bird life. Pantanal is twice the size of England, and spans an area of 140,000 square kms., and is the world's largest freshwater wetland, with a network of rivers, lakes and select land routes. It is home to 260 species of fish, 650 species of birds, numerous unknown species of butterflies, anacondas, caimans (South American crocodiles), tapirs (the largest mammal of South America), peccaries, giant anteaters, ocelots, giant otters, jaguars, pumas, armadillos, and many more exotic animals. Truly, this is one place that is a nature lover's dream come true! And while you are on this exotic trip, do remember to stay in touch 24X7 with your near and dear ones using Matrix, an international calling card that provides fantastic service at really affordable rates for calling any destination around the world.

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