An Inspirational Tour of Brazil

Brazil is a sprawling and varied country. With an area of just over 3 million square miles, Brazil occupies nearly half of the South American continent. Brazil tours allow you to see more of what the country has to offer by taking you to see several of its sights and landmarks during your holidays in Brazil.

Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro is the first city that springs to mind when you think of Brazil. A city of carnival and sunshine, Rio is an essential first stop on Brazil holidays for getting a sense of Brazilian city life. Overlooking the city is Rio's foremost landmark, the iconic statue of Christ the Redeemer, with his arms stretched wide in a benevolent welcoming gesture. A day trip up Corcovado Mountain, at 700 metres, will allow you to see the city from the statue's vantage point. The statue itself is thirty eight metres tall and not only offers Rio's citizens its obvious Christian symbolism but is also is a figure of inspiration for all.

On the way up to Corcovado's peak, your Brazil tour will take you through the Tijuca Forest, a National Park that is home to many threatened species of South American flora and fauna. What is unusual about the forest is that it was replanted by hand in the 1800's to repair the damage done by clearances for coffee plantations.

Another remarkable mountain in Rio is Sugarloaf Mountain, so named because of its unusual conical shape. There is a cable car to take you to the top where you'll be able to take some stunning photos on your Brazil holidays.

Rio overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and you can enjoy the water at the famous Copacabana and Ipanema beaches. You might also want to see the Sambadrome, an immense and impressive stadium designed specifically to host the colourful parades of lavishly costumed dancers during carnival time.

As well as Rio's markets, botanical gardens and historical streets, there's also the saltwater lake called Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas. However, the next stop on many Brazil tours will take you to see a watery landmark on a different scale.

Iguacu Falls

Almost a thousand miles to the west of Rio, beyond Sao Paulo, are the Iguacu Falls on the border with Paraguay and Argentina. The falls stretch beyond Brazil across Argentina's north east border and you have the opportunity to explore the falls from both the Brazilian and the Argentine sides of the border on most Brazil tours. This location also provides the opportunity to stand on the point where the three countries meet.

The falls are comprised of a series of 275 smaller falls cascading over a stretch of almost two miles. This is a beautiful spot to see during your Brazil holidays, with established viewpoints and walkways for exploring the canyon cut by the water of the Iguacu River. In the forests of the National Park around the falls, a protected UNESCO world heritage site, there are a hundred and sixty species of birds to be found. There are also boat tours of the falls, and white water rafting for the brave.

Buzios

After Iguacu Falls, and depending on your interests, many Brazil tours will return to Rio, from where you will travel a further few hours to the pretty coastal resort of Buzios. This has been voted one of the most beautiful areas in the world. With its stylish boutiques and restaurants, and scores of stunning beaches, you can conclude your Brazil holidays by enjoying the country's famous beach culture, sunning yourself on its golden sands.

Louise Mumford is a holiday specialist at South American Experience, a company that specialises in tailor-made arrangements for Brazil Tours. Our dedicated team has two decades of first-hand experience in the Latin America region.