Brazil

The fifth largest country try in the world Brazil is a country of real diversity of landscape and culture. From the vast wildernesseses of the Amazon and the Pantanal to music, dance and carnivals in its cosmopolitan cities there is something for everyone. Highlights include:

Iguacu Falls – so thunderous they can be heard from miles away, the mighty Cataratas do Iguacu are on the border between Brazil and Argentina. Enjoy incredible views of the falls as you explore the lush rainforest surrounding them, traverse the elevated walkways or prepare to get wet and take a close-up boat trip.
The vast floodplains of the Pantanal are home to an incredible variety of wildlife including the elusive jaguar, giant anteaters, capybara, tapirs, ocelots, anaconda and caiman. Explore on horeseback or by boat.
The Amazon and its tributaries make up our planet’s largest water system. Fly to Manaus, Brazil’s gateway to the Amazon rainforest and from there take boat trips to view the wildlife, visit the meeting of the two rivers that become the Amazon, trek in the rainforest and meet the indigenous people.
No trip to Brazil is complete with out a few days spent in Rio de Janeiro. Relax on the legendary beaches of Copocabana and Ipanema, take the cog train to the iconic statue of Christ the Redeemer for fantastic views and ride the cable car to the summit of Sugar Loaf Mountain.
Time your trip to coincide with the world famous Rio carnival. Watch as thousands of sequin clad dancers samba to the beat of drums and the cheers of the crowd.
Four hours south of Rio lies Paraty, an eighteenth century gold rush town with cobbled streets, bougainvillea, hummingbirds and over 60 offshore islands.
South of Paraty is the Emerald Coast with a multitude of pretty beaches with a lush rainforest backdrop. At the right time of year you can whale watch from Florianapolis.
North of Rio, Buzios, once a simple fishing village is now sometimes called the St Tropez of Brazil. With over twenty beaches it is a great place to rest after arrival in Brazil and soak up the sun before venturing further afield.
In north eastern Brazil you will find the national park of Lencois Maranhenses with its spectacular sweeping white sand dunes, dotted with turquoise pools.

Highlights of Brazil

from £3450 per person (excl flights)

The top highlights of Brazil: in Rio de Janeiro, Corcovado and Sugar Loaf mountains; fly to Iguazú Falls and then on to explore the Amazon rainforest. Continue to exotic, African-influenced Salvador before spending time on the beach in Praia do Forte. This highlights holiday aims to show off the country at its best - Rio de Janeiro, a sensual city full of fun; Iguazú Falls, among the world’s most impressive cataracts; the wildlife jungles of the Amazon; Salvador, the pulsating African heart of the country; and the sweeping palm-fringed beaches of Praia do Forte.

Best of Brazilian wildlife

from £5495 per person (inlc flights)

Delve deep into the natural wonders of Brazil on this Best of Brazilian Wildlife holiday. Start in Rio de Janeiro, visiting Christ the Redeemer and riding the cable car to the summit of Sugar Loaf Mountain.Then move on to the almost impenetrable canopy of the Amazon rainforest, your first stop outside of Rio. You have three nights based in a wildlife focused lodge deep in the forest to experience life within and below the canopy. From the Amazon you fly back to the south and vistit the vast tropical wetlands of the Pantanal. The Pantanal wetlands are also the best place in Brazil for spotting Jaguars, and this itinerary can be tailored for a focus on encountering one of the world's largest cats. Following your experience in the wetlands you continue to the Iguacu Falls - a memorable end to your Brazilian holiday at one of the World's Natural Wonders.

Natural Brazil off the beaten track

from £3260 per person (excl flights)

Many people who visit Brazil stay on the coast but if you'd like to participate in active adventures, the interior beckons. Here you combine trekking in the heart of Brazil’s tableland scenery with snorkelling off the coast of the remote island of Fernando de Noronha. The interior of the north-eastern state of Bahía is scenically alluring and historically interesting. This is plantation country: cotton and sugar were cultivated here in Portuguese colonial times and thousands of African slaves worked on them, resulting in today’s eclectic culture in this exotic region of Brazil. Beyond the plantations are forested hills punctuated by Lost World-like tablelands, remote and sparsely populated, separated by rushing rivers and tumbling waterfalls, and criss-crossed with delightful hikes. Move on to Fernando de Noronha, the natural tropical beauty of which is protected by the Brazilian government. Some of the world’s best diving sites are to be found here, and the snorkelling off the rugged bays is equally spell-binding.

Will I need a visa?

British nationals can normally enter Brazil without a visa as a tourist. For further information about visas, see the Foreign Office’s Brazil pages

Will I need any jabs or injections?

Visit the NHS Fit for Travel pages for advice

Ideas for a trip to Brazil