Very few tourist destinations
can offer such varied options as Brazil. Its natural beauty, the popular
festivities and the countless protected environmental reserves are
all valuable attractions. Due to its size, Brazil can offer you so
many unforgettable experiences and a visit to this country will leave
you with lasting visual impressions due to the wealth of culture,
colours, landscapes and beaches. One of the most famous images of
a South American beach is of course that of Rio
de Janeiro’s beaches - Copacabana and Ipanema - with the
back drop of mountains and the islands in the bay.
To the west of Rio de Janeiro is the beautiful Emerald
or Green Coast and its resorts, and three hours to the east of
Rio is the charming and stylish resort destination of Buzios. Either
of these two areas are a great choice for a relaxing add-on to your
visit to Rio de Janeiro. The famous Rio Carnival takes place every
year during February.
The city of Salvador de Bahia, in
northeast Brazil, hosts a fine colonial heritage and a culture that
has survived the slave trade in music, cuisine and religion. You can
extend your visit to the historic quarter and vibrant music of Salvador
at one of the nearby beach resorts.
Ouro Preto is the old gold mining
capital in the heart of Minas Gerais and one of Brazil’s finest
examples of colonial architecture.
The vast wetlands of the Pantanal
are one of the world’s greatest wildlife reserves and this area
is best visited in the dry season, between July and October, when
the animals and birds congregate at the few remaining areas of water.
The city of Manaus is your gateway to the immense network of water-ways,
lakes and vegetation known as the Amazon
region which you can choose to see from a river cruise or experience
the jungle by staying at one of the fine lodges.
When to visit Brazil is a tropical country
and the heaviest rains fall at different times according to the
region: November-March in the southeast, December to March in the
centre west and April to August on the northeast coast. In the Amazon
region the rainy season can begin in December and is heaviest between
March and May. The further south you go in Brazil the more temperate
the climate becomes. April to June and August to October are generally
recommended times to visit most parts of the country. December through
to February is when Brazilians take their holidays so flights and
hotels will be extremely busy. The Carnival in Rio de Janeiro takes
place in February and hotel space during this period is fully booked
many months in advance.
Brazil Travel Facts
Official
time: Standard time is GMT -3. Manuas, Cuiaba, Campo
Grande and Corumba are GMT-4. Language: The official language is Portuguese.
English is spoken in the larger hotels and tourist areas. Currency: The national currency is the Real. Tax: Airport taxes are included in the cost
of your ticket. Electricity: Generally 110 V 60 cycles AV
but in some areas it is 220 V 60 cycles. Sockets also vary
with a combination of sockets for twin flat and twin round
pin.
