'Brazil'

Brazil is a country of amazing contrasts and contradictions. It is intoxicating, vibrant and breath-taking. A visit to Brazil guarantees a lifelong bank of memories and hopefully a life-changing experience.

For an introduction to these contrasts you need only look as far as the influence in different regions. In the extreme south, German and Italian immigration has left distinctive European features; São Paulo has the world's largest Japanese community outside of Japan; there's a large black population concentrated in Rio and Salvador; while the Indian influence is most visible in the people of Amazônia and North eastern interior.

Brazil is also a land of profound economic contradictions. Rapid post war industrialisation made Brazil one of the world's ten largest economies and put it among the most developed of Third World countries. But this has not improved the lot of the vast majority of Brazilians. The cities are dotted with favelas, shantytowns that crowd the sky scrapers, and the contrast between rich and poor is one of the most glaring anywhere.

Things to do in Brazil

Enjoy the greatest party in the world at Rio de Janeiro's Carnival.While the Rio event is most famous, carnival is celebrated throughout Brazil.  
• Explore theAmazon rainforest, the world's largest biological reserve. It contains one-third of all living species on the earth and is crossed by 10 of the world's 20 largest rivers, including the River Amazon. The usual base for trips is Manaus.
• Take a leap of faith on atandem paragliding or hang-gliding flight from Pedra Bonita in São Conrado, just outside Rio.  This popular adventure excursion gives a bird's-eye view of Rio and its favelas (shanty towns) and the Atlantic forest before landing on the golden sands of São Conrado beach.
• Stroll along the world-famous Copacabana and Ipanema beaches in Rio de Janeiro, where sun bronzed beauties share the sands with beach soccer and volleyball players.
• Stretch out on the golden sands on some of the many thousands of beaches on Brazil's Atlantic coast beyond Rio, including the chic beach resort of Buzios, Praia da Rosa near Floianopolis, Jericoacoara in Ceará state and Ilha de Tinharé in Bahia.
• Take a hike on trails into Brazil's wilderness areas, such as forested Tijuca National Park in RioandmountainousDiamantina National Park in Bahia.
• Watch a game of football in Rio's Maracanã Stadium, which was the largest stadium in the world when it was built.  Football is a national obsession and matches are colourful and noisy affairs.