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View of Iguassu Falls, Santa Catarina

QUICK GUIDE TO BRAZIL
(When To Go)

Because the wheather is marvelous, you can travel to Brazil at anytime. However, before you plan to visit, you should decide what it is you would like to see.

   If you are going to see Carnival, you will have to go during a specific time of the year. Carnival in all of Brazil's major cities is mainly about nightlife, exotic parades and wonderful parties. If this is what you want from your holiday, then Carnival is the right choice for you.

Carnival Until 2010
2006 - February 25 to 28
2007 - February 17 to 20
2008 - February 2 to 5
2009 - February 21 to 24
2010 - February 13 to 16

   If Carnival is not your first option and you are going to see the country that has fascinated travellers and explorers for centuries with its warmth, diversity and outstanding beauty, you can come to Brazil at anytime of the year. 

Where to go in Brazil?

Southeast Region

Brazil begins to show its more urban side in the Southeast. The states of Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, comprise this region. In Rio de Janeiro, known as the "cidade maravilhosa" (marvelous city), the lush greenery is starkly contrasted against the thousands of modern buildings within this bustling metropolis. The city offers a night
life and cultural activities famous for their year round intensity. Don't miss the most renowned Carnival parade in the world with its luxurious samba schools and a high quality hotel system. The state of Rio de Janeiro also has stunning beaches in Angra dos Reis, Búzios, and Cabo Frio, historic buildings in Parati, and the mountainous region of Petrópolis (the famous Imperial City), Teresópolis and Friburgo.

In the state of Minas Gerais, you can discover the architecture of the past, visiting the famous masterpieces of the baroque sculptor Aleijadinho, and the historic towns of Ouro Preto, Mariana, São João Del Rey, Tiradentes, Sabará, Diamantina, and Congonhas do Campo.
In the state of Espírito Santo, the chef's recommendation is the famous "moqueca capixaba", a very tasty regional specialty. You may also visit the historic cities of Vila Velha and Anchieta and the monazite sand beaches of Guarapari.

In the city of São Paulo, the largest metropolis in South America, all the continents intermingle within the most modern, cosmopolitan, and urban of settings. The inhabitants of São Paulo are mainly of European, Japanese, and Arab ancestry. Together, they built veritable industrial and
commercial empires, bringing with them their native culture and cuisine.
Thus, they turned this city into a land of wonders with its myriad of restaurants and shopping centers, and with some of the country's best music, theatre, and business enterprises. The northern coast of the state of São Paulo boasts splendid beaches at Ilha bela, Ubatuba, and São Sebastião.

South Region

Blond children with blue eyes and a strong regional accent make you wonder: Am I really in Brazil? This is the south. Since it was colonized mainly by German, Italian, and Polish immigrants, the facial features and
cultural preferences of this region's inhabitants create a markedly European atmosphere. In the state of Paraná, besides the city of Curitiba, a model in urban planning and lifestyle, you will be enamored by the
Iguassu Falls, one of the largest waterfalls in the world. In the state of Santa Catarina, you will witness the industrial progress and savor the regional delicacies of the Itajaí Valley's cuisine. In Florianópolis, on
Santa Catarina Island and along the entire coastline, the beaches are themselves a feast for the eyes, with waters and sands to suit all tastes.
The northern coast of the island, in Joaquina, hosts international surfing competitions. In October, the city of Blumenau attracts enthusiatic tourists from all over the country and even abroad for the Oktoberfest, a
beer festival. Pomerode in Santa Catarina, as well as Gramado and Canela, in Rio Grande do Sul, bear a striking resemblance to Bavaria, with their colonial cafés serving delicious German delicacies. The ruins of São
Miguel, close to Santo Angelo, also in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, remind us of the 210 years of the Jesuit Missions presence in Brazil. The strong regional spirit in this state makes for a rich folklore of music
and dance coupled with the traditional "churrasco", (barbecue) and the "chimarrão (mate tea).

West Central Region

In the country's Central West, you will see the stark contrast between the modern and the timeless. This regions contains three states: Goiás, Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul. Also in the Central West is the Federal
District, Brasília, the nation's capital. With its bold architectural style, the capital city is so avant garde that is stands out as the only
20th century architectural complex to be proclaimed a World Heritage Site by Unesco. On the other hand, the Mato Grosso Pantanal (Wetlands), a veritable ecological sanctuary, preserves the pristine nature in this
unique ecosystem. The visitor may stay in lodges and venture out with trained guides to safely observe crocodiles, anacondas, rheas, anteaters, parrots, deer, capybaras, and countless birds, who choose the Pantanal as
one of the world's most important stops on their migratory routes. For freshwater fishermen, here is a hot tip: the Araguaia River is known as one of the most abundant fishing grounds in the world! And, the region has
excellent infrastructure, including accommodations and boat trips specifically geared towards amateur fishermen.

Northeast Region

In order to get to know Brazil's roots, where nature is abundant and the country offers its most extensive display of popular culture, you need to visit the northeast. This region includes nine states: Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Maranhão, Paraiba, Pernambuco, Piauí, Rio Grande do Norte and Sergipe, and one territory, the Fernando de Noronha island. There, you will encounter summer weather year-round, as well as the most beautiful beaches on the continent. The beaches range from the fascinating Canoa
Quebrada beach, in Ceará, to Genipabu and its sand dunes in Rio Grande do Norte, Porto de Galinhas in Pernambuco and the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, among many others, where every imaginable type of water sport
is practiced. The delicious swing of typical dances, such as forró, frevo, ciranda, maracatu, and lambada, as well as the electrical instrument caravans and Carnival, will easily captivate you. You will savor a wide
array of African dishes seasoned with palm oil and pepper sauces, as well as many seafood and cassava dishes accompanied by Brazil's most famous national drink, the caipirinha (distilled sugar cane with lemon and
sugar), or by a refreshing coconut milk. The regional handicrafts produce an extensive variety of souvenirs.

You will find in this region two sites that have been proclaimed by Unesco as World Heritage sites: Olinda, Pernambuco, the birthplace of Portuguese civilization in Brazil, and Pelourinho in Salvador, Bahia.
At Pedra Furada National Park in Raimundo Nonato County, Piauí you will find cave paintings dating back to the first traces of human presence in the Americans.

North Region

If you are seeking ecological adventures, the north of Brazil offers unique opportunities. There are 7 states in this region: Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima and Tocantins
The Amazon is the largest biological reserve in the world and has unparalleled natural resources, as well as one third of the planet's
living species. The rivers of the Amazon Basin, through which one-fifth of the world's fresh water flows, are "roads" that lead to the heart of the jungle. Ten of the twenty largest rivers on earth are located int the Amazon River Basin. One of them is the Amazon River, which is 4,087 miles long.

The jungle lodges provide comfort and safety for those who wish to explore the flora and fauna on long river cruises. The Amazon folklore and the typical regional cuisine are also special attractions. The Boi-bumbá
festival, held in Parintins in June, heats up the long-standing rivalries between the different indignous groups. The feathered art of the Indians, as well as the Marajó Island and Tapajós tribal pottery can be found in
the popular Ver-o-Peso market, in Belém, Pará. In Manaus, the free-trade zone is a haven for buying duty free electronics. In this state capital, you can visit the exquisite 19th century renaissance style Amazon Theatre.

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