For
hundreds of years, Brazil has symbolised the great escape into a
primordial, tropical paradise, igniting the Western imagination
like no other South American country. From the mad passion of Carnaval
to the immensity of the dark Amazon, it is a country of mythic proportions.
Perhaps
it's not quite the Eden of popular imagination, but it's still a
land of staggering beauty. There are stretches of unexplored rainforest,
islands with pristine tropical beaches, and endless rivers. And
there are the people themselves, who delight the visitor with their
energy and joy.
Two-thirds of Brazil’s population lives near the coast, meaning
that life is a beach for locals and tourists alike. People are the
essence of the country, and while Brazil is home to a multitude
of ethnic groups of varying economic status, there are some characteristics
that everyone shares – energy and passion. It’s not
all reserved for football either; Brazilians enjoy a good party
whatever the circumstances.
Rio
is the hottest of destinations, particularly around Carnival time.
Dancers gyrate, the music beats and the summer temperature rises.
Almost anything goes. Bodies of all ages, colours and sizes don
the very minimum in beachwear and idle away the days on the sun-kissed
Copacabana and Ipanema beaches. Volleyball, swimming and people-watching
are but a few of the activities in which you can indulge.
Brazil’s
landscape is as diverse as the people who inhabit it. A rich colonial
history exists, and the town of Parati is an exquisite example of
eighteenth-century Portuguese architecture. The jungles and rivers
of the Amazon, home to lush vegetation and exotic wildlife, incite
notions of exploration amongst the intrepid, while the thundering
Iguacu Falls are simply a spectacular wonder. Brazil’s massive
assortment of people and places renders it ripe for choice.
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Brazil
Overview 
