Travel

Brazil is very much a country of contrasts. When someone hears the word Brazil, one thinks of the great Amazon forest, fantastic beaches, great soccer players, Carnival time - and that’s all. Well, Brazil, the most important country in South America, certainly has MUCH more to offer - warm people, great cities with everything from slums to high technology, a wide range of weather patterns, an awesome mixture of cultures and races - and much more!

Places to visite:
Fernando de Noronha Island:the fantasy island, Noronha is small and most of which strangers who fell in love with the island or with someone who lived there. Migration is controlled, and so is the real estate speculation.  Rides are a very common practice; Noronha has the shortest paved highway in Brazil (7 km long), but the unpaved roads are inevitable. Besides the rides, the smallness of the island induces other ways of socialization. The nights are animated by forro, which happens in open air bars along the beaches; socialization between foreigners and between tourists and locals are common.   With themes such as sharks or dolphins, these meetings attract large audiences interested in learning more about nature and its preservation. During day watch turtles laying their eggs at Praia do Leao (Lion’s beach), or watch the dolphins ballet at Baia dos Golfinhos (Dolphins Bay) which are so nice.

Rio de Janeiro: One of the best ways to appreciate the setting is by going up Sugar Loaf Mountain (Pao de Acucar), where you’ll get a fantastic 360 degree view of Rio and Guanabara Bay. Across the Bay, you will see the Rio-Niteroi bridge Cariocas (Rio natives) disagree on which point gives the most wonderful view: Pao de Acucar (Sugar Loaf) or Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer), elected one of the “New 7 Wonders of the World”. It is well worth experiencing both and deciding afterwards which view is better.

Sao Paulo:The State of São Paulo covers only 3% of Brazil territory, but the Economy of the State is the biggest and most diversified in Brazil. Most foreign visitors come to the city of São Paulo for business, and many have a tight schedule which makes it difficult go get to know the city. These guides offer suggestions about how to spend a day in São Paulo, with tours designed to please several tastes.
There are many outdoor activities such as landscaping by Ro­berto Burle Marx, the park has become one of the main symbols of the city, Next, visit the collection of the Museum of Modern Art of São Paulo (MAM) or the Afro Brazil Museum (Museu Afro Brasil). You can visit an art exhibition or seea musical show at Itaú Cultural, at Sesc Paulista and to top off your night, try Geni, a club with top–of-the-line live shows, is a good reason to stay awake in this city that never sleeps.

Iguacu Falls: Anyone who’s ever seen The Mission will instantly recognize the falls of Iguaçú. The Iguaçú river - which here forms the border between Brazil and Argentina. The name of the falls comes from the Guaraní word for “great water.” Brazilian side were transformed into a national park, and in 1985 the falls were designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is possible to see the falls and surrounding area in a lightning trip but it is better to plan at least two days.  The view from the Brazilian side is the most panoramic and there are helicopter rides out over the falls from Foz do Iguaçu. You may also take boat rides out to the falls. The light is best in the morning for photographs.

Ouro Preto: the old colonial town,Ouro Preto (Black Gold) was the focal point of the gold rush and Brazil’s golden age in the 18th century. With the exhaustion of the gold mines in the 19th century, the city’s influence declined but many churches, bridges and fountains remain as a testimony to its past prosperity and the exceptional talent of the Baroque sculptor Aleijadinho.
The beautiful town of Ouro Preto was the most remarkable of the settings chosen for the humorous movie “Moon Over Parador” (1988), with actors Richard Dreyfuss and Sonia Braga playing the main characters in the story.

Balneario Camboriu : is a city and a major beach resort in the Brazilian southern state of Santa Catarina. The town, with its steep hills dropping down to the sea, is popular amongst South Americans. To the west the city is bordered by the Camboriú River, which meets the ocean at the southernmost limit of the central portion of the city, where the cable car (teleférico) mentioned above is located.  This is the most important touristic spot in southern Brazil

The Carnival :
The carnival is an annual celebration in Brazil held 40 days before Easter and marking the start of Lent. During Lent, Roman Catholics, which constitute the majority in Brazil, are to abstain from bodily pleasures.
Rio de Janeiro: Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is known worldwide for the elaborate parades staged by the city’s major samba schools in the Sambadrome and is one of the world’s major tourist attractions. Today they are known as blocos (blocks), consisting of a group of people who dress in costumes according to certain themes or to celebrate the Carnival in specific ways. Blocos are generally associated with particular neighbourhoods or suburbs and include both a percussion or music group and an entourage of revellers.  During the Carnival, a fat man is elected to represent the role of Rei Momo, the “king” of Carnival.
Bahia: The musical styles are different at each carnival; in Bahia there are many rhythms, including samba, samba-reggae, ax้, etc, while in Rio there is the multitude of samba styles: the “samba-enredo”, the “samba de bloco”, the “samba de embalo”, the “funk-samba”, as well as the famous “marchinhas” played by the “bandas” in the streets.  Blocos Afros, or Afro groups, were influenced by the Black Pride Movement in the United States, independence movements in Africa, and reggae music that denounced racism and oppression. The groups inspired a renewed pride in African heritage.
Pernambuco:has a unique Carnival in its capital of Recife, as well as in other cities like Olinda. Frevo, a type of music from Pernambuco, is especially popular. There are well-known groups with funny names such as: “Tell me you love me, damn it”, “The Midnight Man” (with a famous giant dancing doll that leads the group), “Crazy Lover”, “Olinda’s Underpants” and “The Door.”

Brazil accommodation: