Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
DISCOVERING BRAZIL
Brazil can be divided into five
its historic cities and a vibrant
Afro-Brazilian culture. In Northern
Brazil, the dense and pristine Amazon
forest and tropical grasslands make
up Brazil's wild frontier. Once Brazil's
neglected interior, the Central West
prides itself on the Modernist national
capital, Brasília, and the wildlife-rich
Pantanal wetlands. Below is an
overview of the highlights of each
region in the topic.
major regions, each offering a
unique culture, landscape, and
experience. The Southeast features
two of the country's largest cities, Rio
de Janeiro and São Paulo. With a
distinct European character, Southern
Brazil offers some breathtaking
natural sights. The Northeast, with a
stunning beach-studded coastline and
stark interior, beautifully preserves
islands, such as
Ilha Grande
(see p110)
, offer good
snorkeling and diving.
RIO DE JANEIRO CITY
• Iconic Cristo Redentor &
Sugar Loaf
• Fabulous beaches
• Sensual
samba
& Carnaval
MINAS GERAIS
• Southern colonial towns
• Magnificent churches
• Spectacular national parks
Rio's neighborhoods and
beaches need at least five
days to be explored. Over-
looking
Sugar Loaf
(see
pp76-7)
,
Cristo Redentor
(see
pp82-3)
stands on Corcovado,
surrounded by lush
Parque
Nacional da Tijuca
(see p88)
.
The city center is lined with
museums, historic buildings,
and the vast
Estádio do
Maracanã
(see p84)
. Just
south of the center, Santa
Teresa and Lapa are the night-
life hubs. Beyond these are
Copacabana, Ipanema, and
Leblon beaches
(see pp78-9)
with exciting shopping areas
(see pp90-91)
. Rio's Carnaval
(see pp64-5)
is world-famous
for its revelry and its
samba.
Minas Gerais is dotted with
colonial mining towns, whose
cobbled streets are lined with
some of the finest Baroque
buildings in Brazil. Most of
them can be seen in five
days. The UNESCO World
Heritage Sites of
Ouro Preto
(see pp126-8)
and
Congonhas
(see pp130-31),
in southern
Minas, are famed for their
haunting sculptures by
Aleijadinho
(see p131)
.
São
João del Rei
(see pp132-3)
has the most magnificent
of all Minas churches.
Diamantina
(see p124)
in
the north is a well-preserved
town. The national parks of
Serra do Cipó
(see p125)
and
Serra da Canastra
(see p133)
are good for trekking.
Cristo Redentor rising through the
mist at twilight, Rio de Janeiro
hiking. Between them is the
former imperial summer
retreat,
Palácio Imperial
(see
pp114-15)
at the pretty town
of
Petrópolis
(see pp112-13)
.
The coast is fringed with
stunning beaches, such as
those at the lively resort
towns of
Búzios
and
Cabo
Frio
(see pp116-17).
The
colonial town of
Paraty
(see
pp106-8)
lies amid fine
beaches. Offshore, lush
RIO DE JANEIRO &
ESPÍRITO SANTO
• Enchanting Palácio Imperial
• Beautiful beaches & islands
• Rainforest hikes
Combining pretty colonial
towns and imperial cities
with gorgeous beaches and
cool mountains draped in
the Atlantic rainforest, these
two coastal states can be
seen in a week. The national
parks of
Itatiaia
(see p111)
and the
Parque Nacional da
Serra dos Órgãos
(see p115)
offer superb birding and
A cluster of colonial houses in Ouro Preto's historic center, Minas Gerais
A painting in naive style by Calixto Sales, depicting a market scene in Maragojipe, Bahia
