INTRODUCING BRAZIL - Brazil - page 5

BRASÍLIA, GOIÁS &
TOCANTINS

• Modernist Brasília
• Colonial towns
• Jalapão & Ilha do Bananal

With monumental buildings,
Brasília is one of the world's
finest Modernist cities. It can
be seen comfortably in a day.
Preserving vast cerrado
forests, Goiás and Tocantins
need at least 10 days. The
spectacular Chapada dos
Veadeiros (see pp312-13)
and Parque Nacional das
Emas (see p311) are the main
attractions in Goiás. The
state is dotted with colonial
mining towns that are among
the best preserved in South
America. Tocantins features
the winding sand dunes of
Jalapão (see pp310-11) and
the expansive river island,
Ilha do Bananal (see p311) .

Jabiru storks in the northern Pantanal, Mato Grosso

Catarina state has some of
the best beaches in Brazil.
Pounded by strong surf,
these beaches lie around the
attractive, well-kept city of
Florianópolis (see pp346-7) .
Both states have a strong
European influence, brought
by the immigrants who
began settling here in the
late 19th century. The town
of Blumenau still largely
speaks German and has an
Oktoberfest (see p40) to rival
the one in Bavaria.

SANTA CATARINA &
PARANÁ

• Majestic Foz do Iguaçu
• Exciting beaches & surf
around Florianópolis
• Oktoberfest in Blumenau

MATO GROSSO & MATO
GROSSO DO SUL

The world's most spectacular
waterfalls, Foz do Iguaçu
(see pp340-41) sit in their
own rainforest preserve in
Paraná state. They need two
days to explore. The Paraná
coast, which is reached via a
delightful winding mountain
railway, forms part of one of
the largest stretches of coastal
rainforest in the world. Little
islands such as the low-key
Ilha do Mel (see p338) offer
sand and surfing. Santa

• Wildlife in the Pantanal
• Festivity in Miranda
• Snorkeling in Bonito
• Birding in Alta Floresta

These enormous twin states
preserve two extensive wild-
erness areas. The Pantanal
(see pp320-21) is the world's
largest wetland and the best
place in the Americas to see
wildlife. Three days in a
fazenda (ranch house) or on
a tour are enough to explore
the area. Miranda (see p322) ,
with pretty fazendas in the
heart of the Pantanal, is
known for its sertanejo
music and Festa do Homem
Pantaneiro . The Pantanal
excursion can be combined
with a trip to Bonito (see
p323), which is famous for
its clear rivers and dramatic
caves, as well as for its snor-
keling opportunities. The
southern Amazon rainforest
begins north of the Pantanal
in Mato Grosso. The scenic
Cristalino Jungle Lodge in
Alta Floresta (see p319) lies
on the Rio Cristalino, home
to rare birds and mammals.

RIO GRANDE DO SUL

• Churrascarias in
Porto Alegre
• Hiking & wine tour
• Inspiring Jesuit missions

Allow five days to visit
Brazil's southernmost state,
which is famous for its
gaúcho culture (see pp330-
31) . Its capital, Porto Alegre
(see pp352-3) , is filled with
churrascarias (steak houses)
that serve fabulous steaks
with chá-mate (herbal tea).
There is excellent hiking in
the hills, as well as the wine
tour in Vale dos Vinhedos
(see p355) . Near the border
with Argentina are a series
of ruined Jesuit monasteries
at São Miguel das Missões
(see p359) , former settle-
ments of the Guaraní, whose
story inspired the 1986 film
The Mission .

Surfing at Praia da Joaquina in
Florianópolis, Santa Catarina