When planning a vacation to Brazil, many tourists think of Rio de Janeiro with its beaches, nightlife, and Carnaval or the Amazon River. Brazil also is a historic country blending its rich indigenous past, Portuguese heritage, and modern love for excitement, romance, fun, and samba music. Many Brazilians are mystics who mix traditional Western religion practices with native rituals like jumping over the waves of the Atlantic Ocean for good luck on New Year’s Eve. In addition to reading travel guides before going to Brazil, read some Brazilian fiction, look at its art, and listen to the music—even cell phones have samba ring tones.

Visitors to Brazil have to leave Rio de Janeiro and to experience the rest of the country. There are beautiful beaches all along the Atlantic Ocean coastline where there are islands to explore within easy reach using a day-sailor for picnicking and beachcombing and lush tropical islands with pristine beaches for long romantic escapes and holidays. Eco-tourists can explore the many Brazilian rivers, famous waterfalls, and tropical rainforests. Birdwatchers enjoy finding many types of colorful, tropical birds in the dense coastal forests. Imagine staying at a beach house on the Atlantic coast and having tropical birding singing on the patio and fluttering between the thick, lush flowering plants and trees.

Traveling north of Rio to the Equator, visitors can enjoy the art and culture of Salvador. Because the Portuguese sailors settled the coastal rim, there are coastal towns that reflect the historic settlement and sea trade. Many of the coastal towns have galleries and quaint shops for tourists. There is nothing like enjoying a luncheon in a sunlit café located in a quaint harbor village or sitting on the beach sipping the Brazilians’ favorite drink of crushed limes, sugar, and its national liquor.

Business travelers often visit Sao Paulo as well as Rio de Janeiro, because Brazil has the most vibrant economy in South America. While in Sao Paulo, all visitors, whether for business or pleasure, should visit its museum with its surrounding park and restaurants, especially the Brazilian steakhouses. Sao Paulo hosts an international biannual art exhibit in which only the very best artists around the world display their cutting edge work. This exhibit often sets the future artistic trends for the rest of the world. Because all Brazilians love soccer and revere Pele, the famous international soccer star, visitors should take time for viewing a soccer game. Formula One racing also is a favorite Brazilian spectator sport which should not be missed. Brasilia with its unique modern architecture is the capital city. To know Brazil, visitors have to see the architecture of Brasilia.

Brazil, which is a vast country with a tropical climate in the north and a temperate climate in the south, touches every South American country except Ecuador and Chile. Consequently, the terrain is diverse from its coastal rim and rain forests to rolling hills, plains, and mountains. Agri-tourists can study the changes and effects of agricultural production from coffee, ranching, sugar cane, and logging. Travelers and outdoor adventurers, who have time to really explore, need to see all parts of Brazil.

Lodging is Brazil varies from five-star hotels and resorts to local and rustic hostels, depending on locations. Visitors to Brazil should always make advanced reservations. Additionally, in some areas of Brazil, traveling with guides and/or groups is necessary for safety.

After visiting Brazil, adventurers should go west across South America to the Peruvian frontier and mountains or meander south to Argentina to do the tango.

Other South American countries that border Brazil are Bolivia, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

There are daily non-stop flights to Brazil from major cities in the United States like Chicago and Miami.

Before making airline reservations to Brazil, check on visa requirements as well as medical needs, because traveling in tropical countries often require pre-travel medical interventions, including shots or oral medications taken as preventatives.