The Traveller's Magazine
There’s plenty more to see and do in Brazil in 2014 than just watching footballers kick a ball from one side of the pitch to the other. From Christ the Redeemer to the amazing Iguazu Falls, here’s our picks for the five best sights to see about the country.
Brazil Week on the Traveller’s Blog continues. Now that we know where England plays at the World Cup it’s time to plan a little sightseeing as well. Most travellers will start their trip in Rio but there’s more to this vast and beautiful country than Copacabana and taking a selfie in front of Christ the Redeemer.
Christ the Redeemer
The Christ statue overlooking Rio de Janeiro is by far one of the most recognised monuments in this corner of the world. It sits on top of the 700 metre-tall Corcovado Mountain. The panorama view of Guanabara Bay to the north and Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas to the south is remarkable and worth the trek to the top. The statue itself is an impressive 39.6 metres tall.
Iguazu Falls
Iguazu Falls is one of the world’s greatest natural wonders, right on the border between Brazil and Argentina. The area actually features not one but 275 separate waterfalls long the Iguazu River but the most impressive of them all is the Devil’s Throat where water plunges an impressive 82 metres off a cliff. From Brazil, take a tour of the falls and surrounding area from Foz do Iguazu.
Pantanal
If you’re catching a FIFA World Cup match in Manaus, travel further west to Pantanal, the largest wetland area in the world. It’s an amazing place to catch South American wildlife. Capybara and Yacare Caiman are the two creatures you’re most likely to spot while visiting. If you’re lucky you might even come across a jaguar.
Fernando de Noronha
Looking for a beach paradise while you’re on holidays in Brazil? This archipelago has got it all from clean picture-perfect beaches to incredible wildlife. The islands are 354 kilometres off the coast in northeastern Brazil and make a great side trip if you’re in Fortaleza or Natal for a World Cup match. Only the big island in the archipelago is inhabited and is a mecca for snorkelers and divers with fab visibility up to 50m.
Olinda’s historic centre
Brazil has some really charming colonial architecture and Olinda is one of the most beautiful historic towns you’ll find along the coast. How to get there? Reaching Olinda is easy with a car hire from Recife. While it’s most known for its architecture and historic old town, the city’s carnival attracts some pretty large crowds!
Where will your Brazilian adventure take you?
