Brazil: A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience

Brazil evokes an ensemble of exciting images; of voluptuous women in exotic costumes; of roaring soccer stadiums; of crowds madly dancing to the Samba beat at Carnival; of the massive Amazon flowing through a country as big as a continent; and of the dark rainforests holding in their bowels an incredible variety of plant and animal life. That's Brazil, and visiting that country can be a once in a lifetime experience.
Brazil constitutes roughly half the landmass of South America. The only two countries in South America that Brazil does not share a common border with are Chile and Ecuador. Despite the size of the country virtually all Brazilians live within very close proximity to the Atlantic Coast. And their lives revolve around beaches.
For many, the first and only stop in Brazil is the world famous city of Rio de Janeiro. It is said the Rio has developed a culture based on pleasure and entertainment. This culture thrives around the fabulous beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana. In these areas you will find music, football, body worship and a focus on being outdoors. The highlight of Rio for many is the yearly Carnaval. During these four days of "anything goes" the focus on pleasure and entertainment reaches its peak.
While Rio and the surrounding state are renowned for beaches, there is much more to do that sitting on the beach all day. Moving inland one finds tropical forests covering coastal mountains. The wildlife is incredible in this area. Here and there one also finds quaint colonial towns and good national parks. These inland areas are very popular with locals and tourists as an area for outdoor adventures or scenic hikes. Transportation inland is easy to set up and most areas of interest are just a few hours away from Rio.

Carnival & Unending Festivities
Carnival is a four-day event that changes dates every year. It begins forty days before the Catholic holiday, Lent. The celebrations start Friday, prior to Ash Wednesday up until the following Tuesday. Ash Wednesday is a day used for recovering from the previous sleepless nights. However, some cities in Brazil will present Carnival activities until the following weekend.
Carnival is the peak holiday season in Brazil. Offices and businesses close during the festivities. Brazilians take time off and travel, so make sure to plan your trip well in advance. Remember, you are competing for a hotel room, not only with tourists from all over the world, but also with Brazilians.
The original samba schools originated in Rio de Janeiro in 1928. In 1930, thanks to President Getulio Vargas, the samba schools became an official part of Rio's world-famous carnival. However, it took years for the notion to gain national esteem. The original three schools were Estação de Sá, Estação Primeira de Mangeira, and Portela. Today, 14 principal samba schools spend the entire year, as well as lavish amounts of money, preparing what they hope to be the best performance to date. The wealthiest schools' budgets often exceed $1,000,000. The international fame of the escolas de samba (samba schools) continues to soar annually, as more and more people come to experience the evolutionized product of seven decades of energy, dedication, and passion!

Samba Schools
As a tourist, you too can experience the thrill of performing in the world's most exciting Carnival as an insider. Many samba schools offer you the opportunity to join them in their stunning costumes, mesmerizing dance routines, and over-the-top excitement.
As with most art forms, in order to fully appreciate the parade and the individual schools of samba one must first realize the history and significance. Although the parade aesthetically is absolutely spectacular, being able to evaluate each school according to how well they fulfill each component they are judged on enhances the experience immensely. Each school selects a plot. Over the course of 80 minutes the dancers unravel the plot through carefully chosen music and perfected evolutions, or movements. They use costumes and props to enhance visual appeal. The most honored positions are held by the flag holder and the master of ceremonies who are responsible for carrying and protecting their flag. Ultimately, the schools are judged on how harmoniously they integrate each of the elements. Keep in mind that each of the 14 schools presents 10 awe-inspiring floats and 4000 multi-talented performers!

Bonito - Mother Nature's dazzling gift
For those who do not understand Spanish or Portuguese, the word Bonito translates in English to beautiful. However, many believe that this destination was not named justifiably…as Bonito simply does not describe the extraordinariness of the attractions! Merely a decade ago, this region remained undiscovered by tourists. Fortunately, by the time it became known, the sustainable tourism movement had already taken root. To this day, strict regulations modify the impact of humans on the natural treasures of Bonito. Far from the coastal zone, Bonito conceals one of Brazil's top diving destinations, offering exceptional cave diving and rappelling itineraries.
Within a 35-mile radius, nearly every mile offers a dazzling gift from Mother Nature. In creating Bonito, she was like Leonardo da Vinci with his beloved Mona Lisa; constantly making improvements. She spent six hundred million years perfecting the intricate details of each one of these gifts. Today, you can explore this wonderland, admiring her work, amazed at the grace and grandeur of each waterfall, crystal clear river (be it above ground or below), grotto, underwater garden, cave and crater. She chose a fine layer of limestone for her material and water as her sculpting tool. The final product is truly a masterpiece! Bonito deserves to be a primary destination. However, if you plan to be in the Pantanal North, taking a side trip to Bonito is an absolute must! There are daily flights from Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo to Campo Grande. Bonito is 175 miles from Campo Grande, (approximately 3 hours by car due to road conditions).

National Parks
Imagine the Grand Canyon covered in lush vegetation, cascading waterfalls and thriving biodiversity. Nestled along the southern Atlantic coasts of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul among Brazil's most expansive canyons, five to be exact, is the 28,000 hectare National Park and conservation area. The area is truly comprised of two parks, Aparados da Serra and Serra Geral. The highlights of the parks are the Itaimbezinho Canyon and Fortaleza Canyon, which tower approximately 2,160 feet and 2,700 feet high respectively. In the late afternoon the mysterious fogs drift in, making everything a rulers distance from your face invisible. Hikers, campers, horseback riders and rappellers unite in this glorious manifestation of nature's contrasts! There are daily flights from Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo to Porto Alegre. From Porto Alegre to Cambará do Sul and Serra Geral National Park the distance is approximately 100 miles.



Atlantic Rainforest
Stretching from parallel 5° south to 32° south, from the northeastern turn in the coast of Brazil, down to the Uruguayan border, the Mata Atlântica is a tropical rainforest that extends itself over coastal and quasi-coastal mountains, slopes, plains and islands as far out into the ocean as the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago. There are five different categories this forest can be divided among. These categories are Gallery Forest, Mangrove Forest, Low Montane Forest, Montane Forest, and Restinga. Colonialization brought destruction and despair to the Atlantic Rainforest. In fact, only about 7 percent of the Atlantic Rainforest survived.
The wonder in the case of Brazil is that the pockets that continue to thrive may be the most precious natural portion the region hosted in the first place, given that their variety of animal and plant species surpasses any other area on earth. The Mata Atlântica canopy is usually found between 100 and 130 feet high. Beneath its classic Palm trees there are rich flowering shrubs which present this rainforest's distinctive orchids, bromeliads and moss carpets, among various other life forms. You can also watch golden lion tamarins and countless other tiny primates literally hang in the company of jaguars, tapirs, sloths, seven-colored tanagers, red-tailed parrots, and many other animals that are equally as attractive to wildlife viewers. The Atlantic Rainforest meets the Atlantic Ocean in fabulous places that invite you to either relax or react upon knowing that turtles, dolphins, manatees and various kinds of fish are often just a dive away.

Sea Turtles
Five main species of sea-turtles are found in Brazil. All of the species are legally protected. However, the turtles remain vulnerable due to environmental and human threats. The TAMAR project in Praia do Forte, Bahia, has dedicated years of research to the conservation and study of sea-turtles, the results of which they share with tourists. Praia do forte, in addition to being a naturally fascinating destination, allows visitors to take home arguably the best gift of all, the gift of knowledge. Praia do Forte makes for an excellent side trip from Salvador.
For those interested in Sea Turtles, it clearly makes sense to travel to the same destinations the turtles enjoy. The archipelago of Fernando do Noronha off the northeast coast of Brazil is a popular destination for sea turtles to mate and lay their eggs. Many of the beaches surrounding the main island are closed throughout the night from January to June in order to protect the spawning environment of these incredible creatures. The TAMAR project has a satellite visitor's center and museum on the archipelago

Stay for the Weekend
Make the most of your entire journey to Brazil while there on business. Stay for the weekend and discover hidden wonders easily accessible from your hotel. Please do not feel that you are limited to the suggestions below. You are merely a flight away from many exciting destinations in Brazil. For example, a weekend in Salvador, Manaus or Iguassu Falls is also convenient, and well worth the short flight.



Rio de Janeiro
Angra dos Reis 105 miles from Rio de Janeiro and 240 miles from São Paulo, Angra dos Reis is in one of the valleys of the Serra do Mar mountain range. The Ilha Grande protects the small beaches and makes this bay a peaceful spot to rejuvenate your spirit.
Búzios 110 miles from Rio de Janeiro and 372.5 miles from São Paulo, this was Brigitte Bardot's favorite escape in the 60's and became a hot destination for Rio de Janeiro's residents looking for an upscale weekend escape.
Parati 163 miles from Rio de Janeiro and 189 miles from São Paulo, this 16th century village was commercially important between the gold and sugarcane cycles of brazilian history. Considered a national heritage site, its architecture brings back the times when boats would leave full of gold...today returning with mostly french and german tourists.

São Paulo
Guarujá Only 55.6 miles away from São Paulo, this beachtown offers excitement, charm, modern infrastructure and excellent services. Guaruja is the best option for those looking for a fast trip to the coast after a business meeting. (link in portuguese)
São Sebastião 125 miles from São Paulo, the area is known for being the summer spot for the young Paulistanos (people from São Paulo). Powerful surf and beautiful beaches during the day combined with endless options for the nightlife make it a very happening place. Want in on a hot secret everyone who is anyone must know? Go to Maresias. (link in portuguese)
Ilhabela 129 miles from São Paulo (plus a 15 min. ferry), the ambiance on the beautiful island is peaceful and serene. Known for its annual sailing week, this island is a great choice for water sports.

Curitiba, Florianópolis & Porto Alegre
Foz do Iguaçú (Iguassu Falls) 400 miles from Curitiba and a 3 to 4 hour flight from Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo, Iguassu Falls will undoubtedly make your business trip to Brazil worthwhile. The word Iguaçu in the native indian language means “big water”. The river arises in the mountains of Paraná and Santa Catarina and goes west for 372 miles before it sweeps, crashing in falls at the border with Argentina and Paraguay. The falls are over 2 miles wide and 262 feet high.

Niterói Contemporary Art Museum
The Niterói Contemporary Art Museum (Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Niterói MAC) is situated in the city of Niterói, Brazil, and is one of the city's main landmarks.
Designed by Oscar Niemeyer with the assistance of structural engineer Bruno Contarini, who had worked with Niemeyer on earlier projects, the MAC-Niterói is 16 meters high; its cupola has a diameter of 50 meters with three floors. The museum projects itself over Boa Viagem (“Bon Voyage,” “Good Journey”), the 817-square meter reflecting pool that surrounds the cylindrical base “like a flower,” in the words of Niemeyer.
A wide access slope leads to a Hall of Expositions, which has a capacity for sixty people. Two doors lead to the viewing gallery, through which can be seen the Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro, and Sugarloaf Mountain. The saucer-shaped modernist structure, which has been likened to a UFO, is set on a cliffside, at the bottom of which is a beach. In the film Oscar Niemeyer, an architect committed to his century (Marc Henri Wajnberg, 2000), Niemeyer is seen flying over Rio de Janeiro in a UFO, which then lands on the site, suggesting this as the origin of the museum.
Today when the name Brazil is mentioned, the name Amazon also immediately comes to mind. The Amazon region contains both the largest tropical rainforest in the world and the world's longest river. This area is one of the most diverse regions in the world in terms of plant and animal life. The quantity and variety of species is overwhelming, with new ones being discovered all the time. For those travelers that have time, a visit to the Amazon Basin is an incredible experience.



While the Amazon is Brazil's best know region, the Patanal is another equally amazing area. It is the world's largest wetland area and offers the most diverse selection of fauna found anywhere in South America. This area is home to well over 200 different species of birds and includes macaws, parrots, toucans, stork and other exotic bird species. In addition to bird species one can also find jaguars, river otters and countless other animals. As such if a person has an interest in seeing some fascinating animals, the Patanal is a great place to visit.
What else? For many, one of the more interesting stops is at the Foz do Iguaçu. These magnificent waterfalls lie on the borders of Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. In terms of size, the Foz do Iguaçu are larger, and some some more grande the either Niagara or Victoria Falls. No matter what part of Brazil you travel to, from the crowded beaches in Rio to isolated beaches in the north, you will always find Brazilians. For a Brazilian, life revolves around the beach. Rich and poor intermingle on the beaches.
Another area in Brazil that should not be missed is the city of Salvador. Once the capital of Brazil, this city offers a mix of colonial churches, fabulous beaches, excellent food and a diverse population. While Rio is most well known for its Carnaval celebration, many Brazilians consider the celebrations in Salvador to be better.