If you are planning your next vacation and do not know where to start, planning an escape to Brazil is your safest bet. With its sheer size and the variety of attractions that it offers, you will surely find fun things to do in the country, whatever your lifestyle is.
Are you looking for an immersive cultural experience? Brazil has it. Are you craving an adrenaline rush? They got you covered. Whatever activity pops up in your mind, you will surely find it in the largest country in South America. What is more, Brazil won’t disappoint whatever your budget is.
See the Cristo Redentor
New York City has the Statue of Liberty. Paris has the Eiffel Tower. For Brazil, this role is aptly filled by the Cristo Redentor or Christ the Redeemer statue.
No other landmark encapsulates the Brazilian experience as befittingly as this effigy of Christ does. Its outstretched arms span 28 meters as if to embrace all who make the trip to the country. It sits atop the 709-meter high Tijuca National Park for all the world to see.
The 30-meter high statue encloses an 8-meter chapel at the base, which is a popular wedding destination.
Visit the Cathedral of Brasilia
If you visit enough cathedrals in South America and even Europe, you will realize that they look similar for the most part. Herein lies the attraction that the Cathedral of Brasilia offers. It is a hyperboloid structure made of 16 columns, each one weighing 90 tons. From afar, the top of its 40-meter tall structure looks like a crown. It is like no other cathedral in South America or even the world. With its modern design and structure, it is a great pit stop for architecture buffs.
Soak it Up at the Iguazu Falls
The Iguazu Falls sit at the point where Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina meet. It consists of an astounding 247 waterfalls laid out in a semicircle, all thundering into a single gorge below. The river leading up to the falls narrows down to a quarter of its usual width, increasing the force of the flowing water.
The Brazilian side of the Iguazu falls offers the broadest panorama and the best view. In addition, catwalks, bridges, and a tower can give you different perspectives. One bridge, in particular, leads all the way to the largest part of the waterfall system known as the Garganta do Diabo or the Devil’s Throat.
Stroll Along Copacabana
Copacabana is Rio de Janeiro’s most famous neighborhood located in the South Zone of the city. It is bordered on one side by four kilometers of pristine white sand and breaking surf where swimmers, sunbathers, and sandcastle builders flock.
The other side is lined with buildings, shops, restaurants, cafes, and other commercial establishments. Old buildings from the days when Rio was still the nation’s capital also remain standing in this area. This includes the Copacabana Palace, which used to host royalty and movie stars but is now protected as a national monument.
Separating the two opposing sides is a broad promenade of black and white mosaic laid out in an undulating pattern. Strolling through this boardwalk is while taking in the whole experience is something that you should not miss.
Watch the Wildlife in Pantanal
Pantanal is the largest wetland in the world, roughly half the size of France. It is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, most of which can only be found in Brazil. Pantanal is accessible through a network of dirt roads, making it a potential year-round tourist destination. But the best time to visit is during the dry season when the roads are more passable.
Regardless of what time of the year you visit, you will be treated to remarkable sightings of jaguars, capybaras, hyacinth macaws, giant anteaters, howler monkeys, otters, and many more. All these animals thrive among a mixture of plant communities, including moist tropical Amazonian rainforest plants, savanna plants, and semiarid woodland plants, among others. You could spend a year in Brazil, and it would still not be enough to experience everything it has to offer. But if you find the time to squeeze in all the activities above, you are in for a memorable vacation regardless.
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