What are the top 5 places to visit in Brazil?
Want to learn Portuguese? There is no better way than to immerse yourself in the language, which gives you the perfect excuse to visit Brazil! Famous for its Christ the Redeemer landmark, colorful Carnaval, and of course some of the best soccer players from around the world, Brazil is the perfect place to soak up the Portuguese language while seeing the sights. Not sure where to start? Here are some of the best places to visit in Brazil.
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Photo via Pixabay
Beaches
There are two particularly famous beaches that are musts to visit in Brazil; pack your swim gear and brush up on your beachside vocabulary!
Ipanema Beach is in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro, providing a beautiful blend of luxury apartments and accommodation, boutique shopping, and all kinds of places to sample Brazilian cuisine.
Copacobana Beach is also located in Rio de Janeiro’s South Zone. Regarded as one of the most famous beaches in the world, Copacobana offers you beautiful views, incredible sand sculptures, and the perfect opportunity for people watching—and practicing Portuguese, of course!
Ipanema is the quieter of these two beaches so if you want to feel less overwhelmed, head there instead.
Iguaçu Falls
For those of you who want to experience a bit of Brazilian nature, Iguaçu Falls are the perfect place to visit. Iguaçu Falls form the largest waterfalls in the world, situated on the border between the Argentine province of Misiones and the Brazilian state of Paraná. Millions of visitors come to Iguaçu Falls every year taking a couple of days to explore both the waterfalls and the national park they are part of. Best of all, since the climate of Iguaçu Falls is humid subtropical, whenever you choose to visit you are guaranteed good weather. Perfect!
Photo via Wikimedia
Belém
Belém is a busy Brazilian city with a population of about 1.5 million. Belém is a mixture of tree-filled squares and blue-tiled buildings alongside towering modern buildings and skyscrapers. The city is often described as the gateway to the Amazon River since it is well connected with a port, airport, and bus station. Belém is also known as the Cidade das Mangueiras, or City of Mangoes, because of the vast numbers of mango trees around the city. From the Mercado Ver-o-Peso selling fruit and vegetables you’ll find nowhere else, to a thriving eco-park complete with its own museum, you will be spoilt for choice for things to do if you give Belém a visit.
Rio de Janeiro
You really can’t go to Brazil and not visit Rio de Janeiro; what would be the point? Rio de Janeiro is arguably the most popular city destination throughout all of South America. It has it all; famous landmarks as we’ve previously mentioned in Christ the Redeemer, long stretches of mountains and shorelines, and of course, Carnaval like no other! With a population of about 13 million, you will have plenty of people to practice your Portuguese with. Not sure where to start your adventures in Rio? There are nearly a hundred miles of cycle paths around the city for the environmentally conscious who want to explore without any particular destination. And the same goes for public transport, with an extensive bus network, as well as a subway, light rail, tram, and even ferry service making seeing the sights of Rio de Janeiro accessible and easy on your budget. How many new friends are you going to meet while just taking a wander?
Photo via Pixabay
The Pantanal
Our final suggestion for places to visit in Brazil is another one for nature lovers. The Pantanal is a sprawling wetland that is a haven for wildlife, attracting a growing number of tourists every year. There are thought to be 463 species of bird, 269 fish species, over 236 mammalian species, and 141 reptilian and amphibian species. It is best to visit during the dry season which is May to September. And while The Pantanal offers some of the most stunning scenes in nature, be mindful that it is an area with several ecosystems in a delicate balance; if you have a guide, adhere to their advice throughout!
Want to extend your stay in Brazil a little longer? We can help! We are offering scholarships for students looking to improve their Portuguese skills. Visit our language travel scholarship page to find out more!