See Oscar Niemeyer's futuristic vision in the capital Brasília. Often overlooked by visitors, the city was designed by the renowned architect, and many of his creations, including the city's cathedral and the national congress, are now UNESCO World Heritage sites.
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Things to see and do in Brazil
Brasília
Explore the Amazon
The world's largest rainforest contains one-third of all the living species on earth and is crossed by 10 of the world's 20 largest rivers, including the Amazon River. The usual base for trips is Manaus.
Football
Watch a game of football in Rio's Maracanã Stadium, which was the largest stadium in the world when it was built. Football is a national obsession and matches are colourful and noisy affairs.
Fortaleza
Journey to the northern coastal city of Fortaleza, a popular resort and the starting point for a trip to Jericoacoara. Just four hours by car, this picturesque village sits between a dazzling white sand-dune desert and a balmy turquoise sea.
Go diving
Dive into the deep blue waters of coastal Brazil. Diving is popular in the protected marine park on the island of Fernando de Noronha. The coast off Angra dos Reis in Rio de Janeiro state is littered with 300 islands ripe for underwater exploration.
Hang-gliding
Soar above the tropical landscape on a tandem hang-gliding flight from Pedra Bonita in São Conrado, just outside Rio. This popular adventure excursion gives a bird's-eye view of Rio and the Atlantic forest before landing on the beach.
Hike Diamantina National Park
Go hiking in Bahia's Diamantina National Park. This is one of Brazil's ecotourism hotspots and an adventure playground for trekking, caving, diving and rafting. The park is full of natural attractions including mountains, forests, caves, underground lakes and waterfalls.
Hit the beach
There are many islands and gorgeous beaches along Brazil's coastline, including the chic beach resort of Buzios, the bohemian Jericoacoara in Ceará state and the car-free Morro de São Paulo in Bahia. Surfing hotspots include Joaquina Beach on Santa Catarina island and Saquarema in Rio state.
Iguaçu Waterfalls
Go rafting beneath the awe-inspiring Iguaçu Waterfalls. Set amid rain forest in southern Brazil, these majestic falls are one of the great wonders of the Americas, with 275 individual falls encompassing a vast area. The highest fall, the Garganta do Diabo (Devil's Throat) reaches 70m (230ft), which is one and a half times the height of Niagara Falls.
Learn Samba
Learn to dance the samba. Have a local show you the moves at a celebration inside an escola de samba (samba school), which open their doors to visitors a couple of months before Rio de Janeiro's Carnival.
Manaus
Visit Manaus, in the heart of the Amazon. Transformed by the 19th-century rubber boom, the city boasts some extraordinary colonial buildings including the famous Teatro Amazonas and the Centro Cultural de Palacio Rio Negro, containing extensive archives of naturalist Alexandre Ferreira.
Minas Gerais
Head to the mountainous inland state of Minas Gerais and witness some of Brazil's best preserved colonial architecture. Owing to the area's abundant gold and diamond mines, the state has become a haven of gold and baroque art.
Olinda
Join the carnival atmosphere in the historical town of Olinda, a colourful, colonial town that was once the centre of Brazil's slave trade and is one of the country's UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Pantanal
Wander the cobblestone streets of Paraty (www.paraty.com.br), a charming coastal town that was once a major port for the export of gold, and can easily be reached from Rio. Its wealth is reflected in the beautiful colonial buildings, such as Santa Rita Church, built by freed slaves.
Paraty
Wander the cobblestone streets of Paraty (www.paraty.com.br), a charming town that was once a major port for the export of gold. This wealth is reflected in the beautiful colonial buildings, such as Santa Rita Church, built by freed slaves.
Rio de Janeiro
With buzzing Copacabana and Ipanema beaches offering vast stretches of sand and crashing waves, and undulating emerald scenery all around, Rio is an incredibly alluring city. See this breathtaking setting from under the arms of the iconic Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) by taking the cog train (www.corcovado.com.br) to the top of Corcovado (Hunchback) mountain, or catch a cable car up Sugar Loaf Mountain to view Cristo from a far.
Rio de Janeiro's Carnival
Witness the wonderful mayhem of one of the world's best parties. While Rio's procession is most famed, Carnival is celebrated throughout Brazil. Salvador also holds a big city-wide carnival, as does Olinda, which throws the most traditional event.
Rio Grande do Sul
Visit the ruins of 300-year-old Jesuit missions (www.rotamissoes.com.br) in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul. One of the most fascinating is UNESCO World Heritage site Saõ Miguel das Missões.
Salvador da Bahia
Explore the colourful city of Salvador da Bahia, with Pelourinho's colonial era buildings and winding cobblestone streets. This UNESCO World Heritage site boasts a staggering number of churches. The Museu Afro-Brasileiro (www.ceao.ufba.br/mafro) gives a fascinating insight into Afro-Brazilian culture.
São Paulo
Manicured people, clean and wide streets, and a thriving night scene characterise the centre of Brazil’s largest city. With art galleries, live music and restaurants galore, São Paulo is a fascinating destination for culture vultures, as well as anyone who likes their city break taken with a good helping of sophistication.
Wildlife watch in the Pantanal
Go wildlife watching in the Pantanal, a spectacularly rich ecosystem that is home to jaguars, caiman, giant river otters, toucans and hundreds of other species.
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