Top Places to Visit in Brazil

As the largest country in South America, Brazil offers a wide range of activities and places to visit. Brazil is unlike any other place in the Western Hemisphere. It's not really part of Latin America since the country the native language is Portuguese and not Spanish. Brazil was of the Portuguese empire until gaining its independence in the 1800s. Brazil also received a larger influx of African slaves than any other South American country, a factor that has positively contributed to the diverse culture and society of modern-day Brazil.

With such a massive country it's hard to know where to begin. Here's a sampling of the very best places to visit in Brazil.

Rio de Janeiro
Rio is undoubtedly one of the most romantic cities in the world. The physical setting of Rio, nestled between the bay and mountains, provides the city with a natural beauty that is breathtaking at almost every turn. The top attractions are the sunny beaches at Copacabana and Ipanema filled with beautiful beautiful, the famed statue of Christ on the mountaintop overlooking the city, and riding up the cablecar to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain for a splendid view of Rio.

Colonial Towns of Minas Gerais
The hills and mountains in the state of Minas Gerais, a hundred miles north of Rio, are rich in natural minerals. The wealth from gold and diamond mines in Minas Gerais during the 18th century led to the creation of lovely cities that literally sparkled with ornamentations. The most important of these now historic cities is Ouro Preto, a hillside town whose Baroque style churches, houses, and museums depict the history of colonial Brazil when it was still ruled by the Portuguese empire.

Salvador
If Rio is Brazil's most romantic city, then Salvador is Brazil's most enchanting location. As the oldest and most historic city in Brazil, Salvador was once the country's capital and the city is filled with colonial buildings and historic sights. Known among Brazilians as "Bahia", Salvador is the most African influence city in South America. Wandering the streets of Salvador you'll come across people practicing the African martial arts of capoeira and selling crafts with an African inspired theme. Salvador is also known for its nightlife and some of Brazil's greatest musicians are from Salvador.

The Amazon
The mighty Amazon river may be the most distinctive part of Brazil. But the Amazon is more than just a river, the words "The Amazon" refer to the vast jungles and towns surrounding the river and stretching across the entire northern part of the country. For adventurous tourists the most unforgettable trip to Brazil includes a river passage down the Amazon. Most river journeys travel between the towns of Bel�m and Manaus and take about five to six days. But be prepared for a rustic voyage as these trips are not Caribbean cruises. You'll most likely will sleep in a hammock and you can count on the trip being very hot and humid and without any air conditioning. Yet, for the hardy, it's the trip of a lifetime.