Mention Brazil and the image that immediately comes to most people’s minds is the Amazon rainforest. While the Amazon rainforest is a spectacular place, it is just one of the many natural wonders that can be found in Brazil. If you prefer a vacation that puts you in touch with nature, then choosing any of the destinations below will make your trip to Brazil a memorable experience.
1. Amazon Rainforest – North of Brazil
Since the Amazon rainforest is what most people think, let’s start with this. The Amazon rainforest is part of the Amazon basin that encompasses 1.7 billion acres. About 60% of the rainforest is in Brazil. Some of the activities that a tourist can do include jungle trekking, boating, fishing, dolphin watching, alligator watching, bird watching, and more. The diversity of flora and fauna is immense so there is much to see. Accommodations range from 5-star hotels to river boats that serve as floating hotels and campgrounds. For those looking for a little more adventure, they can try the jungle survival tour or look for jaguars in the Juma Reserve. Whichever tour you choose, make sure you are accompanied by a professional guide.
3. Fernando de Noronha – Northeast of Brazil
Fernando de Noronha is a tropical paradise in the Atlantic Ocean. It is an archipelago of 21 islands and islets that is approximately 220 miles off the Brazilian coast. Several of Fernando de Noronha’s beaches appear frequently on the lists of the best beaches in Brazil. The government limits the number of tourists that can visit the archipelago at any one time so that the beaches are never crowded. The water is crystal clear so the snorkeling and diving are spectacular. Boat rides, dolphin watching, kayaking, surfing, trekking, buggy rides and presentations of the Tamar project for the protection of sea turtles are some other activities that interest tourists. The rainy season lasts for about half of the year from March to September, so you need to plan accordingly.
3. Pantanal – Central West
The Pantanal is a much larger tropical wetland than the Florida Everglades. The Pantanal reaches a total of 195,000 square kilometers compared to the Everglades of 28,000 square kilometers. During the rainy season, more than 80% of the Pantanal territory remains under water. The Pantanal ecosystem has an incredible diversity of flora and fauna that includes 3,500 known plant species and 1,000 bird species. This is a bird watcher’s paradise. Fishing enthusiasts are drawn to the Pantanal because of the 480 species of fish found there. Some of the most coveted fish include the pacu, dourado, painted, piranha, and tacunare. The more adventurous tourists will want to travel to remote areas of the Pantanal to take a night tour in search of alligators and jaguars. As with Amazon tours, be sure to choose a tour with a trained professional guide.
4. Serra da Bocaina – Southeast of Brazil
Serra da Bocaina is a national park located on the border of the states of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. The park covers 104,000 acres. The highest point is called Hat Off Point (Pico do Tira do Chapeu in Portuguese) that reaches 6,850 feet. Hiking is one of the main activities of the park. A trail in the park was used in the 18th century to transport gold from Minas Gerais to the ports of Manibucaba and Parati. A couple of rivers run through the park. The east side of the park runs along Big Island Bay (Baia da Ilha Grande in Portuguese). Many in the Serra da Bocaina practice the repeller and hang gliding.
5. Iguazu Falls – South of Brazil
The Iguazu Falls are located on the border between Brazil and Argentina. A total of 275 falls along 1.67 miles make up the Iguazu Falls system, which is much larger than Niagara Falls. The waterfall that receives most of the attention is called Devil’s Throat (Garganta do Diabo in Portuguese). This U-shaped waterfall is 270 feet high and nearly 500 feet wide. From the Brazilian side, the tourist can use a footbridge to approach the base of the Devil’s Throat and enjoy a spectacular view of this natural wonder. Accommodations can be made in the city of Foz de Iguacu in the state of Paraná.
There are many other natural wonders that could be mentioned here, but the ones mentioned above will give you a better idea of some of the places in Brazil to visit for tourists who enjoy the outdoors.