Brazil is so vast and varied but it is possible to do a grand tour of the country in two weeks, combining tourism and relaxation in a tailor-made trip that lets you discover the treasures of South America’s largest country. The colonial cities of Minas Gerais, sumptuous waterfalls, beautiful lagoons, the Amazon rainforest, major cities, heavenly beaches, carnival – the full range of the country’s jewels is on offer for your first stay in Brazil. With the holiday season fast approaching and with it the vacations, here’s an overview of some of the possibilities for a 15-day stay in Brazil.
Brazil: Natural Sites and Megalopolises
Any enthusiast of Brazil will tell you that “15 days is not enough.” If you want to get to the heart of a country’s identity, that’s true. But for a first-time visitor, it’s an excellent amount of time. A formula that allows you to immerse yourself in breathtaking natural sites as well as in cities with colonial pasts and energizing modernism. It also allows you to discover the incomparable richness of these very different landscapes, from the Nordeste with its endless beaches and typical fishing villages to the tropical islands of the south of the country, via the unmissable Brazilian megalopolises of Rio and São Paulo and the ecosystems of the Pantanal and the Amazon. We offer 15-day tours of Brazil that provide an overview of the country, such as the comprehensive Must-See Brazil.
Iguazu: Border Falls
A trip to Brazil is an encounter between nature in all its splendor and the dynamism and frenetic activity of the big cities. It’s a good idea to alternate the two, starting with a shower at Iguazu Falls, on the border with Argentina. They are among the most extensive cataracts in the world. The beauty of the visit is that you can enjoy two radically different viewpoints: a bird’s-eye view from the Brazilian side, on foot or by zodiac, and a close-up view from the Argentine side, either at the top via the circuito superior or at the foot of the falls via the circuito inferior. The deafening noise combined with the splashing water are truly impressive, and this is a first memory that’s sure to remain engraved on your personal hard drive.
The Pantanal: A Natural Park with Hundreds of Animal Species
The pure forces of nature can be complemented by the rich flora and fauna of some of Brazil’s states. Located in the center of the country, Mato Grosso and its Northern Pantanal Natural Park are among the country’s must-sees. Boat trips through the park enable you to observe hundreds of animals, including the jaguar, tapir, giant otter, boa constrictor, and the thousands of birds that inhabit these immense marshes, such as the emblematic Jabiru, symbol of the region. Don’t miss the mythical Transpantaneira trail between Poconé and Porto Joffre, the best place in the world for jaguar watching!
Brasilia, Brazil’s Futuristic Capital
A visit to Mato Grosso is not complete without a visit to Brasília, Brazil’s administrative capital. Built from scratch in 1960 in the middle of an arid plateau, this immense city is notable for its architectural wealth, largely due to the visionary talent of the famous Oscar Niemeyer. A city of bold buildings, extraordinary parks, and gardens, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, Brasília is definitely worth a visit.
Belém: Gateway to the Amazon Jungle
Further north, the island of Marajó in the Amazon delta is also home to many species of animals living amidst a luxuriant fauna. The world’s largest freshwater island is the perfect place for a languorous stroll on the back of a buffalo or in a motorized dugout canoe! A stay in Marajó is also an opportunity to visit Belém, the pearl of Pará, Brazil’s northern state. Belém is the great commercial center of the Amazon, but also the ultimate testimony to the Portuguese presence from the 16th century onwards. Its houses and churches, with their Lusitanian architecture of yesteryear, gracefully stand side by side with the modern buildings that symbolize Brazil today.
Belém has another great advantage for visitors: it’s the gateway to the immense and mysterious Amazon and its exceptional forest.
Splendor of the Amazon
The Amazon is a totally unique and exceptional river. It’s true, as much for its extraordinary dimensions – thousands of kilometers long, sometimes several kilometers wide – as for the rarity of some of its particularities, such as the “meeting of the waters” between the clear Rio Solimões and the dark Rio Negro, or its countless islands that cut like thousands of arms into this nourishing river. A liquid world to discover on a cruise to explore the Igarapé (canals) that wind through the jungle.
The Amazon leads to Manaus, the city hemmed in by jungle from which the Boracha (rubber) convoys that made its fortune (and its decline) once left for the shores of the Atlantic. Manaus is also home to the famous Teatro Amazonas and is a major industrial hub. The world’s largest river also leads to the depths of the forest, where a night in a lodge, or even in a tree house, will offer unforgettable sensations to lovers of off-the-beaten-track experiences.
The Wild Nordeste
From Belém, a short flight takes lovers of wilderness to the vast expanses of the Nordeste. The Nordeste is immense and as beautiful as an endless “saudade” under a twilight sun. Compared to the south and southwest coasts of the country, these landscapes are relatively untouched.
Nordeste Beaches: Water Sports and Beautiful Villages
The Nordeste is a land of endless beaches, a real favorite with surfers and kiteboarders, who can enjoy the warm trade winds blowing along the immense shores for most of the year. The less sporty will find plenty to visit in the typical fishing villages, such as Canoa Quebrada, which was a source of inspiration for French New Wave cinema in the 1960s. The more adventurous can treat themselves to a trip to the island of Fernando de Noronha, a sanctuary for underwater exploration, and an ecological sanctuary in its own right, strictly protected from any outside influence.
Recife: Tropical Venice
The Nordeste leads you slowly to the southwest coast to the coastal cities of Recife and Olinda. Recife is the former capital of the Nordeste, and its cultural activity remains very high. Reminiscent of its heyday, its beautiful houses lining the many canals have earned the city the nickname “Tropical Venice”. Its popular carnival is an excellent alternative to the more institutionalized Rio de Janeiro carnival. Olinda boasts a rich heritage of Portuguese colonial architecture, the result of the strong sugar industries that made its inhabitants’ fortunes.
Further south, the immortal Salvador, Brazil’s first capital city, is home to a unique syncretism known as Candomblé. A blend of Catholicism and African traditions, brought by the slaves who landed in Salvador, gives rise to the immensely popular and colorful Festa do Bonfim.
Rio de Janeiro : discovering the Corcovado and the Sugar Loaf
A 15-day visit to Brazil would be inconceivable without a more or less extended stopover in Rio de Janeiro. This is the city of all excesses, the great rival of industrious São Paulo and long the country’s capital before being dethroned by Brasília. Nevertheless, Rio remains the cultural capital of Brazil, the magical city imbued with the samba and bossa nova born in this sprawling city. It’s also home to the famous Maracanã stadium, as famous as the national football team. It’s a city of many faces, from the favelas to the famous beaches immortalized in popular song, such as Ipanema, and the splendid parks, not forgetting the unique backdrop of Sugarloaf and Corcovado, which alone are worth a day’s excursion. Let’s not forget the world-famous Carnival, which remains, despite a few drawbacks, the major event in Brazilian cultural life.
There are still hundreds of other sites, towns, and villages to see in Brazil, but that alone is a very copious menu from which you’ll have to make choices to harmoniously furnish your fortnight spent in one of the world’s most fascinating countries. Our programs and tours are here to help you make your choice. You can even put together your own itinerary for a totally customized tour!
