🇧🇷 Brazil from A to Z: 25 facts about the country of carnivals

Brazil makes you fall in love with yourself from the first step taken on its soil. Almost everyone who has managed to visit here, as one, insists that this is the ideal combination of snow-white beaches, the ocean, smiling people, incredible natural beauty, delicious food and warm weather all year round.

Many people want to visit this wonderful country, but are afraid due to its remote location or the unknown. But if you carefully prepare in advance, then a holiday in Brazil will definitely be included in the collection of the most unforgettable trips. And we will help you with this.

Visa

Preparation for any trip begins with obtaining a visa, if necessary. Here is the first good news. A visa is not required to visit Brazil for up to 90 days. If you, like many others, fall in love with this country and want to stay longer, you can extend your stay for another 90 days with the local police by receiving a special mark in your passport. This service will cost $20.

How to get to Brazil?

Having a Schengen visa significantly increases the possible options for getting to Brazil. In this case, you can take advantage of direct flights to the sunny country from Germany, Spain, Italy, France, Portugal and other countries.

If you are not a Schengen holder, then the easiest and cheapest option is to fly to Istanbul, and then from Istanbul to Sao Paulo with Turkish Airlines. Flights from Dubai are also possible. You can find convenient air travel options on Trip.com.

When is the best time to go to Brazil?

When planning a trip to Brazil, it is worth remembering that the seasons here are opposite to ours, and, in principle, they are not particularly pronounced. For example, often in the Brazilian winter the air temperature rises to 30 degrees.

Brazil is a very large country. In the north, summer temperatures reach 50 degrees. Therefore, if you are planning a trip during our calendar winter, I would advise you to opt for the southern states. For example, it is worth taking a closer look at the state of Santa Catarina and the stunning island of Sao Francisco do Sul, which is written about in detail here.

If your trip is planned for our summer and Brazilian winter, then it’s definitely worth going to the north of the country. And you can visit the states of Pernambuco or Ceara. You can read more about the wonderful place for a beach holiday in the state of Ceara here.

In fact, in every coastal Brazilian state there is a corner of paradise where you can relax both body and soul.

Rio de Janeiro

Any traveler visiting Brazil considers it his duty to come to Rio. And this is not surprising. After all, this city was able to capture the hearts of many tourists.

One of the most famous areas of the city is Copacabana. The beach of the same name is also located here. However, where there are the most tourists, there is the greatest temptation for thieves. Therefore, for renting a home or hotel, you can consider the areas of Ipanema and Leblon. 

If you plan to live in Rio for a long time, then the right decision would be to stay away from the beach. Since locals complain that cars quickly rust near the ocean, and clothes in the closet spoil.

I was impressed by the Santa Teresa district, which is also considered bohemian. There is a huge amount of graffiti, good-natured residents, and from the city center you can get there on a cute yellow tram that is proud of its age. However, there is a downside. The bohemian nature of the area is also reflected in housing prices.

The most important attractions in Rio are Sugar Loaf Mountain and the Statue of Christ. Both of these iconic places have stunning views.

You can read about other must-see places here.

But, of course, you shouldn’t limit yourself to just visiting Rio. After all, you cannot say that you have truly experienced the country without visiting at least a couple of states. 

Iguazu Falls

Be sure to go to the south of the country to visit the Iguazu Falls. All the tourists who managed to visit there say that this is the most fascinating sight in their lives. 

The waterfalls are located approximately 2 hours flight from the city of Sao Paulo. However, it is worth checking in advance when Brazilian children have holidays. They are usually in December and January, and also from June to August. The fact is that during this period the cost of prices soars, sometimes to the skies.

Some tourists stay in hotels closest to the falls, but most plan their trip for one day. The cost of admission is approximately $100.

Iguazu Falls is a whole complex of waterfalls. They are located on the border of Argentina and Brazil. Some travelers believe that they are still better visible from the Brazilian side. 

Also, for an additional fee, a boat will take you close to the waterfalls, which will allow you to feel the full power of natural splendor. But be sure to bring a change of clothes. 

Sao Paulo

Few people visit Sao Paulo, which is surprising. Sao Paulo is, first of all, a major business center throughout Latin America. A sort of Latin American New York. Skyscrapers, conversations about business, white collars – it's all about Sao Paulo.

Many migrants choose this city to live. Since it is not as dangerous as, for example, Rio, and is as close as possible in its way of life to the United States. However, this city is also more expensive than its other Brazilian brothers.

When choosing housing, focus on the areas of Brooklyn, Moema, Itaim Bibi, Villa Olympia, Campo Belo. They are considered the safest in the city. While Sao Paulo may not boast an ocean, it makes up for what it lacks with its skyscraper views and nightlife.

The most important attractions of the city are the Ibirapuera Park, the city theater, the Pinacoteca, the zoo, and Avenida Paulista. You can read more about life in a city with a million population here. By the way, Sao Paulo is one of the greenest cities in the world. Landscaped areas, a large number of parks and palm trees – it’s simply hard to imagine how all this can harmoniously combine with 30-story buildings everywhere.

The city also stands out for its good service. The city's restaurants will delight you not only with national cuisine, but also with Mediterranean or Asian cuisine. Be sure to visit the Fogo de chão restaurant. This chain has many locations around the city and provides rodizio to its visitors. This is a method of restaurant service in which you pay a fixed price. Waiters come up to you with different types of meat until you put down the “no more” card. Rodizio all inclusive costs $40, children can visit the restaurant for free. In addition to meat, this price also includes a salad bar, however, drinks will have to be paid separately.

Campos do Jordao

A two-hour drive from Sao Paulo is the small town of Campos do Jordao. It will immediately immerse you in the European atmosphere, despite the fact that it is located in Brazil.

The town is surrounded by mountains, where people live at an altitude of 1628 meters above sea level. Thanks to this location, Campos do Jordao boasts a cool environment, unlike its hot neighbor Sao Paulo. Therefore, spending a weekend here during the sultry Brazilian summer is a pleasant experience.

The city has buildings in Italian, German and Swiss style. Since there are very few streets in the city center, two days are enough to feel the atmosphere of the Campus. There is also a funicular that will take you to the top of the mountain, where you can enjoy the views and have a snack. 

A special atmosphere reigns here during Catholic Christmas. Everything is decorated with illuminations, there is a lot of entertainment for adults and children, mulled wine is sold on the streets – which is very unusual for hot Brazil. And even skating rinks with artificial snow appear.

In Campos do Jordao, you should definitely visit the Argentinean restaurant Libertango, which is one of the best meat restaurants in the country.

And the place Baden baden in the heart of the city will help you cool down in the hottest weather, thanks to its craft beer.

Brazil is very diverse. If you didn’t like one city in this country, then there are at least 5 more that will definitely leave only positive impressions.