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Reviews of Brazil
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The best people to ask about a country you want to visit are people who have actually been there. The reviews below on various parts of Brazil reflect the views of such people and as such should be very helpful.
Is there a more diverse country?
Travel in Brazil.
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Travel in Brazil.
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Spanish will not get you far in this corner of South America; in Brazil they speak Portuguese.
There are so many differences between the Iberian languages, that a pocket dictionary will be your best investment. Even the days of the week have nothing in common.
Getting Around Brazil --
By Bus:
Being such a large country, travelling around Brazil takes time. The bus stations are called Rodavarios, and you'll find busses going to just about everywhere around the clock.
Some of the long distance sleepers (leitos) are quite luxurious; but you'll pay more to travel in less cramped conditions on seats that stretch out to perform like beds. The express buses are quite adequate and they generally stop every couple of hours.
Most seats on Brazilian busses need to be reserved, so don't count on turning up at the Rodavario and moving on like you might in Colombia or Venezuela.
By Boat:
Travel by boat down the Amazon is easy from Manaus. Just turn up at the quay for schedules of the boats.
Three to five days sleeping in hammocks on the deck is fun, but the rice and fish can get monotonous, so bring a bag of goodies to cheer you up. Some of the boats have bars, and quite a party can be had if you meet up with a good crowd.
On our boat, we had a Japanese traveller who was learning to play Samba and even had his own drum-kit with him.
Travel by Air:
If time is limited and your budget extends to it, you may consider covering the large distances by air.
The Brazilian Air Pass is an economical way to travel within the country. It's only available to foreigners and Brazilians living abroad and is offered by VARIG Airlines, TransBrasil, TAM and VASP Airlines.
The Mercosur Air Pass is for travel between Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay. It is priced by air miles travelled and is available to anyone arriving from outside South America. Minimum of 2 countries and maximum of 4. Minimum of 2 stop-overs and maximum of 8. Minimum period is 7 days and maximum is 30.
The regions of Brazil are varied and there's plenty to see. If you have the time, at least six weeks, then I would travel around by bus to get a feeling for the country's size and diversity.
Drifting down the Amazon, or looking for festivals in Bahia, you'll enjoy discovering what the different regions of Brazil have to offer.
With 6,000 miles of coastline, you're bound to find a beach that appeals to you. And they do all have their own characteristics. Of course you'll want to go to Rio, but let me say that the beaches in the northeast are much nicer.
Fortaleza is the jumping-off point for Pipa, Jericocoara and Canoa Cabrada; among others. The Fortaleza beach is not bad itself, but it is a large town. Praia Fortuna can be dangerous at night though.
Salvador is well worth a visit. As the Portuguese stepped up colonization of the territory, Thomé de Souza became the first governor-general in 1549, and founded Bahia (Salvador) as his capital. The colonial architecture on the upper level of Salvador is what makes this city stand out.
Large numbers of Africans were brought into the region as slaves and their music is intoxicating. It is affectionately said that: ""When Bahians are not actually participating in a festival they are rehearsing for one."" The nightlife can get a bit rowdy, so don't carry too much money when checking out the bars after sunset.
There are some wonderful beaches in Bahia, although the deserted ones can sometimes be dangerous. Again, don't take valuables onto the sand if you can help it.
Another former colonial capital that you should visit is Olinda, just outside Recife. Carnival is a great time to be here, but don't stay in Recife; although the beaches are better there.
Visit the Pantanal for wildlife and be sure to head towards Argentina to see the Iguazú National Park. The area extends on both sides of the River Iguazú and its water falls between Brazil and Argentina.
Derived from a Guaraní word for great water, the name is Iguaçu in Portuguese-speaking Brazil. The falls are the centrepiece of the parks; over 60m high, the series of falls and cascades stretch for 4km in the wet season.
Visitors can view the base of the falls in Argentina, and the lip in Brazil.
Most Brazilians are very relaxed and friendly; although you always need to be on your guard when travelling in poorer countries.
No matter how much time you spend in Brazil, it will never be enough and you'll surely want to visit again. I have already been to Brazil twice and look forward to my third visit as soon as possible.
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