Brazil: Consider it for Your Next Getaway March 30, 2011 at 1:54 pm
This past year we had the great fortune of traveling to Brazil. While looking through the deals found at Expedia, we found a great deal for a week long trip to Brazil. It wasn’t on our radar, but with the deals that we found through Expedia, it was a no-brainer.
Brazil is a great vacation destination, bordering each country of the continent except for Ecuador and Chile. It is a country of great contrasts, of pristing beaches, the fantastic Amazon jungle, some of the best soccer players and of course Carnival. Brazil is a very diverse land: a great composition of races and cultures, a wide range in the climate, great cities with a mix of high technology and slums.
What to See
Some of the most frequented places in Brazil are Sao Paolo, Rio de Janeiro (the two megacities on the south-east coast), Fernando de Noronha Island, the city of Salvador in the northeast and the colonial towns of Olinda and Ouro Preto. Interested in the natural beauty of Brazil, you can visit Iguacu Falls. The best time to visit is, of course, the time of Carnival.
Carnival is held anually 4 days before Ash Wednesday. It exhibits Native, African, Euro and German elements and the rhythmic participation and costumes vary from one region to another. The top destination to experience it is in Rio de Janeiro, where you can watch the annual parade of the Samba Schools.
In southern the country a great spot that you should visit is the state of Santa Catarina. It is visited every year by a lot of people who prefer a relaxing vacation. There are a lot of beautiful beaches not far from the cities. Some of most well known are Estaleiro, Mariscal and Garopaba. Praia de Pinho, situated in the most traveled tourist area in southern Brazil was the first official nude beach in the country and it is also a paradise for naturists. There are plenty of activities in the region, like hiking, diving, hunting and cayaking.
Brazilian cuisine is very diverse. Local people prefer a simple breakfast made of milk, bread, jam and coffee and sometimes includes hamand fresh friut. In addition to this, there may be papayas, watermelons or avocado. For lunch or dinner, you will find many restaurants to choose from, from five star ones to family restaurants where meals are sold in terms of weight of the food. Brazilians prefer not to eat anywhere on the street or while riding, walking and doing any other activities. Your resort should be able to provide some recommentations for the best local dining and some coupons to save you some money.
Excellent seafood can be found in the coastal towns, especially in the northeastern part. You will also find many self-service restaurants where you can opt for an all -you-can-eat price (Rodizio) or “por quilo”, meaning that you weight the food after serving yourself.
Getting around Rio de Janeiro is simple and you do not need a car, because there are a lot of subways and buses even in the remote areas. The most convenient and economical way to travel between areas is the long-distance bus. The train is not a good option since the railway system was frequently a casualty in the time of the military regimes and today there aren’t very many patrons. Renting a car is not the best idea either, as road maintenance in Brazil is severly lacking. Have a look at this great assortment of travel articles.
Make sure that you vacation in Brazil. It is a trip that you will not forget. You will find that there is so much to see and do in Brazil. People are perpetually probing around for a R&R bargain.