Brazil

Brazil

Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world, both by size (around 8.5 million square kilometres, 35 times the size of the UK) and population (around 214 million), occupying almost half of the South American continent. It is bordered by Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana to the north and northeast, Colombia, Peru to the east, and Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay to the south and southwest, and boasts an extraordinarily rich natural and cultural diversity.

The destination is blessed with a wealth of natural attractions, including the magical Amazon Rainforest, a stunning coastline spanning over 4,500 miles, a dizzying abundance of wildlife in the Pantanal wetland, and the majestic Iguazu Falls. When travelling here, it can often feel as if you are visiting several completely different countries at once.

The story of Brazil’s past is largely shaped by the prominence of the sugar cane and gold mining industries. Sugar cane production sparked prosperity in Brazil’s first capital city, Salvador, where African slaves bore a cultural influence which is felt to this day. The discovery of gold shifted power south to Rio de Janeiro, a city situated amid lush tropical forest rolling into white Atlantic beaches, which is famed around the world for its celebrations (including the annual Carnival), landmarks like the Christ the Redeemer statue and its unique beach, mountain and rainforest surroundings. These dynamic cities continue to thrive on the music, colour and dance for which they are known, portraying to the world the passionate, life-loving and vibrant spirit of the Brazilian nation.

Brazil is well-connected with the UK; direct flights to both Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo are operated by major carriers. Flights tend to take around 11-12 hours. Indirect options from regional airports in the UK are also available. Depending on the region and the time of year of a holiday, the time difference is -3 or -4 hours from the UK, making adaptation to the new time zone quite easy.

Our Brazil FAQs answer the most common queries we hear from customers considering a holiday to Brazil. If you are ready to explore our small group, great value tours of Brazil, you can do so here.