Brazil trip | Culture and nature trip Brazil with beach finish

Rio de Janeiro is a world-class city! This metropolis, where (beach) life goes on 24 hours a day, has so much to offer that even the ‘Cariocas’, the residents of ‘Rio’, cannot decide when asked to name their favourite feature of their city. Rio lies on a strip of land approximately 24 kilometres long, nestled between the mountains and the sea; lush greenery on one side and vibrant blue on the other. It is home to a population of 8 million who seem to have a monopoly on the concept of ‘Beach Beauties’: beach culture was invented in Rio.
The world-famous, 38-metre-high statue of ‘Christ the Redeemer’ stands high on the summit of Corcovado Mountain, from where it embraces the city in its arms and blesses it with an all-seeing eye. Sugar Loaf, the mountain shaped like a loaf of sugar, is one of Brazil’s most photographed sights.
Then there are the beaches; the best known and most popular are Copacabana Beach and Ipanema Beach. Copacabana boasts a four-kilometre-long beach, flanked by a bustling promenade lined with beach bars, cafés and a vibrant nightlife. On Sundays and public holidays, the beach road is closed to traffic and ‘Copa’ is transformed into one huge leisure area. The sultry bossa nova track ‘The Girl from Ipanema’ put Rio’s Ipanema Beach on the world map in one fell swoop. A golden strip of sand flanked by a wide promenade and numerous beach bars. People sit, chat, eat and drink there round the clock. Young and old alike stroll, play sport and flirt. The residential district of Ipanema is home to Rio de Janeiro’s finest shops and chic boutiques.
You’ll find a completely different atmosphere in the colourful Santa Teresa district, nestled in the hills of Rio de Janeiro. Steep cobbled streets, historic houses each with its own story, and cosy cafés and restaurants. The ‘bodinho’, the vintage little train, still chugs its way there from downtown Rio.
Rio’s world-famous carnival hardly needs any further introduction: it is the biggest and most spectacular festival in the world. In short: Rio is sensational!

Salvador, founded in 1549, was Brazil's first capital and remains one of the country's most important cities. Nowhere on the South American continent will you find a city with so many African influences, brought centuries ago by the enslaved. This is reflected in the music, dance, cuisine, religion and in fact in every other aspect of life in this beautiful city. In Salvador, it is not unusual to see people practising the dance-fighting art Capoeira on the beach, in a square or in a park, or performing a religious ritual (Candomblé) accompanied by drums. Salvador is unique, vibrant and manages to enchant visitors every time.

Take a journey back in time to this stately mountain town, which was once the summer retreat of Brazil’s royal family and is still referred to as Brazil’s ‘Imperial City’. Petrópolis was once the imperial country estate; today, many affluent ‘Cariocas’ – residents of Rio de Janeiro – have their second homes here. It is a mountainous area with a pleasant climate; during the Brazilian summer (our winter), it is cooler here than on the city’s beaches.
A visit to the imperial palace gives a good insight into the lives of the former emperors Pedro I and II. Antique horse-drawn carriages travel through the city; the coachmen will be happy to take you for a ride along the old imperial avenues. Other attractions include the Serra dos Órgãos National Park, famous for the ‘God’s Finger’ (Dedo de Deus) rock formation, which resembles an index finger pointing skywards, and Rua Teresa, Brazil’s number one shopping destination.

The Brazilian highlands are vast, covering about half of Brazil's landmass. The highlands consist of dramatic landscapes, rolling hills and mountain shrines, green forests, tropical jungle and deep canyons. With the fertile Amazon lowlands to the west, the highlands stretch all the way to the Atlantic Ocean, where they drop dramatically along the coast to form the "Great Escarpment". The area is of astonishing beauty and biodiversity, with a wealth of flora and wildlife.

Bahia stretches for 1,100 kilometres along the Atlantic coast and is known for its idyllic beaches, friendly people and vibrant capital Salvador. Also called the "Capital of Happiness", this prosperous city has a festive party and music scene, a spectacular oceanfront location, beautiful Baroque churches and a rich tradition of Capoeira, a traditional martial art. Further afield, the charming village of Praia do Forte on the coconut coast, famous for its fine cuisine and sea turtle conservation project; All Saints Bay, home to 56 tropical islands; and Porto Seguro, which offers insight into its intriguing indigenous culture, are well worth a visit. For adventurers and nature lovers, the caves and Fumaca waterfall of Chapada Diamantina offer a series of remarkably beautiful hikes.

The old diamond-mining town of Lencois borders the vast Chapada Diamantina National Park in Bahia, in eastern Brazil and is surrounded by majestic mountains, dense forests and waterfalls. Lencois serves as an excellent base to explore the beautiful northeastern interior. The picturesque town boasts charming streets filled with lively cafés and restaurants and colourful 19th-century colonial buildings. Explore the Casa de Cultura Afranio Peixoto, a museum in memory of a famous local writer, or visit the white Senhor dos Passos church, the Praca Otaviano Alves and you can explore the Praca Horacio de Matos squares in the city centre.

Located on the remote northeastern tip of Tinhare Island in Brazil, the village of Morro de Sao Paulo boasts a rich heritage and palm-fringed white sand beaches lapped by crystal-clear turquoise waters. This tropical paradise offers visitors a range of comfortable places to stay and the opportunity to enjoy various adventure activities, including water sports such as surfing, diving, wakeboarding and sailing on a banana boat. Also enjoy local cuisine at several waterfront restaurants located along the picturesque Second Beach; explore the ancient ruins of the 17th-century Tapirandu fort or take the zipline from the lighthouse. This beautiful island offers a relaxed atmosphere as no cars are allowed on the island, adding to its holiday charm.

Ipanema is a vibrant neighbourhood resting between Leblon and Arpoadorino in lively Rio de Janeiro. Made especially famous after the song The Girl from Ipanema , the district has golden sandy beaches that invite you to sunbathe, take a dip in the shimmering sea or surf the nearby waves of the rocky Pedra do Arpoador. The tree-lined streets are full of sophisticated restaurants, retro bars, modern galleries and boutiques, while those looking to explore a little further can take a stroll through the lush Catacumba Municipal Natural Park or enjoy views of the saltwater-fed Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon.