Brazil trip | Luxury trip wildlife, waterfalls and beaches of Brazil

Brazil's southeastern state of Sao Paulo is dominated by its eponymous capital city. Nicknamed the 'locomotive of Brazil', Sao Paulo is the country's economic and industrial centre: a dizzying, disorienting - but always thrilling - juggernaut of a city, offering enough sights and attractions to satisfy even the most seasoned traveller. The largest city in the southern hemisphere, Sao Paulo can be intimidating to navigate at first, but it will reward visitors who explore its world-class art galleries and museums, its chic restaurants and its iconic sights (such as the neo-Gothic Sao Paulo Cathedral). Elsewhere in Sao Paulo state, the Serra da Mantiqueira play host to mountain retreats, while you can explore the Brazilian Atlantic Forest in Iporanga and kick back on rainforest-fringed beaches in Ubatuba.

Foz do Iguazu, the world's largest set of waterfalls, is located in northern Argentina, in a border triangle of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. The Iguazu Falls are the world's most powerful waterfalls. There is nowhere else in the world where such a huge mass of water falls down simultaneously. The falls lie in the middle of a green jungle full of monkeys, toucans and caimans. Long before the Spanish and Portuguese colonised the area, the Guarani Indians lived in this region. 'Iguazu' in Guarani language means big water. This magnificent waterfall marks the confluence of the Iguazu River in Argentina and the Parana River in Brazil.

Located in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul, the southern Pantanal is a wondrous combination of picturesque cattle ranches and a pristine landscape encompassing almost two-thirds of the largest tropical wetland in South America. Visitors to the region can begin the Southern Pantanal experience in Corumba, the largest city in the Pantanal and the historic centre of the region. On the way to the city is the dirt road of Estrada Parque, a popular nature trail that is home to capybara, jaguar, giant anteaters, anacondas and a variety of birds. For a taste of local cowboy culture, visit the cattle ranches of Aquidauana and Miranda to discover the cattle drives, music and traditional leather of the pantaneiro cowboys, kayaking, canoeing and fishing on the rivers and explore the Maracajú plateau and Serra mountain ranges.

The north and south Pantanal together form the largest delta in the world; it is one of the best places in Brazil, in fact the best place in the Western Hemisphere, to spot animals. The area is home to the 'Big Three' rare mammals: the jaguar, the tapir and the average 30-kilo giant otter. Also living here is the capybara - the largest rodent in the world - monkeys and especially birds are present in large numbers. The endemic Jabiru stork can also be spotted here with a bit of luck. Days in this area are dedicated to nature and wildlife exploration.

Situated in central-west Brazil and sharing borders with Paraguay and Bolivia, Mato Grosso do Sul is one of the most naturally beautiful states in Brazil. This popular tourist destination attracts visitors from around the world with its spectacular beaches and impressive reefs, as well as its incredible network of lagoons and lakes, inhabited by an abundance of plant and animal life. In addition to its natural attractions, visitors to the area can look forward to exploring a diverse variety of interesting cultural sites. These include the Museu das Culturas Dom Bosco in Campo Grande, boasting an excellent collection of over 10 000 species of flora and fauna; the interactive waterfront museum of Muhpan in Corumba, with intriguing displays on human habitation in the region; and Forte de Coimbra, originally built in 1775 to ward off invaders from neighbouring countries.

Copacabana is a vibrant coastal neighbourhood synonymous with leisure, luxury and nightlife. It is characterised by multi-million-dollar penthouses, stunning neoclassical buildings and apartments set against a magnificent backdrop of jungle-clad mountains in Rio de Janeiro. From its humble beginnings as a small fishing village, it has now become a paradise for leisure-seekers, brimming with restaurants, nightclubs, bars and hotels, and exuding a lively, vibrant energy.
Visit Forte de Copacabana, a fort and museum that traces the area’s history from the early days of the Portuguese colony up to the mid-19th century, to learn more about its past. Art lovers will appreciate a visit to The Eva Klabin Foundation (Casa Museu Eva Klabin), a historic house belonging to the famous art and antiques collector Eva Klabin, housing over 1,000 works of art from all over the world. No visit to Copacabana is complete without a trip to the world-famous Copacabana Beach, a 4-kilometre stretch of golden sand dotted with brightly coloured parasols, bars and a popular spot for water sports, football, volleyball or simply lazing in the sun.

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!

With its quaint architecture and cobbled streets, Armação dos Búzios, commonly known as Búzios, combines an old-fashioned village harmony with a sophisticated range of boutiques, fine restaurants, villas and hotels. Located on the peninsula of the same name, Buzios has many bays and pretty spots. Since French actress Brigitte Bardot visited Buzios in the 1960s and fell in love with the place, tourism has steadily increased. It is now a trendy small and beautiful place to enjoy a wonderful coastal holiday.

Iguacu National Park, located in the Parana State of Brazil, is an extraordinary area famous for its biological importance, rich flora and fauna, and jaw-dropping waterfalls. The park has been recognised by UNESCO for protecting numerous endangered animal and plant species, as well as being home to one of the largest waterfalls on earth, the Iguacu Falls, which stretch 2700 metres wide in a semi-circle, and 72 metres down. Visitors will walk through the dense forests, to see them in all their magnitude from the footbridge at the Devil's Throat. Some of the many threatened animals living here include giant otter and giant anteater, as well as the jaguar, puma, broad-snouted caiman, harpy eagle, and more. Don't miss a visit to the Bird Park.