Almost every holiday in Brazil begins in the capital Rio de Janeiro. Go the tourist way, stopping at all the famous sites from Copacabana beach to the statue of Christ the Redeemer. Or go an alternative route, and view the city from little-known Pedra do Pontal or Pedra do Gavea.
Tackling the largest country in South America may seem like an onerous task. Not to us. We’ve travelled the region, know its nooks and corners, its many nuances. With our first-hand knowledge, you’re in safe hands when we organize your customized Brazil itinerary. Trust us to make it smooth sailing.
Brazilians love their churrasco, the Brazilian-style barbecue, and you will too. They are also crazy about soccer (football)—if you get a chance, attend a game at Rio’s Maracana Stadium, if only for what a big party it is. Music is at the heart of Brazilian culture. Since the Carnival happens only once a year, what better place to catch the rhythms of this country than in the city of Salvador da Bahia. Pelourinho, its historic center is a fantastic storehouse of colonial architecture.
In the Pantanal wetlands, best explored on horseback, colorful birds abound, as do deadly black caimans, river otters, and other animals. The highlight of a trip to Brazil for any nature lover is undoubtedly the ecologically diverse Amazon rainforest, which spans 2.5 million square miles. Explore it on guided trips via kayak or a luxury cruise boat. Stay in a remote jungle lodge and learn about the indigenous people that live here. Walk through the forests and identify amazing flora and fauna. Climb into the canopy and greet primates, woodpeckers, butterflies. This is a jungle like no other.
Places: Manaus (1 day) → Amazonas Cruise (4) → Manaus (1) → Rio de Janeiro (3) → Buzios (3) → Foz do Iguacu (2) → Sao Paulo (1)
Tour Highlights: Opera House, Ecotourism, Meeting of the Waters, Amazon Rainforest, Wildlife, Immense Biodiversity, Cruises, Opera House...
Ideal For: Beaches Nature & Landscapes Wildlife & Safaris
Places: Santiago de Chile (2 days) → San Pedro de Atacama (2) → Ojo de Perdiz (1) → Uyuni (2) → La Paz (2) → Puno (2) → Cusco (2) → Sacred Valley (1) → Machu Picchu Pueblo (1) → Cusco (1) → Lima (1) → Puerto Iguazú (2) → Rio de Janeiro (3) → Buenos Aires (3) → El Calafate (2) → Torres del Paine (3) → ValparaÃso (2) → Santiago de Chile (1)
Tour Highlights: Cerro San Cristobal, La Moneda, Plaza De La Constitucion, Cerro Santa Lucia, Moon Valley, Death...
Ideal For: Adventure & Outdoors Heritage & Culture Nature & Landscapes Relaxation & Spas
Places: Manaus (1 day) → Amazonas Cruise (4) → Manaus (1) → San Salvador da Bahia (1) → Praia do Forte (4) → Rio de Janeiro (3)
Tour Highlights: Opera House, Ecotourism, Meeting of the Waters, Amazon Rainforest, Wildlife, Immense Biodiversity, Cruises, Opera House...
Places: Sao Paulo (2 days) → Foz do Iguacu (3) → Rio de Janeiro (5) → Buzios (3) → Rio de Janeiro (1)
Tour Highlights: Parque Do Ibirapuera, Museum of the Portuguese Language, Mercado Municipal Market, Iguazu Waterfalls in Brazil...
Ideal For: Beaches Heritage & Culture Nature & Landscapes
As large parts of the vast landscape lie in the tropics, the climate is uniformly tropical or subtropical, so you can travel to Brazil at anytime of the year. Follow the link for an overview on when to go to Brazil.
Beaches, waterfalls, rainforest and samba – Brazil is brimming with treasures big and small! Our destination experts shed some light on the best loved highlights, attractions and activities.
The culture of Brazil is unique, owing to Portuguese colonialism, the influence of African slaves, and the country’s geography. Brazilians are characteristically vibrant, fun, full of life and easy-going. They are extremely passionate about fútbol (soccer) which is the national sport and one of Brazil’s greatest claims to fame.
Experience the country’s most famous cultural event, Carnival, on your luxury Brazil tours – a perfect example of the blending of African pagan festivals with Roman Catholic holidays.
Brazilians often define themselves by region. The fierce rivalry between those from Sao Paulo paulistas, and those from Rio de Janeiro cariocas, is a case in point! Paulistas are considered fast-paced, cosmopolitan, work-obsessed, affluent, big city dwellers, whereas cariocas are more laid-back, beach loving, passionate, happy-go-lucky optimists.
Take one of our luxury Brazil tours to learn more about these rival cities.
The culture of Brazil is also rich in music and dance. Most notable is the samba which is upbeat, rhythmic, and forms the pulsating backdrop of Carnival.
Originating from African drumming, samba encompasses not only a form of music and dance but also a whole tradition and history behind it.
See African influence through the capoeira on your luxury Brazil tours – it is a dance-like martial art created by slaves during colonial times and currently recognized as UNESCO cultural heritage.
There are unique cultures in various regions of Brazil, and you will have the opportunity to see this during your Iguazu Falls tour or Amazon River tour.
Brazilians are known more for their relaxed and happy-go-lucky demeanor rather than punctuality, and especially in semi-urban areas, you can expect to find life moving at its own pace!
The food of Brazil includes many delicious dishes imbued with tropical flavors and inspired by bounteous nature and the colorful culture of Brazil. With so much coastline, agriculture and tropical rainforests, Brazilian cuisine is based around staple products such as rice, manioc, fresh seafood, beans, and exotic fruits.
The cornerstone at almost every Brazilian table is rice and beans, which are of course present in the national dish feijoada. Another traditional dish is moqueca, a stew served in a hot clay pot and accompanied with either rice or a manioc flour paste called farofa. This dish is most common in the Bahia region in the Northeast.
Visit juice bars and cafes on one of our luxury Brazil tours – they serve up Brazil’s famous coffee and also a plethora of exotic juices and smoothies. After a day strolling the beaches of Rio de Janeiro, nothing is more refreshing than a fresh smoothie!
Our luxury Brazil tours would be incomplete without trying the national cocktail, caipirinha. Made with fresh limes and cachaça, Brazil’s native liquor which is distilled from sugar cane, it is deliciously tangy!
The earliest inhabitants of Brazil are believed to be semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers, but the history of Brazil properly begins at 1500 AD, when the Portuguese reached the land. After the rise and fall of many a government, today, Brazil is quickly emerging as a Latin American powerhouse.
In the 17th century, African slaves were brought over by the thousands to work in Brazil’s sugarcane plantations and, even before the end of slavery, they had become an integral part of society. In the early 18th century, gold was discovered in the highlands, much to Portugal’s delight. The capital was moved to Rio de Janeiro in 1763. The country also became an important coffee producer.
In 1808, Napoleon invaded Portugal forcing the court and king to flee to Rio de Janeiro, from where the Portuguese empire was ruled remotely for the next decade. The king left his eldest son Pedro, as the regent of Brazil when he returned to Portugal, who in turn created an independent monarchy, naming himself Emperor Pedro I of Brazil, just a year later. In 1870, Brazil, along with Argentina and Uruguay, won the War of the Triple Alliance against Paraguay – the bloodiest war in South American history.
After 1889, when Brazil became a constitutional democracy, many governments rose and fell, and the country saw much unrest. The capital was moved from Rio de Janeiro to Brasilia in the 1950s, where it remains today. After 1964, Brazil witnessed military dictatorship for two decades until democracy was restored, although hyperinflation and currency devaluation plagued the country. In recent years, Brazil has experienced an economic boom despite some political scandals.
Your luxury Brazil tour is a great way to explore this powerhouse of Latin America!
Portuguese is the official language of Brazil and is spoken by nearly 100% of all the population. One of the only non Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America, language is a source of national unity for Brazilians.
The Enchanting Travels team is happy to help you plan private and customized luxury Brazil tours.Â
