Brazil is a country with continental dimensions. It is not surprising that a country like that can surprise the most experienced traveler with amazing landscapes and remarkable moments. I'm Brazilian and making this post made me forget all the places in the world I think about visiting and just spend a whole semester just visiting and knowing all these amazing places relatively close to me first.
I couldn't post all the amazing pictures I found of each place because I didn't want to make a super long post. But if you are fascinated with any of these places I invite you to look for it and I bet you'll be adding it to your bucketlist.
So this is my list of the 15 most amazing places in Brazil:
1 - Monte Roraima
This mountain is considered to be the oldest geological formation in the world. The singularity of this mountain is that it has no top, so from a distance it looks like a huge tree stump or a stone box.
The Indians consider it as a sacred place, and associate it with many myths. They call it the “navel of the earth”. According to the legend, the mighty goddess – the progenitor of all people – lives on the very top of the mountain. A kind of nebula and a permanent white cloud, enveloping Roraima, give this place an even greater inscrutability. The constant cloudiness around the mountain is attributed to the fact that the rivers Amazon, Orinoco and Essequibo originate at the foot of Roraima.
2 - Canoa Quebrada
Canoa Quebrada is a beautiful beach located about 166 km away from Fortaleza, capital of the Ceará state. It was discovered by the hippies of 70’s who found a simple and hospitable population. They transformed the place in a refuge of peace and love, bringing together a combination of different cultures creating a sense of freedom that you can still perceive in Canoa.
Today, with paved access, electricity, cyber cafés, restaurants and hotels, Canoa Quebrada has become an international beach and one of the most important tourist destination throughout the state of Ceará. It is also famous for the natural beauty of the surrounding area and for the busy nights on “Broadway”, the main street, which gained in 2003 a new sidewalk made of Portuguese stones. Frequented by many Brazilians and foreigners (almost all the year long) the development of the beach creates strong economic growth for the are.
3 - Iguazu Falls
The Iguazu Falls annually receive more than 1 million tourists, being recognized worldwide for its beauty. Located within the Iguaçu National Park, on the border between Brazil and Argentina (in the cities of Foz do Iguaçu and Puerto Iguazú), has a qualified structure for receiving tourists, with a visitors center, parking, hotel, restaurant, internal buses, additional sightseeing tours, shops, food court and a hiking trail to access the falls.
There are two options to meet the Iguazu Falls: the Brazilian side or the Argentinean side. They are separated tours, and for each one you will have to pay a ticket, but worth the price, since they are experimenting with different perspectives. The access to Iguazu Falls in Argentina, is done through the Argentinian Iguazú National Park, in this case it is necessary to enter the country through the Customs, being essentially your personal documents and passport.
4 - Ouro Preto
The city of Ouro Preto, in Minas Gerais, is well known for its colonial architecture. It was the first Brazilian city to be considered a world heritage site by Unesco in 1980, and is home to a magnificent Baroque architectural ensemble, one of the best preserved in the world.
Tons of gold was sent to Portugal in the 18th century, and what remained in the region produced Baroque wonders that enchant those who visit the city. In the historic center, alleys and streets you will find rich fountains, townhouses, chapels and churches of the 17th and 18th centuries.
Another example of the Baroque style is the Matriz Nossa Senhora do Pilar, that is decorated with more than 400 kg of gold. The graceful Museu do Oratório has pieces of different styles that celebrate the religiosity of the miners.
5 - Jalapão State Park
The reserve occupies an area of 34 thousand kilometers, involving eight municipalities, however, there is no support structure within the park. The cities of Ponte Alta and Mateiros serve as a base, offering tour agencies, lodgings, and simple restaurants, as well as sheltering the agencenas' camps. Ponte Alta, 152km from Palmas and accessible by paved road, is the gateway to the park.
Meanwhile, Mateiros, 160km from Ponte Alta and accessible only by dirt road, hosts the best attractions such as the Velha waterfall, 20m down and 100m wide; And Formiga waterfall, with crystalline water. In the Fervedouro the river forms a beautiful swimming pool.
6 - Amazon Forest
The Amazon rainforest is a case of curiosity for tourists that enjoy wild nature. With a dense vegetation and a giant and diverse fauna, the forest attracts people from all over the world in search of adventure, fun and contact with nature. But the attraction is not restricted to the forest: Manaus, the gateway city to the Amazon, is its own attraction with its history, sights and its people.
If you pass by quickly through Manaus, there is a bus option that takes you for a 3 hour walk along tourist spots. The bus leaves from the city center, next to the Amazonas Theater. To visit all of the attractions in town and see everything calmly, schedule a 3 to 4 day visit, at least. If your goal is to stay in a hotel in the jungle, reserve at least 2 full days.
7 - Genipabu Dunes
Being so close to the capital Natal makes it so easy to visit. This great tourist destination has first-class hotels, affordable lodgings, superb dining places, beach tents, rafts, as well as sand adventure tours. Be prepared for a day of fun and excitement, as well as memorable visual treat, when you arrive at the dunes of Genipabu.
Crystal blue waters of the Atlantic lapping the beautiful beach, the tall palm trees swaying lazily in the breeze, the calm waves, the natural fresh water lagoon, the exotic cuisine, and the breathtaking scenery is the characteristics of this place. However, the one big reason the place is so popular is its vast, towering and constantly changing sand dunes. The dunes of Genipabu are constantly shifting. This is due to the strong winds blowing from the Atlantic Ocean to the Rio Grande do Norte coastline which moves the sand in every direction, thus shaping and reshaping the landscape.
8 - Blue Lagoon Cave, Bonito (Gruta da Lagoa Azul-Bonito)
Discovered in 1924 and recognized as a Natural Monument, the Blue Lagoon Cave has a lake with dimensions that make it one of the largest cavities flooded in the world. In order to arrive at the crystal blue waters, it is necessary to do a short trail about 100 meters down into the cave, where you can see various speleothems, geological formations that attract tourists and researchers.
After a descent of 100 m, you come across a lake with intensely blue waters, whose depth is estimated to be 90 m. With its geological formations - not only the roof and the floor of the cave are filled with speleothems of various shapes and sizes - it attracts the attention of tourists and researchers from all over the world. No one knows for sure where their waters come from, it is believed that there is an underground river that feeds the lake.
9 - Fernando de Noronha
Ask about Fernando de Noronha when you're in Sao Paulo, and your inquiry will invariably meet with a combination of wonderment, national pride, jealousy and misinformation. People glaze over when you mention it: eyeballs tend to roll upwards in that universal gesture of delight.
To preserve the unspoiled environment, only 420 tourists are allowed on the island at any one time, guaranteeing empty beaches and tranquility for the visitor at all times, as well as the opportunity to commune with nature. The best time for diving is from April to November when the waters are crystal clear and the surfing season runs from December to March.
10 - Chapada Diamantina National Park
This National Park hosts waterfalls, forming natural pools that are amazingly transparent. Chapada Diamantina is like this: wherever you look, you are faced with lush landscapes, blessed by mother nature.
The Chapada has numerous trails, beautifully shaped caves, a multitude of rivers and mountains, besides esoteric and alternative communities that show the sustainable side of the Park. Through stone paths, you’ll also find rare beauties such as multicolored orchids and caves that have not been explored yet. The Chapada also invites you to venture through valleys and ridges, on horseback or in a canoe, climbing its rocks or jumping from waterfalls.
11 - Porto de Galinhas
Porto de Galinhas Village is located 70km south of Recife´s Airport and is today one of the most demanded places for tourism in Brazil. With its paradisiacal views, ten pleasant beaches and the presence of the sun during the whole year, make this place ideal for those who enjoy a good time on a sunny beach or sports like snorkeling, diving or surfing in the transparent water.
Besides the attractions during the day, Porto de Galinhas provides a great nightlife as well. The village center is the hot spot for nightlife, with many options of bars and restaurants, and there are quite a lot of small stores as well. Normally there is some live band playing as some of the bars/restaurants.
12 - Lençois Maranhenses
One of Brazil’s most spectacular natural attractions, the Lençóis Maranhenses— (155 miles) east of São Luís—is a fantastic desert of immense white sand dunes. Some of the dunes are 50 meters (165 feet) high. Every year when the rains come (December-May), their valleys fill with water, forming a series of jade lagoons whose mirrorlike surfaces reflect the piercing blue sky filled with drifting clouds and gliding egrets. The majesty of the landscape is impossible to express, but the sense of timelessness is impressive; particularly when trekking through the sand, you can turn around to see that the wind has wiped out the only sign of civilization—the footprints you made only five minutes earlier.
Best time to visit is May - September, after the rains, and before the lakes dry out. The almost constant breeze may fool you into thinking the sun is not getting at you so be super careful and remember to constantly apply sun screen!
13 - Ilha Grande
If you are in Rio de Janeiro and want to visit the island of Ilha Grande, you can get there by a local bus combined with a public ferry or take a daily transfer from Rio.
The island is part of an 187 island cluster and is the largest of the State’s coast. There, you will find 192 km ² of lush vegetation, typical of the Atlantic forest, guarded by the Environmental Protection Area of the Tamoios and other three protected areas: the Parque Estadual Marinho do Aventureiro, Parque Estadual da Ilha Grande and the Reserva Biológica da Praia do Sul.
Among the main local attractions, are the Pico do Papagaio, with a panoramic view of the island; the Feiticeira waterfall, highly sought after by adventurers who practice rappelling; the Castelhanos Lighthouse, one of the oldest of the Brazilian coast; the Acaiá Cave, where you can view the phenomenon of fluorescence when the sun hits the water in the underground lounge; the Largo Verde with transparent waters that reveal a fascinating dive with many colorful fishes; the Blue Lagoon, with varied species of fish, molluscs and corals; and the Lopes Mendes Beach, voted one of the 10 most beautiful beaches of Brasil by the Travelers ‘ Choice 2014 Beaches.
14 - Serra do Cipó National Park
The Serra do Cipó National Park is in state of Minas Gerais. With countless waterfalls and one of the most diversified floras in the world the park is classified as IUCN protected area category II (national park). It has the objectives of preserving natural ecosystems of great ecological relevance and scenic beauty, enabling scientific research, environmental education, outdoor recreation, and eco-tourism. Protected species include the maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus), ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), cougar (Puma concolor), white-necked hawk (Buteogallus lacernulatus), the lizard Placosoma cipoense, the fish Characidium lagosantense and the butterfly Nirodia belphegor.
15 - Southern Canyons
The southern canyons are located in the Serra Geral and Aparados da Serra National Park, between the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina.
The name "Aparados" is due to the fact that the walls of the canyons seem to have been "trimmed" with a knife, due to its abrupt cut of the plateau of the Fields on top of the Mountain range by vertical walls of volcanic rocks, that for an extension of almost 250 km show a formidable succession of canyons up to 900 meters high, near the plain of the Atlantic coast.
The visitation of the parks is done by trails, with light walks by the border (optional guide), or heavier walks inside. (obligatory guide).
If you like it, upvote and let me know which one you are visiting soon. ;)
Sources: Roraima, Canoa Quebrada, Iguaçu Falls, Ouro Preto, Parque Nacional do Jalapão, Amazon Forest, Geenipabu Dunes, Cave of the Blue Lagoon, Fernando de Noronha, Chapada DIamantina, Porto de Galinhas, lençóis Maranhenses ,Serra do Cipó,aparados da Serra Canyons