BRAZIL Tours and Travel

For hundreds of years, Brazil has symbolized the great escape into a primordial, tropical paradise, igniting the Western imagination like no other South American country. From the mad passion of Carnaval to the immensity of the dark Amazon, it is a country of mythic proportions.

Perhaps it's not quite the Eden of popular imagination, but it's still a land of staggering beauty. There are stretches of unexplored rainforest, islands with pristine tropical beaches, and endless rivers. And there are the people themselves, who delight the visitor with their energy and joy.

BRAZIL TOURS AND TRAVEL: Rio de Janeiro Tours,

RIO DE JANEIRO Tours, Travel and Activities

The cidade maravilhosa (marvelous city) is one of the most densely populated places on earth. The Cariocas - as the inhabitants are called - thrive on dance, drink, beach, sport and sun. Rio de Janeiro is a city of Dionysian spirit whose people live life head-first.

The international tourist crowd takes advantage of Rio's ritzy side - there are innumerable opportunities to be decadent. But Rio also has much to offer the budget traveler. There are cheap hotels and restaurants aplenty, and the beach is a free entertainment zone.

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SUGGESTED ITINERARIES: RIO DE JANEIRO

While Rio's many fine churrascarias (traditional barbecue restaurants) should not be underestimated, the city has much more to offer than just carne (meat). In fact, it's in the grip of a culinary renaissance. Every week eclectic new bistros, sushi bars and restaurants open their doors.

The city that throws the world's largest party doesn't go into hibernation after Ash Wednesday. Rio has a vibrant music and arts scene: classical music and opera, art-house cinema, laidback jazz and chorinho spots, open-air bars, over-the-top samba clubs, and throbbing nightclubs.

CARNAVAL OF BRAZIL

Although there are festivals taking place all year round in Brazil, the country's most famous event is Carnaval, which lasts for five days from the Friday to the Tuesday immediately preceding Ash Wednesday. It is celebrated all over Brazil and there are more authentic versions than the glitzy tourist draw card held in Rio; but Rio's is a fantastic spectacle nonetheless.

In its sambódromo, a tiered street designed for samba parades, there is a frenzy of sweat, sequins, noise and mayhem as the 16 top samba schools each have their hour of glory.

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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil