Brazil

Life's a beach. Certainly this is true in Brazil, where thousands of miles of coastline provide unparalleled opportunities for swimming, sunning, scuba-diving and surfing. Not to mention the age-old sport of people-watching, all the more enticing on Brazil's barely-clad beaches. The interior of Brazil is equally amazing. The Amazon, a mind-boggling mass of rain forest, is so dense with life that it is almost impenetrable, while the vast wetlands in the Pantanal contain the greatest concentration of fauna in the Western Hemisphere. But Brazil's natural wonders are only the beginning of the draw to this spectacular country. Brazilian culture — ...

Life's a beach. Certainly this is true in Brazil, where thousands of miles of coastline provide unparalleled opportunities for swimming, sunning, scuba-diving and surfing. Not to mention the age-old sport of people-watching, all the more enticing on Brazil's barely-clad beaches. The interior of Brazil is equally amazing. The Amazon, a mind-boggling mass of rain forest, is so dense with life that it is almost impenetrable, while the vast wetlands in the Pantanal contain the greatest concentration of fauna in the Western Hemisphere. But Brazil's natural wonders are only the beginning of the draw to this spectacular country. Brazilian culture — rich with sultry rhythms, folkloric dance and religious rites — is on full display in cities that never sleep. Carnaval is the country's most famous festival, but it is only one of countless ways that this country celebrates. Any time of year, the drumbeats of axé or the danceable melodies of forró can be heard floating across the favelas — an invitation to all to discover the beat that moves Brazil.

About the Expert

Mara Vorhees has written or contributed to many Lonely Planet guidebooks, including Brazil and Morocco.