Brazil
South America · Brasília · BR
Brazil commands nearly half of South America's landmass, stretching from the equatorial Amazon basin to the temperate pampas of the south, and containing ecosystems so varied they defy simple summary. The Amazon rainforest, covering roughly sixty percent of the country, is the most biodiverse region on earth, home to pink river dolphins, harpy eagles, and botanical species still being catalogued by science. Brazil's coastline stretches over four thousand six hundred miles along the Atlantic, encompassing everything from the rocky headlands of Bahia to the dune fields of Lençóis Maranhenses that form surreal white sand deserts filled with seasonal turquoise lagoons. Culturally, the nation blends Indigenous, Portuguese, and African influences into something entirely its own — in the capoeira circles of Salvador, the churrascarias of the south, and the syncretic religious traditions that blend Catholic imagery with Yoruba deities. Brazil does not simply invite visitors; it overwhelms them.
Overview
Brazil is a country in South America. Its capital is Brasília and the international dialling code is +55. Languages commonly used in everyday life here include Portuguese. Local currency is the Brazilian Real (BRL). Our guide covers 3 airports, including Brasília International Airport, Rio de Janeiro/Galeão International Airport, São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport. We also list 3 cities in Brazil: Brasília, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
The Amazon Basin and River Life
The Amazon River basin in Brazil contains the largest contiguous tropical rainforest on the planet, and its tributaries form a waterway network longer than the Nile. Manaus, the basin's largest city, sits at the confluence of the Rio Negro and Solimões rivers, where the dark acidic waters meet the sediment-laden brown currents and flow side by side for miles before mixing. River cruises departing from Manaus penetrate deep into várzea and igapó forests where pink river dolphins surface alongside caimans and anacondas. Indigenous communities along the banks maintain fishing and harvesting practices that have sustained them for thousands of years, and some offer guided experiences that provide genuine insight into forest ecology. The sheer density of life here is staggering — a single tree in the Amazon may host more ant species than exist in the entire British Isles.
Rio de Janeiro's Coastal Mountains
Rio de Janeiro is defined by its dramatic meeting of granite mountains and ocean, a landscape so striking that the city's harbour was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sugarloaf Mountain rises 1,300 feet directly from the water's edge, its smooth granite dome accessible by a cable car that offers panoramic views of Copacabana, Ipanema, and the vast crescent of Guanabara Bay. Corcovado Mountain supports the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue, which overlooks the city from its forested summit at 2,300 feet above sea level. Tijuca National Park, one of the world's largest urban forests, wraps around the mountains with hiking trails that wind through Atlantic rainforest mere minutes from beach-side neighbourhoods. The interplay between mountain, forest, and sea creates microclimates and vistas that shift with every turn, making Rio one of the most geographically dramatic cities on the continent.
Bahia's Afro-Brazilian Heritage
The state of Bahia in northeastern Brazil is the cultural heartland of Afro-Brazilian traditions, shaped directly by the arrival of enslaved West Africans who carried their languages, religions, and arts across the Atlantic. Salvador's Pelourinho district preserves pastel-coloured colonial buildings where Candomblé ceremonies, rooted in Yoruba spiritual practices, take place in terreiros hidden behind unassuming facades. The cuisine here diverges significantly from the rest of Brazil, relying heavily on dendê palm oil, coconut milk, and dried shrimp to produce dishes like acarajé — a deep-fried bean cake served with spicy vatapá paste that originated in the kitchens of enslaved cooks. The annual Carnival of Salvador, distinct from Rio's, features trio elétrico trucks blasting axé music through streets packed with dancers in white lace. Capoeira, the martial art disguised as dance, was born here among people who needed to preserve fighting traditions without alerting their captors.
The Pantanal's Open Wildlife Theatre
The Pantanal, straddling Brazil's western border with Bolivia and Paraguay, is the world's largest tropical wetland and arguably the easiest place on earth to observe wild animals in their natural habitat. Unlike the dense Amazon canopy where wildlife hides behind layers of vegetation, the Pantanal's mosaic of seasonally flooded grasslands and gallery forests offers unobstructed sightlines across wide open spaces. Jaguar safaris along the Cuiabá River have made this region one of the premier wildlife destinations globally, with cat sightings occurring on a high percentage of multi-day trips. Giant otters, capybaras, and jabiru storks inhabit the waterways, while caimans bask on riverbanks in numbers that can reach hundreds per mile. The dry season from May to October concentrates animals around shrinking waterholes, creating an intensity of wildlife encounters that rivals any safari experience in Africa.
Southern Brazil's European Farming Legacy
The southern states of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, and Paraná carry a cultural imprint markedly different from tropical Brazil, shaped by waves of Italian, German, and Polish immigration in the nineteenth century. The Serra Gaúcha region of Rio Grande do Sul produces some of the hemisphere's finest wines in valley vineyards planted by Italian settlers who brought winemaking knowledge from Veneto and Trentino. Blumenau in Santa Catarina hosts Oktoberfest celebrations that rival Munich's, with traditional Bavarian costumes and chopp beer served in enormous halls. The gaucho ranching culture of the southern pampas centres around the churrasco tradition of open-fire barbecue, where whole cuts of meat are seasoned simply and cooked slowly on iron spits. Gramado and Canela, hill towns nestled in Araucaria forests, draw visitors with their European-influenced architecture, chocolate shops, and cool-climate atmosphere that feels more like the Alps than the tropics.
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- Capital
- Brasília
- Currency
- Brazilian Real (BRL)
- Languages
- Portuguese
- Calling code
- +55
- Internet TLD
- br
Entry requirements
Check who can enter →See which passports travel visa-free or need a visa to enter Brazil.
Airports (3)
All airports →Cities (3)
All cities →Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Brazil?
Brasília is the capital of Brazil, and the country sits in South America.
What currency is used in Brazil?
You pay with Brazilian Real (BRL) in Brazil. Exchange rates move day to day, so check the current rate before you change money or use your card abroad.
Which languages do people speak in Brazil?
The languages we list for Brazil are Portuguese. A couple of greetings in the local language go a long way when you travel, even in cities where another language is widely used.
What is the international dialling code for Brazil?
The dialling code for Brazil is +55 — keep the plus sign when you save the number.
Which airports serve Brazil?
We cover 3 airports for Brazil, including Brasília International Airport (BSB), Rio de Janeiro/Galeão International Airport (GIG), São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport (GRU).
Which cities in Brazil do you cover?
Our guide lists 3 cities for Brazil: Brasília (capital), Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.