Kola Nut Travel

When you hear the word Brazil, you think of the great Amazon forest, fantastic beaches, great soccer players and carnival time. Well … Brazil certainly has plenty to offer: a warm and happy people, great cities with everything from slums to high technology, a wide range of weather patterns, an awesome mixture of cultures and races - and much more! One of Rio's most precious resources is often overlooked - its people. Brazil is a melting pot of races, colors and creeds.

The most interesting places to visit include the two bustling megacities of the South, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. Rio de Janeiro is one of the most spectacular cities on the planet. Even well traveled individuals will love what Rio has to offer. Arguably, the best way to appreciate the setting is a trip up Sugar Loaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar), where a spectacular 360-degree view commands Rio and Guanabara Bay.

Across the bay are views of Sugar Loaf and Christo (Christ the Redeemer), Rio’s best known landmark. Lush, high mountains that meet the sea at the world-famous beaches of Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon and Barra da Tijuca surround Rio’s natural harbor. And for any true soccer fan, a visit to the Maracana Stadium is a pilgrimage where you can lay your feet in the imprints of those belonging to the great Pélé and many other Brazilian legends.

In the northeast it’s the more relaxed city of Salvador and the old colonial towns of Ouro Preto and Olinda. Salvador da Bahia de Todos os Santos (as it was formally called by the Portuguese) is the old colonial capital of Brazil. The colonial legacy and strong African influences give the city a distinct atmosphere. Salvador is divided into an upper and lower section (cidade baixa) and the enormous Lacerda elevator, which goes from one level to another, providing great views over the city. Pelourinho, the old colonial part of the city charms visitors with its cobblestone streets and its many churches and beautiful mansions. For natural beauty, one must visit Iguaçu Falls.

"É Carnaval!" It's carnival time! Each year, usually in February though sometimes in early March, Rio de Janeiro erupts in an ecstatic fiesta of pulsating music, swirling dancers, and radiant costumes. From all over the world, tens of thousands of people descend upon Rio for festivities lasting four days and four nights. Carnival is the Brazilian version of Mardi Gras, an exuberant holiday that comes just before Lent, and it consumes the entire city.

Carnival's main event is a parade that features a contest between Rio's escolas de samba, samba clubs that compete for the best song, rhythm, dancing, and costumes. Virtually every neighborhood in Rio has an escola de samba that practices throughout the year, harboring dreams of glory at Carnival time. Throughout the festival, many smaller, more spontaneous processions fill the streets of Rio. Anyone can jump in at the end of the passing bandas (marching bands of brass and percussion) and share in the revelry. It’s a feast for the soul as well as the eye.

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