Brazil, being the biggest country in South America, is not a destination to miss out on. If you’re interested in the culture, curious about all the renowned sights, and up to some extreme, this is the place just for you.
Brazil is the country of contrasts. It is home to soft sandy beaches, dangerous rainforests, as well as tightly populated urban areas.
Since the territory is so big, we advise that you spend at least 7 days to see all of the important attractions. If it’s problematic for you to leave for such a long period of time due to workload or missed classes, consider a homework helper from WritePaper service to deal with the load. A trip to Brazil is well worth it.
Now that you’re ready to spend quality time in one of the prettiest countries in the world, we’ve compiled a plan for you not to miss out on the best places to visit in Brazil.
Day 0: Landing in Rio de Janeiro
Rio is the favorite tourist destination out of all of the Brazilian cities. This is often the starting point for all the tours, so it’s only fair to start here. It has a modern busy airport that accepts passengers from all over the world. You’ll definitely find a ticket no matter where you’re flying from.
Day 1: Relax, Recuperate, and Explore
Regardless of the length of your flight, we recommend resting after you’ve checked into your hotel. Find where you will eat for the upcoming week, and explore the shops and restaurants near you. While the hotel’s restaurant might serve decent food, if you want to experience the real cuisine, go where the locals eat.
Do not forget to find a drugstore in the vicinity and be sure to know how to contact emergency services in case of a crisis.
After you’ve found all the crucial information, we recommend that you go out in the evening. Just try to immerse yourself in the culture and forget about the stress of the journey. You have the whole week to see the best sights in Brazil, so relax and enjoy yourself.
Day 2: Corcovado Railway and Christ the Redeemer
After a good rest, we encourage you to go for the most visited spot in the city – Christ the Redeemer statue. It has been one of the most famous religious sites in the world and a regular tourist attraction since its construction.
And it hasn’t been an accident. To get there, you’ll need to take the Corcovado train up the mountain Corcovado. It goes through the luscious forests of Tijuca National Park. It’s already an attraction on its own.
A fun fact is that this forest is comparatively young. It was a part of the urban forestation project the Brazilian government undertook after large territories were cut down to make space for coffee plantations.
When you get through the jungles, the picture of a giant 30-meter Christ statue will blow your mind no matter what religion you practice.
What makes the attraction even more special is that it was built with the intention of emphasizing on the true wonder of Rio – its natural location. Sure, the statue is what it seems like always has been in the public eye. However, the whole scenery of striking mountains, lush green forests, and deep blue water is what really gives the location its magical appearance.
From the top of Mount Corcovado, you’ll see another iconic attraction – Sugarloaf mountain. While you’re there, don’t skip on taking the cable car to the top. The cableway system goes from the very bottom of Praia Vermelha to the peak of the mountain.
Since the craft goes only every 30 minutes and has a limited capacity, we recommend buying a fast pass for $40 to skip the line. We’re sure that all these attractions would be more than enough for one day. But, if you’re still feeling adventurous, take a walk through the night city. Rio is famous for its streets that never sleep.
Day 3: Beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana
Since on the previous day you covered a big distance, we recommend that you take the 3rd day easy and visit the popular Rio beaches.
Ipanema and Copacabana are renowned far beyond Brazil. Take a walk through the Copacabana promenade, grab a couple of pictures with Ipanema’s Dois Irmãos in the background, and spend the rest of the day relaxing on the beach.
If you’re into active recreation, you won’t be bored. The beaches are home to numerous resorts, beach clubs, and sports grounds. You can easily find an activity just for you. People are playing volleyball, football and surfing.
You can take part in the frequent parties, find a company to play games, or just relax on a beach with a cocktail. At nighttime, there are some open-air cinemas you can watch the recent releases in. It’s easy to occupy yourself if you don’t want to just lay in the sun.
Day 4: Snorkeling at Arraial do Cabo
After a good rest, it’s time for a road trip. Like ocean and marine life? This trip is ideal for you! Just a 2-hour drive from Rio de Janeiro is a calm and relaxed Arraial do Cabo. It is an ideal place to go snorkeling or scuba diving.
The little town is a popular place to enjoy the South American fauna and flora. There are numerous agencies you can look into and choose as your guide to the best swimming places. If you’re not so much into diving, go for a boat trip to Gruta Azul, a bright blue grotto – a perfect scenic place to remember.
You can also enjoy a hike through the rocky hills of the peninsula. Get close to Fenda de Nossa Senhora, a statue hidden between two cliffs, and enjoy a brief walk to Trilha do Farol Novo – the old lighthouse at the top of the hill. This is where you get the best view of the surrounding territories.
Day 5-6: Paraty
Paraty is one of the oldest and most renowned port towns. It is a great example of colonial architecture that’s hard to find anywhere else. It’s a must-see destination for everyone.
The town is situated in the Rio de Janeiro municipality, but it’s still a long way off the city center where the tourists usually stay. So, we recommend taking 2 days to stay in Paraty.
After a 4-hour drive, you’ll get to a city that froze in time. Thanks to its prompt abandonment after the slave trade had been banned, the streets with authentic architecture remain virtually untouched.
It’s best to take the mornings for tours and walks through the town to really see the quaint little town dating back to the 16th century.
In the night, the streets turn back to life with all tourists, locals, and musicians out. It is the place to be and feel the true Brazilian spirit – natural and untamed.
Day 7: Souvenirs and Packing Bags
After getting back to Rio, you should take your time to shop for all the souvenirs you want to bring back with you, see the local shops, and say goodbye to the lively streets of this buoyant city.
Remember to make time to pack your bags and get to the airport. It might be hard to end this journey, but we guarantee that you’ll want to come back.
Takeaway
A south-eastern side is only a small part of the country, but it is usually the one first-time tourists choose. Brazil is a big country, so after this tour, you can easily return for a couple more. Our advice to you is to dedicate more time for a tour of the central part of Brazil, visit Amazon Rainforest, and take an eco trip to Pantanal. Without seeing all these natural wonders, you haven’t seen all of Brazil.