Brazil, from the frenzied passion of Carnaval to the immensity of the dark Amazon, is a country of mythic proportions. Encompassing half the continent, South America's giant has stretches of unexplored rainforest, islands with pristine tropical beaches and endless rivers. After decades of internal migration and population growth, Brazil is also an urban country; more than two out of every three Brazilians live in a city, and Sao Paulo is among the world's most populous metropolises.

Best time to visit

Anytime.

Essential experiences

Dancing through cobblestone streets of Salvador da Bahia during Carnaval; escaping to Ilha Grande, the perfect island getaway, blending tropical beach and Atlantic rainforest; experiencing the mad spectacle of football at Maracana; partying till dawn at sexy samba clubs in Lapa, watching capoeira (an Afro-Brazilian martial art) on the beach; taking a jungle tour into the heart of the Amazon.

In a few words Brazil is

Carmen Miranda, ‘The Girl from Ipanema', Carnaval, the Amazon, soccer, beaches and bossa nova.

Did you know?

Candomble gods are known as orixas and each person is believed to be protected for life by one of them. Millions of Brazilians go to the beach at New Year to pay homage to lemanja, the sea goddess, whose alter ego is the Virgin Mary.