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BRAZIL is steeped in history, lauded with beautiful natural beauty, and renowned for refining its rustic ambiance and cultural elegance. There are pretty of fascinating destinations for private, public, family or even business trips that will surpass your expectations and preferences in Brazil. If you are visiting Brazil soon and want to explore the corners of this beautiful country, then here are 10 of the most famous places to visit in Brazil.
The 10 most famous places to visit in Brazil
Cristo Redentor, Rio de Janeiro
Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) is the symbol of the Brazilian Christianity. The statue with a height of 98 feet and arms outstretched is located at the top of Corcovado Mountain. The construction of the statue took place between 1922 to 1931.
The statue was constructed using reinforced concrete and soap stones. This is one of the most famous places to visit in Brazil and a place you cannot miss to visit. The statue is situated in a part of Tijuca National Park with a rack railway that climbs 3.5 km to the top of the hill. The statue was officially opened on 12th October 1931 and has a chapel at its eight-meter base.
The chapel is popularly used for weddings and other social events such as baptisms. This statue is definitely a mesmerizing site that everyone who visits Brazil should have on top of their list. At the Cosme Velho station, is where you start your trip to the statue by buying tickets for the trains that go to the top of the hill.
On the train, you have an opportunity to have a glimpse of the spectacular views of the Atlantic rainforest. You can buy the tickets in advance from websites like www.getyourguide.com, though it’s not highly recommended to purchase tickets in advance due to the changing weather which can be frustrating sometimes. You are also advised to get there early to avoid human traffic and crowding which can suppress your experience at the site.
Rio Carnival
Rio de Janeiro is considered the Carnival’s capital city since the city has the biggest carnival in the world. This is the main tourist attraction in the City for local and international tourists especially those from the catholic community.
Every year the city comes to life during the Carioca Carnival as Brazilians come together to celebrate both the past and future, the beliefs and traditions that are the heart and soul of the catholic community. You can buy tickets on the most important parading nights, that is Sunday and Monday when the best samba schools parade.
The tickets are purchased at the visitors’ reception center during the Carnival collection times. Spectators can be able to watch the parades of competing samba dancers from a purpose-built stadium designed to attract and accommodate world tourists. Children below the age of 5 are not allowed in the stadium but those above the age of 5 should be in their legal parents or guardian custodian.
This is one of the most famous places to visit in Brazil and a place you cannot miss to visit.
Foz de Iguacu
This is the most visited place in Brazil and the most stunning destination for those people who like visiting beautiful waterfalls. This fascinating place is treasured for its beauty and its ability to offer the opportunity to unwind and relax in Brazilian style. This waterfall is located in the southern part of Brazil where Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay meet.
This waterfall is more than 100 meters high and therefore you will be presented with breathtaking and very beautiful scenery. The waterfall is protected by UNESCO-acclaimed Iguacu National Park which is also another place that you can pass by. This park is home to over 100 species of birds and mammals such as ocelots, otters, and capybaras.
There are not many places in the world that can be compared to the 275 waterfalls that make Foz de Iguacu Falls that every person in the world wants to visit. This is one of the most famous places to visit in Brazil and I recommend visiting Foz de Iguacu Falls. It will take about 10 minutes to travel directly from Foz airport to the falls by taxi but you can also use public service.
It is recommended to buy tickets at the entry gates to avoid AR’s fluctuations. The entry fees are around $57 on the Brazil side and you will as well pay for the taxis and the public transport services. This is one of the most famous places to visit in Brazil and you cannot miss it on your tour of Brazil.
Salvador’s Pelourinho
Salvador is one of the best places to visit in Brazil being one of the oldest cities. It is a historic city with Beautiful beaches perfect for sunbathing and even carnival celebrations. The Pelourinho is what fashions Salvador into one of the top-rated tourist destinations with its exceptionally beautiful churches and monasteries built during the century of colonialists. The finest and most worthwhile of the city’s churches to visit is the Sao Francisco.
This well-crafted church was built in the early 1700s and inside you will find obscure gold carvings and woodwork that will leave you mesmerized. There are also amazing arts movements such as olodum dancers, fun festivals, and Capoeira martial artist, all these portray the culture of the inhabitants of this city. I highly recommend Salvador´s Pelourinho, one of the most famous places to visit in Brazil.
Praia da Pipa
Praia da Pipa is one of the most famous places to visit in Brazil. This heavenly beach shares its name with the famous Algarve Beach in Portugal. Pipa is located in the municipality of Tibau do sul which means between waters since it lies between the Atlantic Ocean and Guarairas Lagoon.
Pipa is a great place to be, with a heap of good restaurants, there is a lot to do and see at the beach. The place is backed with tall cliffs, dreamy lagoons, decent surfing, dolphins, turtles great pousands, global hotels and a lot of night fun that you can enjoy with friends and family.
If you are going to Pipa from Natal, you can catch the bus at the stop on Avenida Salgado Filho in front of Carrefour in Lagoa Nova just some few minutes after the take-off in Rodoviaria. The buses leave daily but not earlier than 5:30 in the morning or later than 6:30 in the evening.
From the south, you can catch the bus at Goianinha where Dolphin vans run every 10 to 15 minutes. You’re advised to take comprehensive insurance cover for the loss of things and any medical problem that can arise when at the beach.
Don’t forget to take a medical cover. You should also abstain from dangerous activities such as scuba diving but if you are an expert you can participate though bearing in mind the policies exclude these activities.
Ouro Preto
This is a colonial city located in the second most famous and the fourth largest state in Brazil. It is one of Brazil’s most beautiful cities attracting both local and international tourists. It is designated a world’s Heritage Site by UNESCO because of its magnificent architecture. When you decide to visit this city, you are planning to learn a brief history of Ouro Preto since it is a center for Brazilian rich and educative history.
The precious art in a striking urban landscape of cobblestone hills nestled in the surrounding mountains will blow your mind. This town was considered the largest gold discovery in the Western Hemisphere and it thrived in the early 1700s as a result of its economic endowment. It was later developed, designed, and beautified by a combination of artists and elites from Europe fostering Brazilian Baroque and Rocco art.
You will visit the Church of St. Francis of Assisi which he designed and curved the exterior and includes the soap stones scriptures on the front. There’s an outdoor market just some meters from the church where people sell handcrafts and other items made from soap stones. You can purchase the cheap but very prestigious items that you can give your loved ones as gifts.
You can also visit the two monuments named after the former president Tiradents and enjoy the magnificent views of this historic structure. I highly recommend Ouro Preto as this is one of the most famous places to visit in Brazil
Itacare, Bahia
This Island is situated near Ilheus and it comprises one of the world‘s best resort beaches. Every year, thousands of holidaymakers from different parts of the world flock to this sandy and beautifully created island to enjoy the amazing views with family and friends.
Here you will enjoy the best modern and traditional recipes from the locals and the international hotels situated in the area. You will enjoy watching a dance show and learn about the local cultural history. Visiting Brazil you have to add Itacare to your itinerary then this is one of the most famous places to visit in Brazil. Your experience at the four beaches will acclaim your hangover and give you a relaxing and a soothing feeling.
This is the best place to take a Capoeira, African dance, drumming, and Afro-Brazilian cooking class. You will hike in through an old cacao plantation and swim in a waterfall while enjoying the beautiful mangroves on your way to Jeribucacu beach. There are many surf schools that will cater to all levels and more advanced surfers will enjoy staying on this island.
The entertainment and music opportunities are at their peak in December to March and hence this is the best time of the year to visit. You can accommodate yourself for a week or more in one of Itacare’s 5 star hotels such as Itacare Eco Resort and the Blue Tree Village.
Ruins of Sao Miguel das Missões
This old Spanish mission Ruin in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul is not only the historic symbol of the Brazilians but also the architectural prowess of the Spanish Missionaries. It is a very important museum with a significant historical importance that every generation should know about.
The remains of one of the Jesuit Mission of the Guarani that are listed by UNESCO as one of the World’s Heritage sites are hosted in this ruin and you cannot miss getting firsthand information by visiting the place. There are audio guides in different world languages and the staff is also good and hence you can be assured of a very fantastic and well spent day that you will not forget.
The tickets are cheap for private visitors and almost free for public visitors especially students. You will pay entrance fees at the site and so you shouldn’t be worried about purchasing tickets in advance.
Porto de Galinhas
This is another place that you have to visit in Brazil which is located in the state of Pernambuco in the northeast part of the country. The experience at this waterhole will be epic and fascinating with good exposure to warm weather and wild natures. This place is perfect for nautical sports because of its calm waters surrounded by coconut trees and natural pools.
There are plenty of hotels and resorts where you can enjoy mouthwatering foods and the cool breeze of the beach with a spouse, family, or friends. You can take your time and sail in a veil boat and fish around the waters. The buildings in this area are very amazing, with best-of-world designs and architecture. This is one of the most famous places to visit in Brazil and you cannot miss it on your tour in Brazil.
Pantanal in Mato Groso do sul
This place is full of hyacinth macaw and a vast of worlds Jaguars. It is considered the largest inland wetland on earth that forms the base of the world’s hyacinth macaw visits in the world. This place can be reached from both Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul states with the cheapest way to visit the place being through taking an organized tour.
This will ensure that you have the ultimate experience in this place with planned activities such as hiking, canoeing, night camping, wildlife, and bird watching. You can also hire a 4WD vehicle in Cuiaba or Campo Grande and take a private tour but you should be ready to use the dirty roads that enter the partanal.
You can visit Pantanal at any time of the year but the best time is during the dry seasons from June to October. You can get more information or tour-guided results from Turismo or Brazil-tour.
The most famous places to visit in Brazil – Some last words Brazil is famous for the best museums, parks, beaches, hotels, local crafts, and artifacts that attract thousands of local and international tourists. You should consider visiting some if not all of these very beautiful and mind-blowing places in Brazil to enjoy your holiday and refresh your mind at least once or twice a year.