There’s more to Brazil than football – this land of extremes offers adventure, sightseeing and some of the world’s best beaches
World Cup mania is upon us. You might relish the thought of heading to Brazil, to watch the best footballing nations clash.
Nonetheless, if you are not interested in the game, you can fly to Rio de Janeiro and still have a great time without confining yourself to a packed stadium.
For non-football tourists, here are six highlights that Brazil offers:
1. The Iconic Statue: Christ the Redeemer
Your first stop in Rio de Janeiro should be the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue at the top of Corcovado Mountain (700m). It is the No. 1 tourist spot and Brazil’s most recognisable landmark.
Standing at 30 metres tall on a pedestal with arms outstretched, the statue is a sight to behold.
It has since undergone extensive restoration work, after being vandalised with graffiti and struck twice by lightning in recent times.
2. The Spectacular Iguassu Falls
From Porto Alegre in the south, cross the border into Argentina and stop by the Iguassu Falls en route. You can view the falls from both the Brazilian and Argentinian sides. However, the latter enables visitors to get up close to the falls.
Like the Niagara Falls on the Canada–USA border, Iguassu Falls arches at the Brazil–Argentina border. One of the world’s largest waterfalls, the Iguassu is actually a combination of 275 falls.
Photo: Magdalena Paluchowska / Shutterstock.com
3. Salvador – City of Happiness
Salvador is Brazil’s oldest city and also nicknamed its “city of happiness” because of the city’s prevalent carnival mood and endless string of street parties.
Say your thanksgiving prayers at the baroque church, Igreja Sao Francisco (Church of St Francis). Explore the colourful Feira de Sao Joaquim market and taste the street food.
Salvador’s throbbing nightlife in the city streets are for the young at heart. Sip on caipirinha (a popular Brazilian cocktail) and groove to the samba.
4. World Wonder – the Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon rainforest is one of seven Natural Wonders of the World. It is an eco-system of gigantic proportions, where 4 million species of flora and fauna thrive.
Get close to nature and wildlife. This is certainly no zoo; it’s the real thing! Opt for a day tour or rough it out on a longer group expedition that will show you much more natural wonders.
5. “Meeting of the Waters”
An Amazon Rainforest river cruise typically covers six hours. In this adventure, you become a key player, not a spectator.
One highlight of the cruise is witnessing a phenomenon known as the “meeting of the waters” of the Negro and Solimões rivers. Due to differences in temperature and density, the pale-coloured waters of the Solimões and the dark waters of the Negro do not blend but combine to form the Amazon flowing out to the Atlantic.
6. Copacabana & Ipanema
Brazil’s fine beaches are so famous that even their names are mentioned in two songs: “The Girl from Ipanema” and “Copacabana”. The Porto da Barra beach at Salvador is also a favourite haunt of many locals.
Here, hot bods and bikini beauties flaunt their assets and beachcombers hide behind their sunglasses to ogle – and be ogled at!
There’s so much happening away from the stadiums. So, you should definitely give Brazil a thought. One more thing: If you do decide to see the colours and carnivals of Brazil, do bring along your camera.
By Harry Tan
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