South America’s largest country has enough colourful cities, historic landmarks and areas of natural beauty to rival entire continents

A dizzyingly large country that is home to over 200 million people, Brazil conjures up an array of vivid images, from samba dances and Carnival celebrations to awe-inspiring natural sites and a vibrant blend of cultures forged through a fascinating history.

This is a country that can compete with entire continents in terms of natural beauty, from the magnificence of Iguacu Falls or the Pantanal wetlands to a large section of the Amazon, one of the world’s last remaining frontiers.

And its cities are no less enchanting. Rio de Janeiro, with its party atmosphere and pristine beaches, may have become the poster boy for Brazilian tourism, but places like Sao Paulo and Salvador offer visitors plenty to discover.

A warm welcome, an immersion in the local cultures and some paradisiacal settings makes Brazil a bucket-list destination for many. Here are some of the very best places to visit.

Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro is often seen as the face of the country, with its samba culture, enormous Carnival celebrations and long stretches of golden sands having become synonymous with Brazil in more recent years. Few cities in the world can claim the same level of natural beauty as Rio. Surrounded by verdant peaks, such as Sugarloaf Mountain, and fronted by coastlines like Copacabana and Ipanema, the city has been blessed with incredible scenery; it is best enjoyed from the high site of Christ the Redeemer, one of the world’s most famous landmarks. Walks, hikes, swims and football on the beach are all within easy reach.

Though the partying reputation that has been made famous by Carnival isn’t present every month in Rio, it is still buzzing day and night, from the caipirinhas on Copacabana to the bars and restaurants of Lapa. Santa Teresa is another bohemian neighbourhood with abundant arts and culture on show, while pilgrims of a certain sporting type will want to head to the Maracana, home of Fluminense and Flamengo, to catch a football match at one of the game’s spiritual homes.

Sao Paulo

The largest city in the country is a true concrete jungle, with trees and gardens interspersed among the vast buildings, where a distinctly cosmopolitan atmosphere prevails. It is similar in some respects to Rio – from the long section of beach to the generally vibrant way of life – but drastically different in others, from its skyscraper-laden cityscape to its dizzying number of arts and cultural centres.

Sao Paulo state is the country’s economic and agricultural heart, and this state capital contains a wealth of things for visitors to see. You’d be wise to start with the eclectic range of museums, covering anything from football and the Portuguese language to Afro-Brazilian history and artefacts from Amazonian tribes. Art lovers should visit the city’s Museu de Arte and the Pina Luz for work dating as far back as El Greco or Manet, all the way up to the present day.

For an oasis near the centre, visit the city’s largest green space, the Ibirapuera Park. Alternatively, those with a penchant for the finer things in life can take a stroll down the tree-lined Rua Oscar Freire, Sao Paulo’s most glitzy road and Brazil’s answer to Fifth Avenue or Rodeo Drive in the US. In a city of skyscrapers, it would make sense to try and get a great view too; some of the best are from the 161m-high Farol Santander or the 46-storey Edificio Italia.

Manaus and the Amazon

The Amazon rainforest remains one of the world’s least explored areas, home to around 10 per cent of the world’s biodiversity. Thankfully for the more intrepid of travellers, Brazil offers a way in to one of the accessible parts of the river and jungle, with Amazon cruises and some jungle exploration both possible.

Manaus – one of two cities in the Amazon with a population of over one million people – is the Brazilian gateway. These include the magnificent 19th-century Amazon theatre, the 100 square kilometres of the Adolpho Ducke Botanic Gardens and the confluence of the “Meeting of the Waters”, where the dark waters of the Rio Negro run alongside the brown waters of the Rio Solimoes.

But while Manaus is worth taking a little time to explore, if you’re in the city it’s probably for one reason. The Amazon and its surrounding rainforest remain etched in travel folklore; visited by few and known well by even fewer, the drastically different environment, proliferation of wildlife and generally unforgiving nature makes for one of the world’s most enticing destinations. June is the best time to visit for less rain, high water levels and wildlife spotting, with plenty of cruise and jungle lodge options for accommodation and tours.

Iguacu National Park

Iguacu sits in a beautiful location on the borders between Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. A waterfall system consisting of around 275 different falls, it is a truly paradisal area, where the water dramatically pours off rugged cliffs and the sight of the verdant clifftops is complemented by murky waters and the odd rainbow.

Only around 20 per cent of the falls lie in Brazil, with the other 80 per cent lying in Argentina, where they are known as Iguazu. The town of Foz do Iguacu is the best access point in Brazil (and is also served by an airport), with the Brazilian section offering panoramic views and the Argentinean section better for guided riverboat tours. If possible, try and get the best view of the Devil’s Throat, with a drop of around 260ft and a width of almost 500ft.

Salvador

That Salvador de Bahia used to be Portugal’s colonial capital shows the importance of this city, and goes some way to explaining its modern-day iteration. Though it has some of the skyscrapers of Sao Paulo and the beaches of Rio, this city has forged its own identity since colonial times – one marked by Afro-Brazilian culture, surrounding natural beauty and dashes of colour and rhythm.

The city starts on the coast at the startlingly blue All Saints Bay, where long sections of golden sands stretch down a coastline that is lined with tropical islands and fishing villages. Moving inland, a sea of skyscrapers and other high-rise buildings hides a slew of colonial buildings, and nowhere is this more prominent than in Pelourinho, the city’s Unesco-listed historic centre. Cobblestone streets are lined with colourful, pastel-hued colonial architecture, and this is heart of the city’s Afro-Brazilian culture, from capoeira schools to street food and cultural centres (a visit to the area is complemented by a tour of the the Afro-Brasileiro museum and the Archaeology and Ethnology Museum, near the city’s eastern coast).

The city’s Nautical Museum completes a tour of its often sobering medieval history, with other highlights including the 18th-century NS do Bonfim church, the Largo do Pelourinho square and Santo Antonio da Barra fort. If you can time your visit well, Salvador is also home to the country’s second most famous Carnival celebrations.

Pantanal

Located in the south of Brazil, the Pantanal is the largest tropical wetland area in the world, as well as the planet’s largest flooded grasslands. Alongside the Amazon, it is one of the country’s most ecologically diverse regions, making it popular for wildlife spotting.

The landscape is teeming with dense vegetation, plus wildlife that ranges from jaguars and crocodiles to over 656 species of bird. The period between June and September is best for seeing the inhabitants, with 4×4 and riverboat tours offered across different areas and plenty of lodging options, whether you’re a budding photographer or a safari veteran aiming to see Brazil’s ‘Big Five’ – jaguars, anteaters, tapirs, giant otters and maned wolves.

Ouro Preto

Ouro Preto, translated as “black gold” in English, is a city in the state of Minas Gerais, a large state known for its colonial-era mining towns and their historical importance. Once the state capital until 1897, it lies around two hours from Belo Horizonte, the modern-day state capital and third-largest city in Brazil.

This once-great mining town was a centre for the Brazilian gold rush, but its surroundings of steep hills and creeks prevented further expansion. This has benefited the modern city, which has a strikingly colonial feel to a lot of its architecture. Though perhaps obvious, it is startlingly similar to parts of Portuguese cities like Funchal, with intricate facades and russet roofs adorning many buildings, and the odd pastel shade dotted among the mainly white-washed structures of the Unesco-listed historic town.

Ouro Preto is a less-visited, smaller town, so it may be best to combine a visit with a trip to Belo Horizonte. However you do it, take the time to explore its religious buildings, discover a section of Brazilian history, tour art museums like the Casa Guignard and even dive into a mine at the Minas de Passagem, the largest in the world that is accessible to the public.

With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, it’s the perfect time to start planning that special date to celebrate your love. From taking the benefit of the local art scenes to escaping the city and planning a trail on nearby mountains, there are numerous ways travel-loving couples can actually celebrate their love on Valentine’s Day.

Plan a Glamping Experience

Glamping is basically a form of camping involving accommodation and facilities more luxurious than camping. This Valentine’s Day, head to spend the night in a cozy tree house or go book a cabin in the woods. Trust us; you will remember it for life.

Go on a Surprise Getaway

For the most romantic date idea, what could be better than travelling together? Pre-book everything without letting your special one know about it. Book the flights of any romantic city, make some hotel reservations and do some research on what to do, see and eat. After all, it is a celebration of your love.

Wine & Dine Together

If you are fretting over your Valentine’s Day date ideas, the best possible way out is to plan a Wine & Dine together. Be it whatever the cuisine (preferably his/her choice), enjoying that will surely make your Valentine’s Day special.

Sailing Adventure

Valentine’s Day is intended to be full of romance and to put together a perfect gift for it is indeed a tough task. Flowers and candy may be dreamy, but they’ve also been done before. So, this time set sail for an exciting sailing adventure with your partner. To witness some of the amazing sunrises and sunsets of your life to journeying through the world, it is among the best travel-inspired date ideas for Valentine’s Day.

Booking an Exclusive Stay

Make a grand gesture this Valentine’s Day by making reservations for a truly special stay. Whether it is an overwater bungalow, a private villa or a luxurious suite, this amazing thought will most likely to wow your date like never before. You can also get the customization done just you like you want.

Take them for a Spa Day

When you are tired of the usual chocolates and flowers, how about going for couple spa day on this Valentine’s? Everyone loves to be pampered and this is one of the safest bet to think for a Valentine’s Day date.

A Perfect Road Trip

There is something more than a beach or the mountains to make lasting memories. And that’s just travelling together. This Valentine’s Day, try something exciting and new. A road trip with the love of your life is perfect and one of the most romantic escapes. Rent a car (if you don’t have), play some cheesy Valentine’s Day songs and get ready to hit the road.

Give them a Travel Present

Nobody knows your special ones more than you. So, depending on what they love you can think of a perfect travel present on Valentine’s Day. These could be any adventure activity, cycling, fishing, meditation & yoga retreat or a movie night.

Go Trekking Together

Away from the hustle and bustle of mundane life, the best date idea for Valentine’s Day is to go on a trek with your loved one. Forget the world and bestow your love to make memories forever. Go to some place where you two connect, around nature and whispering wind, and create some unforgettable romantic memories together.

Book Tickets for a Musical Festival

Attending a music festival with your partner is an excellent idea. When you guys love both music and party, then the festival will surely bring your partner and your relationship more closer.

Travel can get expensive, and airlines seem to nickel and dime customers for almost everything. Fortunately, there are ways to save money at airports; you can stretch your dollar and make the most of your cash before you even board the plane. And what’s more, most of these airport money hacks are fairly simple and straightforward to employ. No shady, underhanded tactics required. All you need is a little creativity and a willingness to travel frugally.

It’s probably only a matter of time before the airlines introduce an ultra-cheap pricing option, strapping passengers to the wing or charging for the bathroom. Until then, you can still find ways to be economical – despite the multitude of fees and markups airport retailers charge. Now is the perfect time to learn tips for saving money at the airport.

1. Don’t Convert Your Currency At The Airport

Airports tend to have the highest currency exchange rates. When flying internationally, plan ahead and convert your currency far away from the airport. Banks, post offices, and American Express offices tend to have the best exchange prices, so hit one up to get more for your dollar.

2. Bring Snacks And An Empty Water Bottle From Home

Airport vendors charge substantially more for food and bottles of water, but you can easily bring your own from home. Make sure the water bottle is empty to appease TSA, then refill it once you pass security. Many airports even have water bottle refill stations.

Snack-wise, consider packing fruit, nuts, chips, or granola bars to tide you over until you reach your destination.

3. Pre-Check Your Bags Before Getting To The Airport

Some airlines charge passengers more for luggage checked at the airport than for luggage checked online. If you pre-check your bags online, you can save money and time. Just drop your suitcase and go!

4. Pre-Book Your Parking

Airport parking is almost always expensive. But if you absolutely need to drive yourself and park in an airport lot, pre-book your spot. Many airport lots charge drivers more at the facility than they do online.

Also, look for discount lots; the garages not officially affiliated with airports often charge less. They may be a bit further away, but they tend to offer shuttles to the terminal.

5. Bring Your Own Mini Booze

Airport bars know flyers have limited drink options while they’re waiting for flights; no wonder the drinks are so pricey. You can bring your own miniature bottles of alcohol to the airport, though, and save a good chunk of money.

The small bottles are just like the ones you get on the plane, and they’re available at nearly all liquor stores. TSA allows them through security, too; just be sure the bottles are 3 oz or less, and put your beverages in a quart-size resealable plastic bag.

6. Get An Extra Hour Of Wi-Fi

Many airports only offer a specific amount of free Wi-Fi. You may be able to hack the system, though. If, for instance, you only have 60 minutes of free browsing, set your computer clock back an hour when your initial 60 minutes have almost passed.

Using this little trick, you might score some extra time.

7. If You Plan To Request An Upgrade, Dress The Part

Flying first-class is a luxury only so many people can afford. If there are leftover first-class seats, though, passengers may be able to request one from a flight attendant. The catch? You have to look like you belong in first class.

One flight attendant said she upgrades passengers dressed “smart but understated… No jeans or trainers. [Women should wear] tight black trousers and a blazer or a dress. For men, chinos or trousers and a shirt..

8. Use A Shopping Bag As A Carryon

If an airline wants to charge you for additional carry-ons, you might want to consider a crafty strategy. Go to an airport retailer, ask for a large shopping bag, and stash all your items. Voila!

The gate agent will likely think you’ve just done some shopping.

9. Shop In The Duty-Free Stores

If you can’t help yourself and need to do some airport shopping, make sure to stop by the duty-free shops and compare prices. Some things are generally cheaper in duty-free stores and you can avoid local taxes.

10. Wear A Bulky Coat With Plenty Of Pockets

Several airlines charge passengers for carry-on luggage. To avoid this dilemma, wear a bulky coat with plenty of pockets. One passenger on the European discount airline Ryanair wore a jacket with 17 pockets, containing, among other things, his laptop, four shirts, two pairs of pants, a toothbrush, a cell phone, a camera, books, and a flashlight.

He didn’t break any rules or pay any additional costs. This method may not be particularly comfortable, though, so sticking to shorter flights might be a good idea.

11. Use A Friend’s T-Mobile Number For Free Texting

While flying with either Alaska, American, or Delta, T-Mobile users can take advantage of free in-flight texting. Don’t have a T-Mobile account? No problem. If a friend does have T-Mobile, borrow their phone number, then type that number into the in-flight internet login.

12. Wear Extra Luggage To Avoid Additional Weight Surcharges

Most airlines charge additional fees if your luggage exceeds a certain weight limit. To avoid this fee, wear some of your clothing items and reduce the weight in your suitcase. A typical man’s outfit weighs almost three pounds; a woman’s outfit is about two pounds.

So, if you double up on the shirts, sweaters, jackets, jeans, and socks, you can probably get your luggage weight under the limit – and avoid those pesky surcharges.

Planning a winter trip? Consider northerly destinations like New York City, Boston, Chicago, and Montreal for lower prices, fewer crowds, and shorter lines.

Planning a trip this winter? Yes, it’s tempting to look for sunny spots where you can lie on a beach or play golf. But some of my favorite winter vacations have been to northerly destinations at their coldest, darkest times of year. I don’t ski, so I’m not looking for powder. But I have seen northern lights in Alaska, explored an ice cave in Iceland, and stood outdoors in 20-degree weather watching migrating cranes in Nebraska. I’ve been to Detroit in December, Canada for Christmas, Finland in February. And I’ve taken visitors around my hometown, New York City, in January, when holiday crowds are gone and prices are lower.

Here are some tips and ideas for planning a trip in the depths of winter.

CITIES

There’s a reason New York City runs Restaurant Week prix fixe menus and 2-for-1 Broadway specials Jan. 16 to Feb. 4: It’s a way to drum up business at a slow time of year. Hotels and theater tickets also dip in price in January and February. Plus, you can get reservations that are otherwise impossible to score, and popular attractions have fewer crowds and shorter lines.

Weather can be mild on a sunny day in January in Manhattan, but bitter cold and snow are not unusual. While city streets are no fun to navigate covered in slush, consider that most of your time will be spent indoors visiting museums, seeing shows, shopping and eating your way around town.

Similar price-and-crowd patterns hold true for other northerly cities like Boston, Chicago and Montreal, though all three are typically colder and snowier than New York. So check forecasts, wear warm and waterproof boots, and save a bundle — on airfare, too — compared to trips in May or October.

NORTHERN LIGHTS

The northern lights flare on an 11-year cycle and 2024 is near the peak of that cycle. Of course, there are no guarantees you will see the aurora borealis, but at least this is a good year to try. Iceland, Alaska, and northern parts of Scandinavia and Canada are all good places for viewing, but do your research on weather data for cloud cover in specific destinations. You can’t see northern lights in cloudy skies.

When my son was 9, we flew to Fairbanks, Alaska, in February, checked out the ice-carving festival (this year, Feb. 17-March 31), then headed 60 miles north to Chena Hot Springs. The resort is its own little world; there’s no town, no cell service, limited Wi-Fi; and meals served with produce from greenhouses. We visited the resort’s ice museum, went dog sledding and snowmobiling, soaked in a geothermally heated outdoor pool, and yes, we saw the aurora.

City lights make it hard to see the northern lights, but on a recent trip to Reykjavik, Iceland, my husband and I simply drove our rental car to a waterfront walkway where people gather nightly to search the skies. The view there faces away from the city, and our detour paid off: We saw the aurora, albeit briefly.

SAUNAS AND ICE CAVES

Any trip you plan hoping to catch the northern lights should include other adventures. In Finland, you’ll want to visit Helsinki’s cozy cafes, plus Market Square and Old Market Hall, and, of course, saunas. Loyly Sauna is perched on the Baltic Sea, so dare to take a cold plunge in the icy waters while you’re there.

Just outside Helsinki, you can meet and feed reindeer at Nuuksio National Park, but for a real adventure, head north to Lapland and book a reindeer safari. While I haven’t done this, it appeals to my winter-loving soul: ice floating in Finland’s Oravi channel, dressed in a special “drysuit.”

Iceland is famous for its outdoor pools, heated by geothermal hot springs. (The famous Blue Lagoon is closed due to a nearby volcano, but authorities say the eruption’s impact is localized and that tourism and air travel elsewhere is unaffected.) I took a dip in the geothermal pool at the Secret Lagoon while driving Iceland’s famed Golden Circle route, which also includes Thingvellir National Park, Geysir (which is actually a field of geysers), and the stunning Gullfoss waterfall.

The highlight of our Iceland trip, though, was exploring an ice cave in Vatnajokull National Park. You must be accompanied by a registered guide, and it’s not an expedition for the faint of heart. Crampons attached to your boots give you the necessary traction to walk down a flight of stairs carved from sheer ice, and you spend an hour walking underground around a magical — but claustrophobic — frozen canal with walls of blue ice and icicle ceilings.

The cave was part of a two-day tour we took of the country’s South Coast that included otherworldly landscapes including glaciers, volcanoes, black-sand beaches and lagoons full of icebergs.

WESTERN WILDLIFE

Many national parks in the northern U.S. close roads, lodges and other facilities in winter. But winter visitors to Yellowstone can stay in Old Faithful Snow Lodge or Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and enjoy guided tours by snowmobile, snow coach, snowshoe or cross-country ski. It’s easier to see wolves in winter in Yellowstone than in summer; you might also see bison, elk, otters and other wildlife.

Birdwatching, too, can be a cold-weather pursuit. I took a chilly trip to Nebraska to see the sandhill crane migration. That’s when a half-million migrating birds stop to feed in the fields around the Platte River near the city of Kearney. The migration starts mid-February but peaks in mid-March. Guided tours are offered, but it’s also easy to access public viewing sites in Gibbon, Alda and Fort Kearny State Park.

WEATHER, CLOTHING AND PACKING

Temperatures vary tremendously in northern destinations, so do your homework. Winter temperatures in Reykjavik average in the 30s, comparable to New York, but elsewhere in Iceland, roads can suddenly be shut down by winter storms. Also, plan your days strategically based on sunrise and sunset. When my husband and I visited Iceland in late November, we left our hotel in total darkness at 8 a.m. to get to our first stop on the Golden Circle by 10 a.m., when the sun was finally visible.

Remember the old adage: There’s no such thing as bad weather — just bad clothing. For Iceland, all I needed to stay warm was a fleece under my parka. But for Fairbanks and Chena, I borrowed a full-body ski suit and bought used boots on eBay guaranteed for below-zero weather. By the way, N-95 or cloth masks from your pandemic supplies are a good way to keep faces warm in icy winds. I regretted not bringing waterproof gloves to Iceland; it didn’t rain, but railings and ropes along steep paths were often wet with icy condensation.

One final tip: Long pants and thick socks take up more room in luggage than shorts and T-shirts. To conserve space, wear your boots on the plane. Pack everything else in plastic compression bags; you won’t believe how much less room your clothes take up once you seal those bags and squeeze the air out.