30 May 2014
As Brazil braces itself to receive over half a million visitors during the World Cup next month, specialist tour operator Journey Latin America offer their top destinations to escape the crowds if you find yourself in one of the World Cup host cities.
Rio de Janeiro: CADEG market
Authentic indoor market selling everything from food to fire alarms! Excellent yet unpretentious restaurants adorn the aisles. Open daily, CADEG is located in Benfica - a 45-mins drive from Copacabana and offers a real insight into how the Cariocas (people from Rio) live and shop.
São Paulo: Picinguaba beach
An isolated fishing village on the Emerald Coast about a 4 hour drive from São Paulo. Stay at charming Picinguaba - the only only guesthouse in a 3km radius. Picinguaba is surrounded by subtropical rainforest and overlooks sweeping bays and hidden coves.
Curitiba: Praia do Rosa beach, Santa Catarina
Located close the island of Florianópolis, Praia do Rosa is backed by dramatic mountains covered in coastal rainforest. Attracting sunbathers, swimmers and surfers alike, this beach is also popular with whales – from July to October each year, Southern Right Whales can be seen.
Porto Alegre: Bento Gonçalvez wine growing region
The picturesque Vale dos Vinhedos is located 120km northwest from Porto Alegre. The best wines in Brazil are produced in this valley, especially those produced by the micro wineries that never reach the supermarkets.
Cuiabá and Campo Grande: Pantanal wetlands
The vast Pantanal is an area of swampy grassland. It is a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts providing rare opportunities to spot jaguars, caiman and giant river otters. Stay at a lodge located 4 hours from the airport.
Manaus: Amazon jungle
With the Amazon on your doorstep, plunge into a pristine rainforest environment based at a jungle lodge or on a river cruise - about a 4-hour drive and boat trip from the city. Absorb the sights and sounds of the jungle, on guided hikes or by canoe.
Fortaleza: Dunes and lagoons of Lençóis Maranhenses
Explore the surreal dunes and crystalline pools of the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, still undeveloped and only just being discovered by tourists. A traditional way of life survives in the region's sleepy, riverine fishing communities and small coastal towns.
Natal: Pipa beach
The idyllic beach village of Pipa is located about a 1½-hour drive from Natal. Here you'll find simple but good places to eat, long stretches of undeveloped beach and even playful dolphins.
Recife: Island of Fernando de Noronha
Fernando de Noronha, a tropical archipelago just an hour flight from Recife is blessed with a picturesque necklace of coves and white-sand beaches. The islands boast incredible marine life and some of the very best beaches in a country.
Salvador: Waterfalls and mountains of the Chapada Diamantina
The colonial town of Lençóis is set in the heart of the Chapada Diamantina, 420km inland from Salvador de Bahia. It is a land of extreme beauty with a mix of forests and crystal pools. The national park's most distinctive feature is the table-like mountains that define its topography.
Belo Horizonte: colonial town of Ouro Preto
The pretty colonial town of Ouro Preto is tucked into the steep winding hills so typical of the region and many of the streets have cobbled steps rather than pavements. Rich in colonial history, it has no less than 13 churches. There are good hiking opportunities and it's a great place to buy gems.
Journey Latin America - Brazil Holidays
Further Information:
For more information on Journey Latin America and to see our full range of holidays, please visit www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk or telephone: 020 8622 8444.
For press information or images please contact Laura Rendell-Dunn or Abigail St Quinton on 020 8622 8422 or at press@journeylatinamerica.co.uk
Laura Rendell-Dunn is a destination specialist and is available as a spokesperson on events, travel trends and features relating to all locations in Latin America.
