Brazil is South America’s largest country and makes a brilliant overland destination. It is a huge country, with an equally huge variety of things to see and experiences to have. From the Amazon river and jungle, to the Rio Carnival and the world’s biggest party, to rodizio grills washed down with caipirinha cocktails, to beautiful beaches full of beautiful people. Brazil has plenty to attract the overlander.
The Amazon region is more than worth experiencing. Overland travel through it is easier than you might think, with good roads having been built to support trade. Stay in a jungle lodge and experience the heart of the rainforest. Visit the lively colonial city of Belem, at the north of the country and the mouth of the Amazon.
From Belem, you can take the road less travelled and overland through the fascinating interior. The Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park is a fantastic place to explore: a mountain plateau full of wildlife and waterfalls. Further south, the Pantanal wetlands are a must-see. These hugely diverse floodplains are packed with animal and plant life, and very little human impact.
Or, you could choose to follow the more well-trodden, but very beautiful, path along the coast around to Recife, a busy holiday town with an old centre. Brazil’s northern coast is all palm-fringed fishing villages and coral: the perfect place for a leisurely beach-hop. From Recife, head on to Salvador, an ancient city known for its party vibe and historic architecture. Then on to Rio, that famously glamorous melting-pot with it’s spectacular natural harbour.
Brazilians say that ‘God is Brazilian’. That might sound like a slightly overambitious statement. But travel to the country, and you’ll quickly come to understand it.
