Photos of Brazil’s exotic destinations can inspire the most intrepid of armchair travelers to start planning their own trip. To help feed your travel wanderlust, we’re happy to share the beauty and diversity of Brazil’s landscapes in these snapshots: Which natural wonder sparks your call to adventure?
Iguazu Falls
Experience these thundering falls near Brazil’s southern tip.
Photo by Christoph Schrey/Flickr
A series of 275 cascades form Iguazu Falls and plunge into a 260 foot canyon near the southern tip of Brazil on the border with Argentina. The sheer scale of the falls is something to marvel: Iguazu Falls are four times larger than Niagara Falls in the United States.
Read more about travel advisor Kristina M.’s experience at Iguazu Falls.
Claim to fame: Iguazu Falls is one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World.
Don’t miss: Cross the border into Argentina for a different view of the Falls.
Fernando de Noronha
Swim with your favorite marine friends in these clear waters.
Photo by Fred Schinke/Flickr
Located about 220 miles off the east coast of Brazil and just south of the Equator, 21 volcanic islands amid piercing blue waters form the Fernando de Noronha archipelago. These islands are an important place for marine animals to stop and feed while migrating across the southern Pacific. The waters of Fernando de Noronha are a scuba diver’s delight because turtles, manta rays, lemon sharks and a variety of colorful fish are frequently encountered.
Don’t miss: Watch hundreds of spinner dolphins gather in the Bay of Dolphins.
When to go: Dry season is from September to March, and most travelers visit in December and January.
Nearest city: Natal 220 miles, mainland Brazil
Central Amazon
Colors collide in this Amazon river scene.
Photo by David Schroeder/Flickr
Often referred to as “The Lungs of the Planet”, the tropical blanket of the Amazon covers Brazil’s western region and flows into the neighboring country of Peru. A highlight of Brazil’s central Amazon is the Encontra Da Aguas (or Meeting of the Waters). Here the dark waters of the Rio Negro converge with the pale waters of the Amazon to create a very distinct barrier of color.
Claim to fame: The Amazon is the largest tropical rainforest in the world.
Don’t miss: Encontra Da Aguas
When to go: It’ll be hot and humid with a good chance of rain anytime of the year.
Nearest city: Manaus 10 miles from Encontra Das Aguas
The Pantanal Wetlands
From the bird’s eye view Pantanal is a blanket of blue and green.
Photo from Dreamstime
Cruise in a boat through the nutrient-rich waters of the Patanal floodplains. This vital ecological region covers more than 96,500 square miles in the central west part of Brazil and is home to a lot of vegetation and wildlife. The giant anteater, maned wolf, and capybaba, the world’s largest rodent, are among the variety of animals that dwell in these wetlands.
Claim to fame: These are the world’s largest freshwater wetlands.
When to go: The best time of visit is from June to August, after the waters recede.
Nearest city: Porto Jofre, Corumba
Sugarloaf Moutain
Sugarloaf Mountain watches in silence as Rio lights up with activity.
Photo from Dreamstime
Brazil’s Sugarloaf Mountain is an iconic natural wonder in the heart of Rio de Janeiro. As seen in the photo above, the unearthly dome shaped mountain rests at the end of a peninsula that divides the Atlantic Ocean from Guanabara Bay. Sugarloaf is a geologist’s dream, composed of 600 million year-old monolothic granite and quartz morros that rise straight from the sea.
Don’t miss: Take the cable car to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain for stunning panoramic views.
When to go: September and October are great because the surroundings are still lush and green from the rainy season.
Tour Brazil’s natural wonders
From Iguazu Falls to beautiful beach destinations, our team of travel experts is here to help you plan a trip of a lifetime to Brazil. Tell us what natural wonder sparks your call to adventure and we’ll help you plan a customized trip. Give us a call!
Britt is a California native who left her home to explore South America and now lives in Peru. She’s just a little obsessed about planning getaways with her family, scuba diving, and trekking.
