Ah, Brazil, land of Carnival, color and contrasts. Vast Brazil is the fifth largest nation in the world in both population and area. It shares a border with nearly every country in South America except Ecuador and Chile. It is home to the magnificent Amazon, endangered rain forests, bubbling hot springs, teeming cities, sensuous cuisine, exotic rhythms, and dazzlingly splendid beaches along its Atlantic coastline. The country’s tropical and subtropical warmth offers an endless summer climate, often blanketed in humidity. The interior highlands create a vast tableland called the Mato Grosso; mountains rise in the southwest that provide a steep barrier from the coast called the Great Escarpment. Most of Brazil’s population concentrates its energies in the southeast, particularly in the largest cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The northeast coast offers magnificent beaches where water sports of every kind are found. The intensity of the Brazilian nightlife is world renown, particularly during Carnival season. Brazilian people represent a historic melting pot of native, African, European, Asian, and Arab cultures. One thing unites the people; a passion for sports!
Ceará
Located on the northeastern Brazilian coast, the state of Ceará is an ecotourist’s dream, crowned with some of the best beaches in Brazil as well as waterfalls and rainforests. Some of the beaches are nearly deserted, with expansive sand dunes creating a natural playground. Ceará is known for agriculture, industry, and tourism; the latter delivers half a million tourists annually to its capital of Fortaleza. The many beaches of Ceará are divided into two groups in relation to Fortaleza: the Sunset Coast and the Sunrise Coast. Fortaleza’s international airport, Pinto Martins, is serviced from North and Central America and Europe.
BahIa
The Brazilian state of Bahia has been called “the land of the drum.” An African influence is found throughout the culture here, more so than any other state, and reveals itself in the music, dance, religion, and food of the region. The state is rich in agriculture, cattle, petroleum, and tourism—the latter most notably on the coast. Carnival in Bahia is said to start earlier and finish later, but possibly the most important attractions in Bahia are the beaches. With over 600 miles of tropical coastline, Bahia offers more than 300 beaches to choose from. Visitors can find famous, tourist-filled beaches or enchanting, unknown spots to soak in the sun, sand, and waves.