Brazil has so many incredible things to do that I could absolutely not show all of them. I had a couple of them, and those are absolutely fantastic. However, in Brazil there are so many more things to do that I only have a small amount, which I experienced myself. Keep reading if you want to learn more about the beauty of Brazil.

1. Be amazed by the beauty of Foz de Iguaçu

Close to the border you can find the incredible waterfalls of Foz de Iguaçu. After the Victoria Falls, these are the biggest waterfalls in the world. It is 2.7 kilometres wide, which is very impressive. Although Paraguay is very close, you can only look at the Argentinian and Brazilian side. I recommend visiting both sides, as they are very different. When you are on the Argentinian side (picture on the left), you will be very close to the incredible force of the water. It is fantastic just to be next to the water. There are several easy hikes to do, and they will take around 2-3 hours. I would recommend going to the Devil's Throat. On a different day you can visit the Brazilian side (picture on the right), which mostly gives a fantastic overview of all the waterfalls. It has only one real hike to do. On both sides you can find coatis, which is cool, but do not feed them.

Another very cool thing to do is to make a helicopter ride above the falls, which is very cool. The views are over de falls, but also the forests are very interesting to see. They start from the Brazilian side, and they will take around 15 minutes. You can combine this ride with the Brazilian side. The village of Foz de Iguaçu is not very interesting, but it has a small zoo.

Price: Argentinian Side is 45,000 pesos and the Brazilian is R$ 117

Tourist occurrence: Very high on both sides, but the Argentinian side is a bit less.

How to get here: You can fly from many parts of Brazil and Argentina to here. 

How much time needed: 2 full days, one day on both sides. 

2. Have yourself a caipirinha

A caipirinha is the national cocktail of Brazil, and when you are in this country, I would recommend having this perfect one (and you probably want more). It consists of cachaça, lime, ice, and sugar, and it is tasty. Especially during a moment on the beach, a caipirinha is a great thing to drink. 

3. Enjoy the fish and birdlife at Bonito

Bonito is a lovely area and mostly famous for river snorkelling, which is fantastic. You are floating on a river with the stream, and you can find many big fish, and it is very cool. Fish species that are in the river are piraputanga, tetra, and pacu. The river is in a tropical forest, which makes it even cooler. There are many bird species in the region as well, and you can enjoy them as well. 

Tourist occurrence: Low

How to get here: It is a 3-hour drive from Campo Grande, which is easily reachable by plane. 

How much time needed: 1 full day to float the river and do some birding.

4. Find wildlife in the Pantanal

For me, the Pantanal is the highlight in Brazil. The biggest wetland in the world (the size of France) has a large variety of wildlife with extreme high numbers of capybaras and caimans. Besides, you can find many bird species like nandus, storks, and hyacinth macaws, which is impressive. With some more luck you can find armadillos, anteaters, snakes, peccary's, and howler monkeys, and if you are extremely lucky, jaguars, depending on the area. You can go by foot, boat, car or horse (I do not prefer to sit on an animal). This is a great place to go and find wildlife. 

Tourist occurrence: Low

How to get here: We came from Campo Grande, but as the area is very big, there are many ways to get there.

How much time needed: 3-4 days

5. Experience the famous Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro is an amazing place to be, as the city has so many cool sights. From amazing beaches to a world wonder and from football to colourful steps. The city has something for everyone, and that makes it so special. Rio de Janeiro always smiles and has an amazing vibe. You cannot miss this city in Southern Brazil.

Tourist occurrence: Medium 

How to get here: By plane, train, bus, car. The city is very reachable for national and international passengers.

How much time needed: 3-4 days

If you want to know more about Rio de Janeiro, check out:

6. Have a relaxed time and do some scuba diving at Búzios

To end a trip in a special country like Brazil, you can always relax a bit. Brazil has many options to do so, but we did it at a lovely Búzios, which is a very laid-back village with some great beaches. My personal highlight was the scuba diving trip, where I saw several turtles from very close. The rest of the scuba diving trip was not special, but the turtles were amazing. 

Tourist occurrence: Very low

How to get here: 3 hours drive from Rio de Janeiro

How much time needed: 2-4 days

7. Always be prepared to find wildlife

Besides the famous locations to find wildlife like the Amazon and the Pantanal, it is lovely in Brazil that you can randomly find different wildlife. You can just have a walk and find many birds, iguanas and other wildlife. Brazil has the highest biodiversity on the planet, and that makes this country very special.

Things I have not done, but could be interesting

As I said before, there is so much to do in Brazil that it is almost impossible to see anything. Some popular things to do that I have not done are:

• Salvador de Bahía - a lovely city
• The Amazon rainforest
• The beautiful island of Fernando de Noronha
• Paraty
• Ilha Grande - Gorgeous beaches

Final thoughts

Brazil is such a diverse country that it shows so many different faces. From the belief in football to the amazing wetlands of the Pantanal. The beaches have a relaxed vibe towards the huge cities; they have so much to offer. When planning a trip to Brazil, make sure that you think of which area you want to visit. This country is amazing. 

If you want to know more about this country, check out: