Brazil is a wonderful country to visit—it’s complete with a plethora of natural wonders, plus urban landscapes that give you a feel for the country’s unique culture. Before you go, it’s good to familiarize yourself a little bit so you know what to expect.
Here are five things you absolutely should know before you travel to Brazil:
It’s the largest country in South America
Brazil is by far the largest country in South America, taking up nearly half of the continent’s land and bordering all but two of the continent’s countries. It’s also the fifth-largest country in the world (with about the same area as the continental U.S.), boasts 2,500 airports and 64 national parks, and covers three time zones.
Brazil also contains most of the Amazon rainforest, with 60% of the rainforest’s space located in the country. Most of the Amazon River–the longest river in the world and the river with the highest volume of water–is also in Brazil. Together, the river and the rainforest make up 10% of the world’s biodiversity.
It’s one of the most diverse countries in the world
Over 200 million people live in Brazil, and it’s one of the most diverse countries in the world, with most residents descended from Europeans, Africans, and indigenous peoples.
Portuguese is the primary language, making Brazil the only South American country where Spanish is not the first language. However, Portuguese is only one of 210 languages spoken in the country, of which 180 are indigenous.
Brazil also has the highest number of uncontacted peoples, with an estimated 67 tribes living in the country without any contact with the rest of the world. This includes a tribe with just one member.
It gained independence in 1822
It’s estimated that about seven million people lived in Brazil before the arrival of the Portuguese in 1500. That year, the explorer Pedro Álvares Cabral landed in South America and claimed Brazil for Portugal.
Brazil was a Portuguese colony until 1808, and the country achieved independence in 1822 after the War of Independence of Brazil.
Today, Brazilians celebrate their independence from Portugal each year on September 7 (Sete de Setembro).
Millions visit Brazil each year
Millions of tourists visit Brazil each year to see the sights and to experience the culture and the natural wonders. Tourists flock to the Amazon to spot wildlife such as the caiman, a relative of the alligator. They also head to the beautiful white sand beaches like Lopes Mendes to relax in the sun.
Brazil is also the world’s largest producer of coffee, so caffeine fanatics can head there to learn more about their favorite bean.
Rio de Janeiro is the most popular city for tourists to visit, in part due to its magnificent sights: Christ the Redeemer towers over the city, and the Rio cathedral, a contemporary building modeled after Mayan pyramids, is another popular attraction. Visitors also enjoy seeing football games, and watching dances like the samba and the traditional martial art Capoeira.
It has the world’s largest carnival
The most important holiday in Brazil is Carnival, a festival that lasts from the Friday before Ash Wednesday to Ash Wednesday. It’s the Brazilian equivalent of Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
Carnival has strong Afro-Brazilian roots, and is celebrated with huge parades featuring samba music and dancers. The largest Carnival in the world is in Rio, where it has been held since the 18th century and where 4.9 million people celebrated the holiday in 2011.
Experience the samba up close with our brand-new tour to Brazil!