Brazil
Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world and is a very diverse and vibrant country and a very popular travel and vacation destination. This site will introduce you to Brazil and provide some ideas of things to see when you visit.
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The Federative Republic of Brazil (in Portuguese, República Federativa do Brasil;) is the largest and most populous country in Latin America, and fifth largest in the world. Spanning a vast area between central South America and the Atlantic Ocean, it is the easternmost country of the Americas and it borders Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and the French department of French Guiana — every South American nation except for Ecuador and Chile. Named after brazilwood, a tree highly valued by early colonists, Brazil is home to both extensive agricultural lands and rain forests. Exploiting vast natural resources and a large labor pool, it is South America's leading economic power and a regional leader. As a former colony of Portugal, Portuguese is its official language.
Know Before You Go
As you travel, keep abreast of local news coverage. If you plan a stay in one place for longer than a few weeks, or, if you are in an area where communications are poor, experiencing civil unrest or some natural disaster, you are encouraged to register with the Department of State. The web page for Americans to register with us is https://travelregistration.state.gov. You can register your entire itinerary on the web site. Or, after you have arrived at your destination, you can register at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
Registration takes only a few moments, and it may be invaluable in case of an emergency.
Other useful precautions are:
Leave a detailed itinerary and the numbers of your passport or other citizenship documents with a friend or relative in the United States.
Make sure your U.S. passport is up-to-date.
Carry your photo identification and the name of a person to contact with you in the event of serious illness or other emergency.
Keep photocopies of your airline or other tickets and your list of traveler’s checks with you in a separate location from the originals and leave copies with someone at home.
Leave things like unnecessary credit cards and expensive jewelry at home.
Bring travelers checks, not cash.
Use a money belt or concealed pouch for passport, cash and other valuables.
Crash Course History
Brazil is thought to have been inhabited for at least 10,000 years by semi-nomadic populations when the first Portuguese explorers, led by Pedro Álvares Cabral, disembarked in 1500. Over the next three centuries, it was resettled by the Portuguese and exploited mainly for brazilwood (Pau-Brasil) at first, and later for sugarcane(Cana-de-Açúcar) agriculture and gold mining. The colony's source of manpower was initially on enslaved Amerindians, and after 1550, mainly African slaves. In 1808, Queen Maria I of Portugal and her son and regent, the future João VI of Portugal, fleeing from Napoleon, relocated to Brazil with the royal family, nobles and government. Though they returned to Portugal in 1821, the interlude led to the opening of commercial ports to the United Kingdom — at the time isolated from most European ports by Napoleon — and to the elevation of Brazil to the status of a united kingdom with Portugal's Crown. Then prince regent Dom Pedro I (later Pedro IV of Portugal) declared independence on 7 September 1822, establishing the independent Empire of Brazil. As the crown remained in the hands of the house of Bragança, this was more the severance of the Portuguese empire in two, than an independence movement as seen elsewhere in the Americas.
The Brazilian Empire was theoretically a democracy in the British style, although in practice, the emperor-premier-parliament balance of power more closely resembled the autocratic Austrian Empire. Slavery was abolished in 1888, and intensive European immigration created the basis for industrialization. Pedro I was succeeded by his son, Pedro II — who in old age was caught by a political dispute between the Army and the Cabinet, a crisis arising from the Paraguay War. In order to avoid a civil war between Army and Navy, Pedro II renounced the throne on 15 November 1889, when a federal republic was established by Field Marshal Deodoro da Fonseca.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Brazil attracted over 5 million European and Japanese immigrants. That period also saw Brazil industrialize, further colonize, and develop its interior. Brazilian democracy was replaced by dictatorships three times — 1930–1934 and 1937–1945 under Getúlio Vargas, and 1964–1985, under a succession of generals appointed by the military. Today, Brazil is internationally considered a democracy since 1985, specifically a presidential democracy, which was kept after a plebiscite in 1993 where voters had to choose between a presidential or parliamentary systems, whilst also choosing if Brazil should reinstate its constitutional monarchy.
Major Statistics
Area 8,547,403 sq.km
Population 186,112,794
Language Portuguese
Religion Roman Catholic (74%)
Currency Real
Government Democratic Federal Republic
Major Cities
1. São Paulo - 10.677.019
2. Rio de Janeiro - 5.974.081
3. Salvador - 2.556.429
4. Belo Horizonte - 2.305.812
5. Fortaleza - 2.256.233
6. Brasília - 2.189.789
7. Curitiba - 1.671.194
8. Manaus - 1.527.314
9. Recife - 1.461.320
10. Porto Alegre - 1.394.385
11. Belém - 1.342.202
12. Guarulhos - 1.160.468 (part of the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo)
13. Goiânia - 1.146.106
14. Campinas - 1.006.918
15. São Gonçalo - 925.402 (part of the Metropolitan Region of Rio de Janeiro)
16. São Luís - 923.526
17. Maceió - 849.734
18. Duque de Caxias - 808.614 (part of the Metropolitan Region of Rio de Janeiro)
19. Nova Iguaçu - 792.208 (part of the Metropolitan Region of Rio de Janeiro)
20. Teresina - 751.464
Destinations
Rio de Janeiro - Rio de Janeiro is one of the most beautiful and spectacular cities on the planet. Even the most well travelled individuals will love what Rio has to offer. Argueably, the best way to appreciate the setting is by going up Sugar Loaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar), where you'll get a spectacular 360-degree view of Rio and Guanabara Bay. Cariocas (Rio natives) disagree on what view is more spectacular, Sugar Loaf or Christo (Christ the Redeemer). It is well worth experiencing both, and deciding afterwards which view is better. Notice how the natural harbour is surrounded by lush, high mountains that meet the sea in the world-famous beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema.
Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado Mountain gives an even higher perspective, and is the most well known and recognized landmark of Rio. You can either drive or take a tram up to the statue—the best view is on the right-hand side. From up here you can see that Rio is divided by a mountain range into two areas: the Zona Norte (North Zone) and the Zona Sul (South zone). The Zona Sul holds most of the city’s sights, including the Sugar Loaf and the famous beaches. Across the bay is Niteroi.
For any true Football Fan, a visit to the Maracana Stadium is more a pilgrimage than anything where you can lay your feet in the imprints of those belonging to the great Pele and many other Brazil Legends. Currently (2005/06) under renovation for the Pan American Games 2007, this Stadia has seen better days but never any better players than graced it's turf for Brazil.
One of Rio's most precious resources is often overlooked: its people. Brazil is a melting pot of races, colors and creeds. No one race, color or religion dominates in Brazil. There is room for all, and that includes the many visitors who come to Brazil each year from every corner of the planet. Cariocas are particularly warm and fun loving. Schedule as much time as possible fodfr this destination, especially if visiting during Carnival, the greatest party on Earth!
A crash course on Portugues will come in handy; do not insult Brazilians by making the mistake of speaking Spanish. Although it is true that many Brazilians understand and can speak Spanish, it is not their native language and may offend some Cariocas. Other than that, most Brazillians will go out of their way to help a tourist navigate the city.
Do not be dissuaded from visiting one of the most beautiful cities in the world by the negative press that Rio receives. Rio de Janeiro is a large city and is not free from the problems associated with poverty. First time travelers to Rio should be aware of their surroundings at all times and stay away from the favellas (slums). If you can afford it, hire a driver for your touring, not only will they keep you safe they will also show you things you could have missed.
Leave the expensive jewelry at home and do not flash money or credit cards around. Be a smart traveler and Rio will turn out to be a diamond in the rough, it's a well worth visit.
Sao Paulo - São Paulo is the largest city in South America and the third largest in the world. It is the economical capital of Brazil and a very busy place. It is also rich in culture parks and museums.
São Paulo is centered around the Praça da Sé. The subway system is clean and efficient but covers only a few areas of the city. Interesting neighborhoods to visit include Jardins, Itaim and the Ibirapuera Park.
The main sights in the city include the different neighborhoods with their special Italian or Arabic influences. They have their own characteristic atmosphere and it is a lot of fun to just walk around, go to one of the many small restaurants or have a drink somewhere.
Brazilians say that paulistas (Sao Paulo locals) live to eat. This is probably true. Food in Sao Paulo is the best in the country and rivals that of any major capital in the world. If you are there and like to eat meat, make sure you try the rodizios (barbecue) or feijoada (pork and beans - served only on wednesdays and saturdays).
São Paulo is also very much a party town. You can get stuck in traffic in the middle of the night when party animals return from their hunt.
Manaus - Manaus is located at Negro River, just 10 kilometers upstream from the point this river meets the Solimoes to form the Amazon. When in the area you should pay a visit to this point for the mingling of black and yellow water from the two rivers is really a sight worth seeing.
The city boomed due to the richness from the nearby rubberplants who used this place to trade latex. When the rubber business came into decline due to synthetically alternatives, the city fell into decline.
It now has a population over 2 million people. Situated in the middle of the Amazon rain forest it serves as a travel hub and a distribution center for the river areas of the upper Amazon. It is a thriving river harbor as well as the major destination on the highway from the south. You will be impressed by the vast number of river vessels of all shapes and sizes that ply their way from here to every township up and down this great river. Manaus is also the furthest point along the Amazon's deep-water channel, which allows huge ocean liners to come the 2,000 km/1,250 miles upstream from the Atlantic.
Unfortunately there’s not much left of the fortress built in 1669 where the city originated, but there are lots of other interesting sights. You cannot miss the Jesuit church, dominating the city center, but you should also see the harbor installations, completed in 1902. Another interesting industrial sight, finished in the same year, is the Mercado Adolfo Lisboa, a miniature copy of the demolished Halles de Paris, built by Gustav Eiffel.
Salvador de Bahia - Salvador da Bahia de Todos os Santos, as it was formally called by the Portuguese is the old colonial capital of Brazil. The colonial legacy and strong African influences give the city a distinct atmosphere. Salvador is divided into an upper and lower section (cidade baixa) and the enormous Lacerda elevator which goes from one level to the other gives you great views over the city.
Pelourinho, the old colonial part of the city, with its cobbelstone streets, its many churches and beautiful mansions make the city a very good place to visit.
Petropolis - Petropolis is a city in southeast Brazil with over 300,000 inhabitants. When the summer is getting too hot in Rio, Pertópolis becomes a summer resort for many and, untill 1962, Petrópolis was virtually Brazil's summer capital. A steep scenic road leads to this mountain city, which is well known for its floral beauty.
Petrópolis has some interesting street names like the Estrada União e Indústria, the Street of Unity and Industry. These names were renamed less than one month after the Announcement of the Republic to banish all references to the imperial era. Only 90 years later, on October the 9th of 1979, the main way through the Historical Center again came to be called Street of the Emperor. Here you also find the Museo Imperial, housed in the former imperial palace. It is an elegant building in neoclassical style, fully furnished and equipped as it was in the time of Don Pedro II.
Also, don’t miss the gothic styled Cathedral de São Pedro de Alcântara, which was actually built in 1925 and is the final resting place of the emperor and empress.
Arraial de Ajuda - Arraial da Ajuda is located in the South of Bahia, a region with endless beaches, sweet coconut water, huge variety of food with African and Indian influences. The sun shines all year round and the people are very welcoming.
Arraial da Ajuda is part of Porto Seguro, the city where the Portuguese first docked more than 500 years ago. It´s the most important historical city in Brazil. Porto Seguro is now a big destination but Arraial still keeps its village feeling. From there you can visit other interesting villages such as Trancoso and Caraiva, the latter still doesnt have eletric light.
The village of Arraial da Ajuda offers many options to people who enjoy walks on the beach and also night life. The parties start only after midnight and finish in the morning. For those who like day time, there are many boat trips and deserted beaches to explore.
You can get to Porto Seguro from any city in Brazil, and then you would need to cross the river in a ferry boat to get to Arraial.
Fortaleza - Fortaleza is a major fishing port and fast growing tourist destination in the northeast of Brazil. In the centre there are a few interesting colonial buildings. The Mercado Central and the Cathedral are the major sights in the area.
The best beaches are east of town. The Praia de Iracema and the Praia do Futuro are good options. Further east on the Avenida Beira Mar there are a few more beaches. The beaches are also the focal point of nightlife and entertainment.
Fortaleza is one of the best places for buying crafts. Lacework, embroidery, leather goods and ceramics are good buys. For good prices you should skip the tourist boutiques and try the Mercado Central.
Nightlife became famous since The New York Times reported its "Hottest Monday night in the world". It can safely be said that from Monday to Sunday, there are always good options for every interest and taste.
Visit tourism information site about Fortaleza city and Ceará state www.ceara.com.br
Belo Horizonte - Belo Horizonte is the 3rd largest city in Brazil coming after Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. You'll find this city at about 2/3 of the way from Brasilia to Rio. It is the capital of Minas Gerais state. The name means Beautiful Horizon. The city of Belo Horizonte was completely built on a plan corresponding to that of Washington D.C., with a very long highway circling the whole city. It is considered to be one of the cities with the best quality of life in Latin America. Belo Horizonte was founded in 1897 and is Brazil’s third largest city with a population of some 2.5 million inhabitants and over 5.1 million inhabitants in metropolitan area. The city is also a leading cultural center, with more than three universities, a historical museum, numerous libraries, and sports stadiums.
Belo is build on several hills and completely surrounded by mountains. The constant rising and falling of the streets sometimes makes navigation a bit tricky, but the wide avenues lined with trees are always easy guidelines. Unfortunately, the growth of the population has been bigger than anticipated 100 years ago. So there's a lot of poorly build architecture and slums, but also still some excellent colonial buildings. You should not miss the fin-de siecle buildings around the Praca da Liberdade and the market on Av. Afonso Pena, each sunday.
Located about 100 kms from Belo Horizonte you will find the charming city of Ouro preto (which means ‘Black Gold’), a colonial city with great churches and impressive pieces of work.
Natal - Natal is the beach capital of the Northeast of Brazil. It has a few sights, like the Forte dos Ries Magos and the Museu da Camara Cascudo, but the main reason to come here is to tan, swim and have fun.
The beaches stretch well over 9 km, from the Fort to the lighthouse. There are bars everywhere and the surf is really big.
Porto Alegre - Porto Alegre is the capital of Rio Grande does Sul. The culture here is that of the urban cowboy. The Gaucho meets the bright lights of the big city. The people here are fair skinned and somewhat removed from the African influence of the north. One might say that the people of this region feel closer to Argentina and Uruguay than Brazil -- except where anything football is concerned. Porto Alegre is the sixth largest city in Brazil and a good place to get your visa before you go to Uruguay. The city is located on the banks of the Guaiba river. The city is known for its intense and fun nightlife. This is the hometown of argueably the best footballer in the world, Ronaldinho. Rumor has it, Giselle Bunchen has a penthouse flat in this city as well. The actual city itself is not much compared to Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo, but what other cities in Brazil really compare?
The Parque Farroupilha in the south east of the city and is a nice place to relax. On Sunday mornings there is a large market/fair in the park, called the Brique da Redencao. If you have some more time, you can take a cruise on the river.
The nightlife here is similar to that of New York City, but on a micro-scale. In the "SoHo" area of Porto Alegre, there is a block full of great bars, restaurants and clubs. The women of this city are supposedly the most beautiful in all of Brazil -- which as anyone who has been to Brazil knows, this is a bold statement. Translation, the hottest women in Brazil, just might be the hottest women on the planet! No rush to get to the clubs, they are open relatively late to US standards, and often times, people are spilling out into the street, talking, laughing, and looking for some of the good kind of trouble to get into. It may be more difficult to make friends here than Rio during Carnival, but the people here will warm up to you and make your experience here a memorable one.
There are great places to surf, relax and party a few hours drive away from the city which make for awesome weekend getaways for those living in Porto Alegre.
Florianapolis - Characteristics the capital of the State is modern and cosmopolita, where new and the old one coexists harmoniously, it wants in the agitated health-resorts, wants in the pacatas fishing villages. It more than has 100 beaches, innumerable parks, natural reserves, squares, lagoons, dunes, History... Date of foundation - 23 of March of 1726. Festive date - 23 of March (anniversary of the city). Main economic activities - Tourism and commerce. Population - 342,000 inhabitants. Settling - Açoriana. Main etnias - Açoriana, but people of the most diverse parts of Brazil and the world are attracted by the charm and exuberância of beaches and the nature of Florianópolis. Localization - Coastal. Area - the city has 436,5km2, being 424,4km2 in the Island and 12,1km2 in the Continent. Climate - Tempered, with average temperature between 20ºC and 30ºC. Altitude - 25m above of the level of the sea. Next Cities - They are Jose, Biguaçu, Palhoça, Camboriú Health-resort, Celso Governor Branches, Garopaba.
Tourism In Florianópolis the natural wealth are multiplied, beautiful lagoons, mounts, fens, dunes, islands, landscapes, aromas, colors... Its 100 white and clean sand beaches - however rustic and wild, however disputed and agitated - are true redoubts of golden people. Modern and cosmopolita, the unusual urban configuration of the Island and the diversity of its landscape prove that it is possible to conciliate all the resources of a great city with the quality of life that is only found in the Interior. Still today, in quarters as Brook of the Island and Saint Antonio of Lisbon, beyond all the area of the center, marks of the açoriana settling are preserved in the houses to the side of the sidewalk, in the churches, the museums, ruelas narrow and the skill of being and living of the people that inhabit the city. They are obligator visits the mirante Da Ponte Hercílio Light, one of the biggest pênseis bridges of the world, initiated in 1922 and inaugurated in 1926; the mirante of the Mount Da Cruz, in the center, of where if it can see great part of the Island and the Continent, and the mirante of the Lagoon, that allows a panoramic vision of the Lagoon of the Conceição, some beaches and dunes of the Joaquina. Also escuna in trapiche of the Side-sea North or in Canasvieiras is a good program to catch one and to pass the day in the sea, knowing the islands in return of the city, the ortalezas, observing the dolphins and the beautiful landscapes and delighting themselves in the typical restaurants... Beaches
To the north they are the health-resorts most sophisticated, with excellent tourist infrastructure and of leisure. There they are the beaches of Canasvieiras, preferred place of the foreigners; Jurerê, that counts on excellent infrastructure of hotels, restaurants and a nocturnal life sufficiently put into motion; Tip of the Sugar canes; Brave, of thick sea with strong waves, ideals for the practical one of surf; English; Lagoinha; Waterfall of the Good Jesus; Daniela; Sambaqui, Cacupé and Santo Antonio of Lisbon. The east the biggest littoral attractions are concentrated, as the Lagoon of the Conceição, sung in verse and chat for diverse poets and celebrity for its tenants. There excellent restaurants and bars exist, and the nocturnal life is put into motion the year all. It visits the Beach of the Joaquina, Brazilian temple of surf and palco of world-wide championships of first level; the immense dunes, that if extend until the sea; the Soft Beach, another paradise of the surfistas and redoubt of the golden youth of the Island, and the Beach of the Oil bottle, used for the practical one of the nudismo. 20km of the center has advanced, distant, is the Bar of the Lagoon, that concentrates the biggest fishing colony of the Island of Santa Catarina. Later they come Moçambique, the greater of all, and Santinho.
In the south there are the most rustic beaches. The Beach of the Logwood, option for surf are examples; the Mount of the Rocks, agitated sea and weighed, with a costão that advance on the sea, and the Scaffolding, known for the amount of typical restaurants and where the fishing rent whaleboats for strolls until the Island of the Logwood. Separate for a small accessible river and the foot is only the Beach of the Matadeiro, excellent place for the practical one of surf. In the south extremity they are Quagmire of the South, that shelters one of the most authentic fishing colonies of the Island; the Beach of the Solitude, calm and transparent waters; the Caieira of the Bar of the South, a succession of small beaches of calm and clean sea, with hot waters; the Tapera and the Brook of the Island, older district of capital and one of the typical places of Florianópolis. For those that like adventure, valley walked of 3 hours until the Beach of the Lagoinha it East, authentic sanctuary of nature preserved, or until Been shipwrecked, in the south extremity of the Island, with its wild sea and cold waters, a good option for fishes submarine. Historic site - the city has centennial churches, as the Cathedral Metropolitan, who shelters in its interior a sculpture of Jose and Maria in escape for grooving Egypt for the tirolês artist Demetz, and the Church of Ours Lady of the Lagoon of the Conceição, example of the architecture brought for the Portuguese, whose bell was donated by emperor Dom Peter II also Visits the Church of the Order Third of San Francisco of the Penance, in the center of the city; of Ours the Lady of the Rosary; of San Francisco de Paula, constructed in 1830, in açoriano style, and of Ours the Lady of the Necessities, in Saint Antonio of Lisbon, historical monuments and certifications of the faith and the religiosidade of ilhéu it. She gives special attention to the ortalezas: Santa Cruz, Is Jose of the Thick Tip, Santana, Cortaleza of Ours Lady of the Conceição, Saint Antonio and Anhatomirim. Culture - In diverse museums, Florianópolis rescues local history and translates day-by-day of the peoples who had inhabited the Island to the long one of the times. It visits the Museum Cruz and Souza especially, in the center of the city, the Plaza of Customs and Square XV - one gives credit that that one that gives four returns in the centennial figueira of the center of the square will find its great love. Schmidt takes a walk for the calçadão of Philip, takes a coffee in the Senadinho, goes to the House Vítor Meirelles... The Integrated Center of Culture congregates spaces and equipment for theater, vernissages and cinema, and its main audience has capacity for 1.000 people. He enters the great attractions of the city is the artesanato, with the one income-of-bilro, net-of-he fishes it and the sculptures in format of witches. In the quarters oldest he can yourself be found true icons of the açoriano folklore, as Boi-de-Mamão, Pau-de-Fita, Cacumbi or Ticumbi, Mousehole, Tender of Kings and Pão-por-Deus. Also the spells, the crendices are common and superstitions. In the imaginary one it ilhéu, witches, fairies, gnomos and duendes mixes the supernatural one to the things of the land. Tourist infrastructure - Florianópolis counts on excellent tourist infrastructure. It has hotels of superior category, charmosas put to the side-sea, executive hotels and houses of summering. In all the beaches, in the center or the quarters, are multiplied the restaurants with typical food or international kitchen. It has cultural cinemas, theaters, centers and a good net of commerce and services.
Cuisine
North
Acre, Amazonas, Amapá, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima, and Tocantins
Collectively, the region is known as Amazônia for it includes a large part of the rain forest, and tributaries flowing into the Amazon River. Culturally, the Amazon basin is heavily populated by native Indians or people of mixed Indian and Portuguese ancestry who live on a diet of fish, root vegetables such as manioc, yams, and peanuts, plus palm or tropical fruit.
The cuisine of this region is heavily Indian-influenced. One popular dish is Caruru do Pará, a one-pot meal of dried shrimp, okra, onion, tomato, cilantro, and palm oil.
Northeast
Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Maranhão, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Piauí, Rio Grande do Norte, and Sergipe
Geographically the region comprises a dry, semi-arid region used for cattle ranches inland from the fertile coastal plain, an economically important sugar cane and cacao growing area.
Within the State of Bahia the predominate cuisine is Afro-Bahian, which evolved from plantation cooks improvising on African, Indian, and traditional Portuguese dishes using locally available ingredients.
Typical dishes include vatapá and moqueca (both have seafood and palm oil), besides acarajé (a salted muffin made with white beans, onion and fried in dendê oil) which is filled with dried shrimp, red pepper and caruru (mashed okra with ground cashew nut, smoked shrimp, onion, pepper and garlic). The main staple is a plate of white rice and black beans but other common foods include farofa, paçoca, canjica, pamonha, quibebe, quiabo, and cashew nuts.
In the remainder of the coastal plains there is less African influence on the food, but seafood, shellfish, and tropical fruit are menu staples. Commonly eaten tropical fruits in the Northeast include mango, papaya, guava, orange, passionfruit, pineapple, sweetsop, hog-plum, and cashew (the fruit, not the nut).
Inland, in the arid, drought stricken cattle-growing and farm lands, foods typically include ingredients like dried meat, rice, beans, goat, manioc and corn meal.
Central-West
Federal District of Brasilia plus Goiás, Mato Grosso, and Mato Grosso do Sul
A region comprising dry open savannas or prairies with wooded terrain in the north. The famous Pantanal, one of the finest game and fishing regions on earth, is also located in the Central-West region of Brazil.
Fish, beef and pork from the vast ranches of the region dominate the menu, along with harvested crops of soybean, rice, maize, and manioc.
Southeast
Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo
The Southeast is the industrial heart of Brazil, and is home to several distinctive cooking styles for which Brazil is probably best-known. In Minas Gerais the regional dishes include a lot of maize, pork, beans, and local soft ripened cheeses. Around Rio and São Paulo, feijoada (a simmered bean and meat dish of Carioca origin), is popular especially as a Wednesday or Saturday luncheon. Also consumed frequently is arroz e feijão, or rice and beans. Traditionally, black beans are prepared in Rio, rajadinho (brown) beans in São Paulo, and either in Minas Gerais. Another typical food in São Paulo is the Virado à Paulista, that consists of rice, tutu de feijão (beans with manioc flour), stewed cabbage and pork meat.
The cuisine of São Paulo shows the influence of European and Middle Eastern immigrants. The majority arrived from Italy, along with many from Portugal, Japan, the Middle East, and other nations. So, there it's possible to find all kind of cuisines.
In Espírito Santo, there is a lot of Italian and German influence in local dishes both savory and sweet. The state dish, though, is of Amerindian origin, and is called Moqueca Capixaba (mainly fish and tomato). Minas Gerais' Cuisine is also strongly felt here, with many restaurants serving that fare. Farofa (a dish of toasted manioc flour with small amounts of flavoring ingredients that may include pork, onions, hardboiled eggs and different vegetables), polenta, couve (collard greens), chouriço (a type of sausage that is less spicy than its cousin chorizo) and fried banana are examples of popular dishes from Minas Gerais.
South
Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, and Santa Catarina
To the national cuisine the gaucho (sort of cowboy of the pampa), contributed dishes made with sun- or salt-dried meats and churrasco (a Brazilian relative of the BBQ), a meal of flame grilled fresh meats.
The European immigrants (primarily from Italy and Germany) were accustomed to a wheat-based diet, and introduced wine, leaf vegetables, and dairy products into Brazilian cuisine. When potatoes were not available they discovered how to use the native sweet manioc as a replacement.
Staple Ingredients
Beans (feijão) Beans appear on the table daily in many forms and colors. According to Embrapa institute of agriculture, brown beans (carioquinha), which were created in the late 60's by artificial selection of Japanese variations, is by far the more consumed (about 90%) followed by traditional feijoada black beans (preferred in Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande do Sul). Other regional varieties include fradinho beans (used in traditional bahian recipe Acarajé), white beans (consumed in Santa Catarina) and even some variations of chili beans (consumed in Pará). They're part of the most common dish in the country, rice and beans.
Coconut (coco) An important ingredient throughout the country, coconut is used in soups, cocktails, poultry, fish, and shellfish recipes, as well as desserts and sweets. Various forms are utilized: unripe green coconuts (coco verde); ripe yellow or brown coconuts (coco amarelo); the soft, almost buttery textured meat from green coconuts (coco de água); or grated (coco ralado). The liquid inside (água de coco) can be drunk. It has a very mild, salty-sweet flavor. Coconut milk (leite de coco) made from the inner pulp of the ripe fruit is used in sweet and savory dishes.
Palm Oil (azeite de dendê) A heavy tropical oil extracted from the African palm growing in Northern Brazil. One of the basic ingredients in Bahian or Afro-Brazilian cuisine, it adds a wonderful flavor and bright orange color to foods. There is no equivalent substitute, but it is available in markets specializing in Brazilian imports.
Dried, salted codfish (bacalhau) Introduced by the Portuguese, it finds its way into appetizers, soups, main courses, and savory puddings. One common method of refreshing the dried fish is to soak large pieces with the skin and bone removed in cold water for three to four hours, changing the water every hour.
Dried shrimp (camarão seco) In various sizes, dried shrimp are utilized in many dishes from the northern regions of the country. Usually obtainable in North America at oriental or Latin American food stores. Before use they are covered with cold water and soaked overnight (though unlike the codfish, the shrimp does not require hourly water-changes). The water is discarded before the shrimp are used.
Lime (limão) In Brazil the fruit is green, small and quite tart, more like an American lime would appear and taste.
Rice (Brazilian style - arroz brasileiro or arroz simples) Long grained rice is briefly sauteed in garlic and oil before being boiled. In addition to garlic, some Brazilian cooks add small amounts of onion, diced tomato, or sliced black olive for additional flavor. Properly done, each grain is fluffy and the rice will not stick together. Rice is part of the most common dish in the country, rice and beans.
Toasted Manioc Meal (farofa) Manioc flour lightly sauteed in butter until it resembles buttered bread crumbs. Other ingredients are frequently added. It's eaten as a side dish to the feijoada.
Feijoada - the national dish of Brazil For over 300 years feijoada, a mixture of black beans, pork and farofa (manioc meal) has been the national dish of Brazil. It started as a dish for the slaves brought from Africa, made out of cheap ingredients: pork ears, feet and tail, beans and manioc flour. It has been adopted by all the other cultural regions, and there are hundreds of ways to make it.
When to go
Most of Brazil can be visited comfortably throughout the year; it's only the south - which can be unbearably sticky in summer (December-February) and non-stop rainy in winter (June-August) - that has large seasonal changes; the rest of the country experiences brief tropical rains throughout the year, which rarely affect travel plans.
During summer (December-February) many Brazilians are on vacation, making travel difficult and expensive, and from Rio to the south the humidity can be oppressive. Summer is also the most festive time of year, as Brazilians escape their apartments and take to the beaches and streets. School holidays begin in mid-December and go through to Carnaval, usually held in late February.
Although there are festivals taking place all year-round in Brazil, the country's most famous event is Carnaval, beginning at midnight on the Friday before Ash Wednesday and lasting for five days. It is celebrated all over Brazil and there are more authentic versions than the glitzy tourist draw card held in Rio, but Rio's is a fantastic spectacle nonetheless. In the sambódromo, a tiered street designed for samba parades, the Brazilians harness sweat, noise and mayhem as the 16 top samba schools each have their hour of glory.
Activities
There are great spots for hang-gliding in Rio, especially around Pedra Bonita, near Pepino beach. Surfing is popular all along the coast and waves are especially good in the southern state of Santa Caterina, although there is also plenty of good surf close to Rio. Wind-surfing has caught on in Brazil - while Búzios is a good place to go, the hardcore mecca is north-west of Fortaleza in places such as Jericoacoara. Sailing is big in Búzios and off the larger resorts along the coast. Inland, the Rio Araguaia in Goiás and Tocantins is known as a fishing paradise. There are excellent opportunities for rock climbing in and near Rio and in the national and state parks, and hiking is great along the coast and in some of the national and state parks. Futebol (soccer) is the national obsession, and if you can play the game or talk about it meaningfully you'll become an instant hit with the locals.
Getting There
By Plane--Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo are the two major gateways to Brazil and are served by most international airlines. The two big Brazilian airlines -- Varig and TAM -- also operate a number of international flights. Note: Varig and TAM are undergoing merger negotiations and a number of flights are already code-shared. As of now, the details of the deal have not been worked out yet. Contact numbers given are for the United States and Canada unless otherwise stated. Please check the websites or contact your travel agency for details. Varig (tel. 800/468-2744; www.varig.com.br) is by far the largest Brazilian airline with international connections to North America, Europe, Asia, and the rest of South America. TAM (tel. 888/2FLY-TAM; www.tam.com.br) has a limited number of flights to Europe and the U.S., including a nonstop flight from Miami to Manaus. U.S. airlines that fly to Brazil include United Airlines (tel. 800/241-6522; www.ual.com), American Airlines (tel. 800/433-7300; www.aa.com), and Continental Airlines (tel. 800/231-0856; www.continental.com). Delta Airlines (tel. 800/241-4141; www.delta.com) has direct flights from its Atlanta hub. Canadian travelers can book with Air Canada (tel. 888/247-2262; www.aircanada.ca), which code-shares with Varig on flights to Brazil and offers a nonstop flight between Toronto and São Paulo. For those in the U.K., British Airways (tel. 0845/7020212; www.britishairways.com) has several nonstop flights to Brazil.
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