Brazilian Wave Tours - Travel to Brazil

Brazil is the largest country on the South American continent and the fifth largest country in land mass in the world. It has over 4500 miles (7300 km) of coastline on the Atlantic Ocean. The landscape of Brazil is dominated by two prominent features, the Amazon River with its surrounding lowland basin and the Central Highlands, a plateau that rises southward from the great river. There are three basic racial sources for the Brazilian people. Along with the original inhabitants, the Indians, there are Europeans, mainly Portuguese, and Africans mostly from the sub-Saharan west coast. The primary language spoken in Brazil is Portuguese. Most of Brazil is in a tropical zone, but the prevailing trade winds help to keep the temperatures moderate, usually in the 70 to 80 degree F range though temperatures approaching 100 degrees F in the north and freezing in the south are not uncommon. Normal rainfall occurs through most of the country although the Amazon region has heavy rainfall especially in the summer months (December-April). See below for more information about individual cities

Brazilian Wave Tours provides numerous Brazil travel packages; Carnival in Rio, incredible Iguassu Falls, the Afro-culture of Salvador, the dunes of Natal, Amazon Eco Tours. Brazil offers a vast array of destinations and activities. So much is available and Brazilian Wave Tours can make a trip to Brazil happen for you!

It makes no difference whether your trip to Brazil is business or pleasure, short or long, inexpensive or the luxury vacation you have been promising yourself; whatever your budget, Brazilian Wave Tours will customize a package for you. We have the knowledge and expertise of all of Brazil and can make your trip the best you have ever taken. Click on the 'tour packages' link, call, or email now for special airfares and travel packages.

City Information

Angra dos Reis - A chain of 365 islands and over 2000 beaches, this area is 94 miles from Rio de Janeiro. The islands are renowned as a tourist destination for both Brazilians and foreigners. They boast a complete array of hotels and inns, with plenty of dining and shopping options. Outdoor activities abound. Biking is available on several un-crowded paths of up to 14 km which wind through beautiful scenery including waterfalls and beaches. Surfing is popular, though the area is mainly a bay, and is available at a few of the beaches. Fishing is also well represented here with many spots where the anglers can try their luck. But the islands are really a paradise for diving. Opportunities for all levels; snorkeling, shallow dives, wreck dives, and cave dives can be found throughout the islands year-round.

Buzios - Just 105 miles from Rio de Janeiro, the peninsula of Buzios features 20 beaches with crystal clear waters and exotic vegetation. Buzios has many different hotels along its five miles of beaches and has become a paradise for lovers of good cuisine. Although relaxing at the beach is probably the most popular activity, Buzios has many other diversions to attract the visitor. The city has an eighteen hole championship golf course designed by Pete and Perry Dye. Divers will enjoy the marine fauna and crystalline clear waters which make Búzios a true "live aquarium". Underwater, the temperature stays around 70 F and is an invitation to beginners as well as veterans. Búzios has a lot of trails for mountain-biking and trekking. Most of them take you to places inaccessible by car, where you can appreciate the ecosystem or just relax at the natural pools. There are also schooner tours to view Buzios from the sea.

Fernando de Noronha - An archipelago approximately 200 miles from Natal off the coast of Brazil, Fernando de Noronha is perhaps Brazil's most exclusive destination. The island has many historic forts as well as a national marine reserve. There are many inns and one hotel, but the island only allows 420 visitors at any one time and is accessible mainly by air. Despite its seclusion, the island offers many activities but a lot of the allure of the island is to explore it on your own. There are bicycle rentals, guided kayak tours, and buggy tours around the area. Diving along the main islands and to the outlying islands is a special treat. You can also just climb to the tops of cliffs and watch the dolphin frolic in the bays.

Fortaleza - To get to know Fortaleza is to take a ride through its history. The city has modernized but it still keeps landmarks from its past, such as museums, churches, forts, public squares, stations, the Farol do Mucuripe, theatre, and historical buildings. Downtown is full of these historical sites, such as the Fort of Nossa Senhora da Assunção, built in the same spot that the city was founded, and the Palácio da Luz (Palace of Light), a beautiful building from end of the eighteenth century classic style, which was the center of the state government. Fortaleza has a warm, dry tropical climate with an average temperature of about 80 F and the humidity runs about 75%.

Iguassu Falls - The Iguassu Waterfalls are situated inside the Iguassu National Park. They were formed 150 million years ago and consist of 275 single falls, which merge into one large waterfront during times of flooding. There are 19 large falls, of which only three can be found on the Brazilian side (Floriano, Deodoro, and Benjamin Constant). The word "Iguassu" means "Great Water" in the Tupy Guarani Indians language. The river originates in the Serra do Mar and runs for 1320km through the state of Paraná before it flows into the river Paraná at Foz do Iguassu. The best view of the falls can be enjoyed from the Brazilian side. In fact, due to the geography of the falls - most of them are situated on the Argentinean side and facing the Brazilian side - all of the falls can be seen in one grand view from the Brazilian side. Before reaching the falls the river flows round a wide bend and down some rapids and then falls laterally to the bottom of a huge erosion fissure, forming the "Garganta do Diabo". The city has many hotels and inns both in the city and near the falls and there are plenty of dining options. Temperatures range from 49 F in the winter to 99 F in the summer and intermittent rain can be expected at any time during the year.

Recife/Pernambuco - Recife is the capital city of the State of Pernambuco which lies in the northeastern Brazil, very close to the equator. The sun shines all through the year; even during the Brazilian winter, the average temperature is about 80 F. Brazilians have long ago discovered Pernambuco. Recife is one of the most visited tourist cities in Brazil; the beach of Boa Viagem is among the most famous Brazilian beaches; the carnival of Recife is one of the most popular in Brazil. Other cities near Recife are also traditional tourist destinations, like Olinda and Itamaracá, or have recently become major attractions, like Porto de Galinhas. Not only beaches attract visitors to Pernambuco. The history of Recife and Olinda can be singled out from all other Brazilian cities by the influence of Europeans (both Catholic Portuguese and Protestant Dutch), Indians, and black people who have left visible traces in the structure and culture of Recife; one can walk across bridges designed by the Dutch, visit the churches built by the Portuguese, taste the delicious meals that Indians have been enjoying for centuries and dance to the sounds of music that the African slaves brought to Brazil. Recife has developed a large infrastructure of hotels, restaurants and other tourism related services. Many hotels are either by the sea or within walking distance of the beach. Restaurants are scattered throughout area, and are such a high quality and quantity they make Recife one of the dining capitals of Brazil; the regional cuisine is appreciated by all visitors, foreigners and Brazilians alike.

Rio de Janeiro - One of the world's most fabulous travel destination. Rio evokes visions of a party atmosphere in a sophisticated, modern, world class city. This city is meant to cater to all of a tourists needs with hotels, restaurants, clubs, and shopping throughout the main tourist areas. The city has an endless array of things to do from seeing all the beautiful scenery from the Corcovado Mountain (Christ Statue) or Sugar Loaf Mountain (made even more famous in the James Bond Moonraker film) to just hanging out on the famous Copacaba or Ipanema Beaches and watching all the "beautiful" people. Then there is the mother of all parties, Carnival, which is celebrated in the week leading up to Ash Wednesday. This is a party akin the the Super Bowl except everyone in the whole city participates in this one. Do not miss a chance to see it as words will never do it justice. The temperature ranges from mild to warm, so it is never a bad time to visit Rio. For more information, see our Rio de Janeiro web page.

Salvador - Salvador´s architecture heritage is rich and is made even more valuable due to the physical preservation and revitalization of the city´s natural, historical, and cultural sites. With more than 450 years of existence, Salvador has history from Brazil’s very beginning in each piece of land. That is why thousands of tourists from all over the world come to Bahia every year to visit the old palaces, rich churches, huge convents, forts, old houses, and original monuments.