Brazil

From the mighty Amazon River to the glittering shores of Rio de Janeiro and on to the superb Baroque treasures of Salvador, Brazil is a nation of superlatives in virtually every way. A stable democracy and surging economy are awakening this slumbering giant of South America, pulling it into the ranks of the world’s emerging powers. Powdery white-sand beaches, lined with palm trees along the deep blue Atlantic, stretch for more than 4000 miles. Dotting this coastline are tropical islands, music-filled metropolises, and enchanting colonial towns. Inland, Brazil offers dazzling sights of a different flavor: majestic waterfalls, red-rock canyons, and crystal-clear rivers – all just a small part of its natural beauty. Its larger and more famous attractions, the Amazon and the Pantanal, host some of the greatest biodiversity on the planet.