Brazil Wet and Wildlife

Though Brazil is probably best known for the plumed creatures of Carnaval and the tanned, bikinied wildlife of its beaches, travelers shouldn’t ignore the country’s spec-tacular array of animals. From rare rainbow-colored macaws to frisky pink dolphins, it’s all here. The world’s largest rainforest, the Amazon, blankets most of northern Brazil. Visit during the wet season (Jan.-June) and you’ll canoe through treetops in search of Amazon natives like the piranha and caiman. Trips start in Manaus; excellent reserves include Ilha do Marajó and Mamirauá. Though the Amazon gets all the press, the Pantanal, sprawling wetlands in Brazil’s interior, is actually the most densely packed wildlife region on the planet. On trips out of Campo Grande, Cuiabá, or Bonito, you’ll see alligators, jabarus, and capybaras, the world’s largest rodent. Both regions offer wild adventures like piranha fishing and alligator wrestling.

Travelers looking for a less dangerous wildlife encounter should head to the cities along Brazil’s coast, built on the remains of the vast waterfront Mata Atlântica (Atlantic Rainforest). The forest is home to many rare species of animals found only in the region, like the unbearably cute spider monkeys found in the streets of Rio (escaped from the Parque Nacional da Tijuca). Other wildlife-friendly national parks include Rio state’s Serra dos Órgãos and Paraná’s Superaguí. The famed waterfalls at Foz do Iguaçu are home to hundreds of cuddly, tourist-loving coatis as well as a rainbow array of butterfly species.

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