Brazil Best of Brazil in 2 Months

Coming from Argentina’s Porto Iguazú, start in the South at Foz do Iguaçu (2 days) and marvel at the world’s widest waterfalls. Then it’s off to Florianópolis (3 days), half of which sits on the beautiful Ilha de Santa Catarina, ringed with 42 beaches. Head north to Curitiba, where the Curitiba-Paranaguá train will take you through lush mountains and provide a spectacular view of canyons, plains, and ocean. From Paranaguá, catch a boat to Ilha do Mel (2 days), an island paradise that draws surfers from around the globe. Force yourself to leave these shores behind and head to Brasília (2 days), Brazil’s futuristic capital, to scope out the architecture by Oscar Niemeyer. In Brasília, arrange an excursion to the Pantanal (3 days), to see some of Brazil’s wildlife—maybe even a capybara—and fish for piranha. After getting back to nature, head to urban Rio de Janeiro (7 days): learn to samba, watch a futebol game, and bake on the city’s beautiful beaches. Leave the big city behind and head to the beautiful resort town of Búzios (2 days) to relax, either by snorkeling, shopping, or tanning. Next, travel inland to Belo Horizonte (2 days) to see the buildings that launched Niemeyer’s career. Nearby is former gold rush town Ouro Preto (2 days), declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site; wander its lovely cobblestone streets and soak up bandeirante history. From there it’s east to Bahia’s Porto Seguro (2 days), one of the first European settle¬ments in Brazil and the gateway to hip Arraial d’Ajuda (1 day), where you can relax with young Brazilians to the sound of reggae. Head north to beautiful Salvador (6 days), Brazil’s cultural capital and the heart of its Afro-Brazilian community: stroll through pastel Pelourinho, attend a roda da capoeira, hear the latest fusion musical styles, sample traditional Northeastern cuisine from street vendors, and check out the infamous Tuesday night street parties. Recover with a kayak trip or scuba dive off nearby, picture-perfect Morro de São Paulo (2 days), then head back through Salvador to Lençóis (3 days) and the lush Chapada Diamantina. Surrounded by sparkling waterfalls, green mountains, and natural pools, the town is a good base for hiking in the park. After some inland adventures, it’s back to beachfront Recife (1 day) and neighboring colonial wonder Olinda (2 days). Stay on the coast heading north to Natal; from there it’s a hair-raising buggy ride past hidden beaches and dunes to Fortaleza (3 days). Learn to forró, visit the colossal Arts and Culture Center, enjoy some incredible seafood, and then hop a bus to the far-flung tropical getaway of Jericoacoara (1 day) to windsurf or work on your tan. Head back to Fortaleza en route to Belém, where you will bid adieu to the Atlantic and sling a hammock on the deck of an Amazonian riverboat (5 days) for the breezy, enjoyable trip to Manaus.