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|  | BRAZIL COUNTRY SNAPSHOT AND INTERESTING FACTS | "The ultimate pick 'n' mix"
Two-thirds of Brazil's population lives near the coast, meaning that life is a beach for locals and tourists alike. People are the essence of the country, and while Brazil is home to a multitude of ethnic groups of varying economic status, there are some characteristics that everyone shares - energy and passion. It's not all reserved for football either; Brazilians enjoy a good party whatever the circumstances.
Rio is the hottest of destinations, particularly around Carnival time. Dancers gyrate, the music beats and the summer temperature rises. Almost anything goes. Bodies of all ages, colours and sizes don the very minimum in beachwear and idle away the days on the sun-kissed Copacabana and Ipanema beaches. Volleyball, swimming and people-watching are but a few of the activities in which you can indulge.
Brazil's landscape is as diverse as the people who inhabit it. A rich colonial history exists, and the town of Parati is an exquisite example of eighteenth-century Portuguese architecture. The jungles and rivers of the Amazon, home to lush vegetation and exotic wildlife, incite notions of exploration amongst the intrepid, while the thundering Iguacu Falls are simply a spectacular wonder. Brazil's massive assortment of people and places renders it ripe for choice. Following three centuries under the rule of Portugal, Brazil became an independent nation in 1822. By far the largest and most populous country in South America, Brazil overcame more than half a century of military intervention in the governance of the country when in 1985 the military regime peacefully ceded power to civilian rulers. Brazil continues to pursue industrial and agricultural growth and development of its interior. Exploiting vast natural resources and a large labor pool, it is today South America's leading economic power and a regional leader. Highly unequal income distribution remains a pressing problem. Possessing large and well-developed agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and service sectors, Brazil's economy outweighs that of all other South American countries and is expanding its presence in world markets. From 2001-03 real wages fell and Brazil's economy grew, on average, only 2.2% per year, as the country absorbed a series of domestic and international economic shocks. That Brazil absorbed these shocks without financial collapse is a tribute to the resiliency of the Brazilian economy and the economic program put in place by former President CARDOSO and strengthened by President LULA DA SILVA. In 2004, Brazil enjoyed more robust growth that yielded increases in employment and real wages. The three pillars of the economic program are a floating exchange rate, an inflation-targeting regime, and tight fiscal policy, all reinforced by a series of IMF programs. The currency depreciated sharply in 2001 and 2002, which contributed to a dramatic current account adjustment: in 2003 and 2004, Brazil ran record trade surpluses and recorded its first current account surpluses since 1992. Productivity gains - particularly in agriculture - also contributed to the surge in exports, and Brazil in 2004 surpassed the previous year's record export level and again posted a current account surplus. While economic management has been good, there remain important economic vulnerabilities. The most significant are debt-related: the government's largely domestic debt increased steadily from 1994 to 2003 - straining government finances - before falling as a percentage of GDP in 2004, while Brazil's foreign debt (a mix of private and public debt) is large in relation to Brazil's small (but growing) export base. Another challenge is maintaining economic growth over a period of time to generate employment and make the government debt burden more manageable. | | 1500 | PORTUGUESE ADMIRAL PEDRO ALVARES CABRAL, FIRST EUROPEANS TO REACH BRAZIL, INITIATING PORTUGUESE COLONIZATION. | | 1502 | RIO DE JANEIRO WAS DISCOVERED ON JANUARY 1, 1502 BY PORTUGUESE NAVIGATORS WHO MISTOOK THE ENTRANCE OF GUANABARA BAY FOR THE MOUTH OF A RIVER. SUGAR LOAF WAS SEEN FOR THE FIRST TIME. | | 1531-1549 | CAPTAINCIES, UNDER PORTUGUESE MONARCHY. | | 1534 | ANA PIMENTEL TAKES ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF SAO VICENTE PROVINCE. | | 1535 | CITY OF RECIFE WAS ESTABLISHED. | | 1548 | PORTUGUESE JEWS ARE BANISHED TO BRAZIL | | 1549 | THE JESUIT ORDER WAS INTRODUCED TO BRAZIL. IT ESTABLISHED THE FIRST SCHOOLS AND MAINTAINED THEM UNTIL 1759. | | 1549-1720 | GOVERNORS GENERAL UNDER PORTUGUESE MONARCHY. | | 1554 | CITY OF SAO PAUL WAS ESTABLISHED. | | 1565 | RIO DE JANEIRO WAS ESTABLISHED. | | 1720-1808 | VICE-REIS, UNDER PORTUGUESE DIRECT RULE. | | 1727 | COFFEE WAS INTRODUCED TO BRAZIL. | | 1730 | DIAMONDS WERE FOUND IN BRAZIL. | | 1752 | BRAZILIAN TERESA MARGARIDA DA SILVA ORTA IS THE FIRST WOMAN TO PUBLISH A BOOK IN PORTUGUESE. THE BOOK TITLED, PROVERBS ON VIRTUE AND BEAUTY, WAS PUBLISHED IN PORTUGUAL. | | 1759 | THE JESUITS WERE EXPELLED FROM BRAZIL. THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO RETURN UNTIL 1842. | | 1763 | THE CAPITAL WAS MOVED FROM BAHIA TO RIO. | | 1808-1822 | 1808-PORTUGUESE KING FLEEING NAPOLEON'S ARMY, TRANSFER SEAT OF GOVERNMENT FROM LISBON TO COLONY OF BRAZIL. PERIOD OF PORTUGUESE MONARCHY DIRECT RULE. | | 1808 | AFONSO DE SOUZA ARRIVES IN RIO FOR A MAPPING EXPEDITION, AND SUGAR LOFT SERVES AS THE REFERENCE POINT FOR ALL NAVIGATORS. IN MARCH 1808, HAVING FLED BEFORE THE ADVANCE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE'S FORCES DURING THE PENINSULAR WAR, DOM JOAO VI OF PORTUGAL ARRIVED IN RIO, BRINGING WITH HIM SOME 1500 NOBLES OF THE PORTUGUESE ROYAL COURT | | 1815 | AFTER NAPOLEON'S DEFEAT IN 1815 , DOM JOAI VI DECLARES BRAZIL A KINGDOM, EQUAL TO PORTUGAL. THE UNITED KINGDOM OF PORTUGAL WAS ESTABLISHED AND RIO AS ITS CAPITAL. | | 1818 | LAND GRANTS WERE MADE TO SWISS AND GERMAN SETTLERS. | | 1822 | BRAZIL DECLARED INDEPENDENCE AND ESTABLISHED A MONARCHY, WHICH LASTED UNTIL 1889. | | 1824 | BRAZIL ADOPTED A CONSTITUTION THAT PROVIDED A FEDERAL REPUBLIC. | | 1833 | HERCULES FLORENCE INVENTS THE PHOTOGRAPH. | | 1840 | THE CARNIVAL BALL ESTABLISHED. | | 1844 | ANTHROPOLOGIST KFP VAN MARTIUS NOTED THAT APPRENTICE HEALERS OF THE COERUNA AND BORORO TRIBES INHERITED THEIR POWERS SEXUALLY FROM AN OLDER HEALER. | | 1850 | DUTCH OFFICIAL BECOME GENERAL CONSULATE. | | 1855 | THE FIRST BIG CARNIVAL CLUBS WERE BORN: THE BIG SOCIETIES (GRANDES SOCIEDADES). | | 1865 | THE CARNIVAL MARCH (OLD POPULAR PARTY WAS CREATED ON FEBRUARY 28. CARNIVAL ORIGINATED FROM THIS PARTY. | | 1880 | THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT IMMIGRATION OF GERMANS, JAPANESE, AND EASTERN EUROPE. | | 1888 | SLAVERY OF BLACK AFRICANS ABOLISHED. | | 1890 | CHURCH AND STATE WERE SEPARATED. | | 1875-1960 | OVER 5 MILLION EUROPEANS IMMIGRATED TO BRAZIL. | | 1879 | ELECTRICITY IS UTILIZED FOR THE FIRST TIME ILLUMINATING THE CENTRAL STATION RAIL WAY. | | 1882 | MARIA AUGUSTA GENEROSO ESTRELLA GRADUATES FROM NEW YORK MEDICAL COLLEGE AND HOSPITAL FOR WOMEN, BECOMING BRAZIL'S FIRST FEMALE PHYSICIAN. | | 1891 | THE FIRST CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC WAS PROMULGATED IN RIO DE JANEIRO. | | 1902 | LANDELL DE MOURA IS RECOGNIZED AS THE INVENTOR OF THE WIRELESS TELEPHONE IN A STORY PUBLISHED IN THE NEW YORK HERALD. | | 1904 | WHILE IN NEW YORK, LANDELL OBTAINS THE PATENT FOR THE WAVE TRANSMITTER (RADIOPHONE), THE WIRELESS TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE. HE CONCEIVES OF TRANSMISSION BY MEANS OF LIGHT, THUS FORESEEING THE PRINCIPLE OF FIBER OPTICS. | | 1905 | LANDELL DISCOVERS THE HUMAN RADIOACTIVE AURA AND PHOTOGRAPHS IT. | | 1906 | FIRST EXHIBITION OF VIDEO ART IN BRAZIL, ORGANIZED BY WALTER ZANINI AND PRESENTED AT THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART OF SAN PAULO. | | 1907 | THE CORSO WAS BORN, A PARADE OF AUTOMOBILES WHICH IS BECAME ONE OF THE MAIN ATTRACTIONS OF RIO'S CARNIVAL DURING THE FIRST DECADES OF THE 20TH CENTURY. | | 1908-09 | AUGUSTO FERREIRA RAMOS STARTED SUGAR LOAF CABLE CARS PROJECT | | 1911 | AUGUSTO FERREIRA RAMOS FOUNDED COMPANHIAAEREO PAO DE ACUCAR (SUGAR LOAF CABLE CAR COMPANY), AN ASSOCIATION WHICH MAINTAINS AND ADMINISTRATES THE COMPANY UP UNTIL TODAY. | | 1912 | THE FIST CABLE CAR LINE FROM RED BEACH TO URCA HILL WAS COMPLETED (OCTOBER 27TH). | | 1913 | THE SECOND CABLE TO SUGAR LOAF'S TOP WAS COMPLETED ON JANUARY 18. | | 1914-1918 | WORLD WAR I | | 1923 | COPACABANA PALACE HOTEL WAS INAUGURATED. | | 1925-1934 | TIME OF THE LARGEST NUMBER OF JAPANESE IMMIGRANTS ARRIVE IN BRAZIL. | | 1941-1945 | WORLD WAR II-JAPAN SURRENDERS IN 1945. | | 1960 | CAPITAL MOVED FROM RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL TO BRASILIA. | | 1964 | THE FIRST SEWAGE SYSTEM WAS ESTABLISHED, A TELEGRAPH LINK WAS ESTABLISHED BETWEEN RIO AND LONDON, AND A TUNNEL WAS EXCAVATED WHICH OPENED THE WAY TO COPACABANA. | | 1964 | MILITARY COUP; CENSORSHIP IMPOSED, POLITICAL OPPOSITION QUELLED. | | 1967 | PRESENT DAY CONSTITUTION OF BRAZIL ADOPTED. | | 1980-1991 | BRAZIL'S ECONOMIC CRISIS. | | 1984 | THE SAMBODROMO OPENED IN RIO DE JANEIRO. | | 1985 | CIVILIAN RULE RESTORED, JOSE SARNEY ASSUMES PRESIDENCY. | | 1985 | JANUARY 1985-"ROCK IN RIO" OPENED FOR A CROWD OF 1.38 MILLION PEOPLE-THE LARGEST ROCK EVENT OF ALL TIMES. THE EQUVALENT TO 5 WOODSTOCKS. | | 1989 | BRAZIL ANNOUNCES LARGE SCALE ENVIRONMENTAL PLAN FOR AMAZON BASIN TO CONTROL DESTRUCTION OF THE ECOSYSTEM. | | 2000 | 500 YEARS CELEBRATION. | | Open here a detailed map in a new window. Map Server Travel-Island.com. | 
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| | | RESORTS AND EXCURSIONS | The International Gateways to Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
Known as the cidade maravilhosa (the marvellous city), Rio has one of the most beautiful settings in the world. The city's spectacular harbour is dominated by the famous rocky outcrop, Pão de Açúcar (Sugar Loaf), and, further up, the Corcovado (Hunchback) peak, rising 709m (2326ft) above the Baía de Guanabara and providing the focal point for the classic Rio skyline. The Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) statue stands on top of Corcovado. Pão de Açúcar can be reached by two cable cars ascending 396m (1300ft) above Rio and the Baía de Guanabara (one leaves approximately every 30 minutes). Flocks of tourists arriving by tour buses can sometimes spoil the view, so visitors should avoid the busiest times (between 1000-1100 and 1400-1500). The Corcovado peak is located within the Parque Nacional da Tijuca, and is accessible by cog train (leaving from the Rua Cosme Velho). From the top there are magnificent views of Rio. Taxis also take visitors up to the peak and driving there will take up to an hour. Rio's other landmarks are its numerous beaches, most notably the infamous Copacabana and Ipanema. Beach life is a ritual in Brazil and different beach sections reflect different ways of life and fashions. The Girl from Ipanema beach is particularly popular with young people and is located at Posto Nine in Ipanema. Owing to strong waves and undertows, swimming off Ipanema can be dangerous. Rio's other main beaches include Flamengo, Botafogo, Leme, Arpoador, Leblon, Vidigal, Pepino and Barra da Tijuca.
Rio has many interesting museums, including the Museu Histórico Nacional, located in the São Tiago Fortress. The Museu de Arte Moderna do Rio de Janeiro contains Brazil's most important collection of modern art. The Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Niterói, designed by famous architect Oscar Niemeyer and overlooking Boa Viagem beach, showcases contemporary Brazilian art. The Museu do Folclore Edison Carneiro displays folk art and art naif. The Museu do Índio contains some 14,000 objects made by Brazilian Indians and is one of the nation's most important Indian heritage museums. The Museu da República is set in the well restored Palácio do Catete and reveals a fascinating insight into Brazilian history.
São Paulo
The view from the top of São Paulo's tallest building, the Edificio Italiano reveals South America's largest city (over nine million inhabitants) and Brazil's financial, commercial and industrial heartland. Famed throughout the continent for its abundant nightlife and shopping, São Paulo's rapidly growing population resides in a sprawling urban maze characterised by perpetual traffic jams and a chronic lack of space. While São Paulo's concrete jungle is a far cry from the colour and charm of other Brazilian cities, there are some cultural attractions on offer, notably the MASP - Museu de Arte de São Paulo with an internationally renowned collection of impressionist paintings (with works by Van Gogh and Degas amongst many others).
The Brazilian Northeast
The Northeast of Brazil is famed for its beautiful beaches and distinct history and folklore. Known as the 'Golden Coast', this region contains the states of Bahia, Sergipe, Alagoas, Pernambuco, Paraíba, Rio Grande do Norte, Ceará, Piauí and Maranhão.
Salvador da Bahia
The state capital is split into upper and lower sections. Cidade Alta, the heart of the old city, is perched at the top of a 50m-high cliff, linked to Cidade Baixa by steep streets, a funicular railway and the marvellous Art-Deco Elevador Lacerdo. The majority of Salvador's museums, palaces and churches are all concentrated within Cidade Alta and thus the city is ideal for exploring on foot. This UNESCO World Heritage Site boasts a staggering number of churches, including the impressive Church of São Francisco and the fascinating Church of Bonfim, where middle-class matrons rub shoulders with the peasantry as they gather to worship. However, religion in Bahia is not limited to the established church. The state's African legacy extends to candomble, a fusion of African and Catholic religions. Candomble followers dress in white and honour hundreds of native deities in terreiros (or cult houses) all over the city, it is possible to witness ceremonies as some terreiros accept visitors as long as they dress accordingly and are respectful.
Salvador has some of the best museums in Brazil and next to the opulent Catedral Basilica is the Museu Afro-Brasileiro, a fascinating insight into afro-Brazilian culture, with sections on candomble, capoeira and Carnaval. Other interesting museums include the Casa de Jorge Amado, Bahia's best known novelist, the Museu da Cidade and the Museu de Arte Sacra, the latter housed in a 17th-century convent.
Avid shoppers should head for the Mercado Modelo for a wide variety of goods including many examples of local handicrafts. The local cuisine (comida bahiana) is among the best in Brazil, focusing on rich African flavours. Salvador is also renowned for being the hub of Brazilian music and Salvador's central district of Pelourinho is home to numerous bars and clubs showcasing live music and afoxé (Salvador's carnival bands).
Elsewhere
Also in Bahia state, the Diamantina National Park is also well worth a visit; it contains several underground lakes (such as Lago Azul) and spectacular waterfalls (such as Veu da Noiva). The towns of Ilhéus and Aracaju with their ornate churches and colonial architecture are also worth a visit.
Piauí State contains the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Serra da Capivara National Park, that contains ancient cave paintings estimated to be over 25, 000 years old.
Alagoas state capital, Maceiô, is deservedly proud of its fantastic beaches, reputedly the finest in all of Brazil.
Pernambuco state capital, Recife, has been the beneficiary of sizeable investment to promote tourism. However despite being one of the most visited cities in the Brazilian Northeast, it still suffers from a poor infrastructure and the influx of rich, foreign tourists has made begging and street crime a real problem in the city. A world away is the nearby historical town of Olinda, infamous for its Carnaval celebrations and one of Brazil's eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Rio Grande do Norte's state capital, Natal, is divided between the commercial section of the city and its beach suburbs - clean, safe and good for surfing. Natal has several large markets and is famous for its cotton and leather handicrafts.
Ceara's capital, Fortaleza, sprawls lazily along a spectacular coastline. Blessed with excellent restaurants and an abundance of attractions for the visitor, the city is also a great place to organise a trip to Jericocoara. Just 4 hours by car, this heavenly village is nestled between a dazzling white sand-dune desert and a balmy turquoise sea.
The Interior
Few tourists venture far from Brazil's spectacular beaches but a trip into the interior reveals a different Brazil, one with a great deal to offer the visitor.
Minas Gerais
As its name suggests, this was so called after the abundant gold and diamond mines that transformed the state into a treasure trove of gold and also of baroque art. During the 18th century, the stream of riches from this region was so relentless that the Portuguese lacked sufficient ships to transport it to Europe. Almost all the gold that gilded altars in cathedrals and churches from as far north as Olinda came from Minas. In towns such as Ouro Preto, Tiradentes, Sabará and Mariana, this tidal wave of wealth resulted in the construction of hundreds of churches and civic buildings in lavish baroque style. All of the cidades históricas are immaculately preserved examples of Brazil's colonial heritage and are accessible by road from the state capital Belo Horizonte. This region's highlight for art-lovers is Aleijadinho's interpretation of 'The Passion' at the Basilica de Bom Jesus de Matosinhos. Set in gardens that gently slope towards Matosinhos town, the work is positioned in six small domed chapels filled with life-size statues that dramatise the scenes. All of the figures, including the 12 magnificent soapstone statues of prophets from the Old Testament, are all the more poignant as they were sculpted by an artist almost completely disabled by the advanced stages of leprosy and who, therefore, knew it to be his final work.
Elsewhere
Brasília, the country's capital, was built on land originally covered by cerrado (sub-tropical forest) and is renowned for its futuristic architecture, most notable in the Praça dos Três Poderes, Palácio do Planalto and the National Congress. Attracting far fewer visitors than the huge cities of Rio and São Paulo or the tropical paradise of the Northeast, Brasília has little to offer the visitor interested in Brazilian history and culture. However, it is Brazil's future and it is up to the individual to decide whether it is as attractive as Brazil's colourful past.
Mato Grosso is the gateway to the Pantanal, a vast area of wetlands approximately half the size of France and Brazil's largest ecological reserve. Flooded by the Rio Paraguai during the wet season (October to March), this region is the best place in Brazil to see wildlife. However, the region is sparsely populated, with few towns or villages and only one major road (the Transpantaneira). Therefore, in order to get the most out of the area, wildlife enthusiasts should choose an organised tour with experienced guides.
The South
Porto Alegre
In the rich southern state of Rio Grande do Sul this city caters for thousands of tourists each year, the majority of whom come from nearby Argentina. The capital has excellent museums, art galleries and restaurants to entertain the visitor, as well as delightful surrounding countryside. To the west, travellers can visit the ruins of the 300-year-old Jesuit missions, abandoned when the Jesuits were expelled from Spain. One of the most fascinating is Saõ Miguel das Missões, yet another UNESCO World Heritage site, located 58km (36 miles) from the town of Santo Angelo (a good starting point for visiting the missions). The most popular beaches in this area are the Tramandai and Torres, respectively 126km (78 miles) and 209km (130 miles) from Pôrto Alegre. In addition, the region's Gramado and Canela Mountains provide ample opportunities for walking and trekking.
Elsewhere
The state of Santa Catarina, with its island capital of Florianópolis, has superb beaches at Laguna, Itapena and Camburiu. The island is famous for its excellent surfing and watersports facilities are particularly good in the area. Further inland Blumenau and Joinville are both living testaments to the last century's massive influx of German immigration with both towns constructed in predominantly German architecture. Germanic culture is still vibrant in small towns like Pomerode (near Blumenau) where German remains the lingua franca with Portuguese only used in government offices. Blumenau's annual three-week Oktoberfest is not to be missed.
Paraná is a prime coffee-producing state with a bright modern capital, Curitiba, whose public transport system could be the envy of European capitals like London or Paris. Efficient trams run throughout the city and travellers are encased in glass tunnels that protect them from the elements as they wait for the next tram. However, Curitiba is relatively compact and (weather permitting) easy to explore on foot with most areas of interest found in the historic centre. Curitiba is famous for its parks, two of which are worth seeking out, visitors will be fascinated by the riot of vivid plumage in the aviaries of the Passeio Público, where several species of local birds are kept. A fascinating insight into frontier life and the endeavours of countless European immigrants, who moved here during the last 150 years, is the Museu de Imigração Polenesa, in the centre of Bosque João Paulo. The museum's best exhibits are the log cabins, built by Polish immigrants in the 1880s and relocated here over 100 years later.
The train journey between Curitiba and Paranaguá is a spectacular journey through dense jungle, its route strewn with memorials for the many workers who perished from tropical diseases as they constructed the tracks. Accessible by road or air from Curitiba are the world-famous Iguazu Falls, a spectacular set of 70m waterfalls, including the impressive Garganta del Diablo (Devil's Throat). Standing near the waterfalls is a humbling experience. The deafening roar of 5000 cubic metres of water cascading down each second accompanies a perpetual (and in summer temperatures, welcoming) mist that envelopes visitors. The area encompasses two national parks, each boasting hundreds of species of plant and animal life, and spans the borders of two countries, Argentina and Brazil, divided by the River Paraná. For a good view of the entire set of falls, visit the Brazilian side of the Park in Foz de Iguazu and photograph the spectacle. However, to get close enough to stare into the watery abyss, experience the Argentine side. Unfortunately, there is no access to Brazil from the Argentine Park or vice versa, so visitors wishing to see both parks must travel overland to the border crossing, about 10km south. Due to Foz de Iguazu's proximity to both the Argentine and Paraguayan borders, it is possible to visit both countries in a day trip from Foz.
The Northern Interior and Amazon
Almost entirely covered with dense rainforest, Brazil's northern interior is split into the vast regions of Amazonas, Pará, Acre and Rondônia. These massive federal states easily outstrip the land resources of many European countries and, combined, cover over 3,400,000 square km (1,300,000 square m) of endless jungle filled with countless species of life.
Rondônia and Acre
Created in 1991 Rondônia has suffered extensive deforestation. There are still natural wonders hidden away such as the stunning Teotonio and Santo Antônio Falls, accessible from capital Porto Velho. Other attractions include river trips to the Forte Principe de Beira or to Bolivia, where air taxis operate to La Paz from Guayaramerin.
Territorially annexed from Bolivia in the early 20th century, Acre is a state of contrasts with a funky capital in Rio Branco, a thriving market and university town on the river. Because of its student population, Rio Branco has good nightlife and its geographical position as a trading post has made the town an important handicrafts centre.
Amazonas
The state capital, Manaus, was transformed by the 19th-century rubber boom and nowhere is this more evident than in the Teatro Amazonas, built in 1896 in the elaborate style of the Italian Renaissance. In front of the theatre, a marble square is designed to reflect the four continents represented by four great ships. Along Avenida Sete de Setembro are numerous museums worth a visit; the Museo de Indio, Museo de Amazonas and the marvellous colonial mansion that houses the Centro Cultural de Palacio Rio Negro, an extensive archive of naturalist Alexandre Ferreira. The city is easy to navigate and offers the visitor both fine restaurants and tax-free bargains in the free trade zone. As a major port for river-traffic with arrivals and departures to Colombia, Peru and Venezuela, Manaus is an excellent starting point for river trips and guided tours into the rainforest. 25 million years ago, the volcanic activity that created the Andes blocked the Amazon's path to the Pacific, sending it on the 6400km journey to the Atlantic and thus creating the vast Amazon basin. Upriver from Manaus, the rivers Amazon and Negro meet but their waters (yellow and black respectively) run parallel for many miles in different-coloured channels.
Para and Amapa
The Eastern Amazon region is split between the states of Para and Amapa. Para's state capital Belem was founded in 1616. Situated at the Atlantic end of the Amazon estuary at the mouth of the Rio Tocantins, Belem is a thriving port city with an exquisite historical centre, dotted with splendid churches and elegant parks. The Goeldi Museum boasts the largest collection of tropical plants in the world. The docks are the location of the early-morning Ver O Peso (See the Weight) market, which was originally a slave market but still exists these days although the stalls now mostly sell fruit and produce. | PASSPORT AND VISA APPLICATION Furthermore, in order to get into many countries on the stay abroad you will require a visa of some type, even if you are just visiting. This is usually an insert, stamp or sticker which is placed in your passport and the duration of its validity varies from place to place. If you do intend to work or study in the country to which you are traveling, however, you should organize your visa even further in advance as this can take longer to process.
As well as your passport you should ensure that you have at least one other form of identification with you. This may be a driver’s license, birth certificate or any other form of ID which is acceptable worldwide. As with passports, bring at least two copies of all forms of identification in case of loss or theft.
Help to Passport and Visa Application Forms. How to find the right one(s)?
A passport is issued to you by your home country as proof of citizenship. Visas are stamped into your passport to allow you entry into other countries. Although there are exceptions, you are usually required to display your passport when entering or leaving a country. Once you arrive at your destination, carry a photocopy of your passport and keep the original in a safe place.
A visa is an endorsement or stamp entered into your passport by a foreign government. It allows you to enter that country for a specific reason and period of time. Start applying for visas as soon as your passport is available so that all your documentation is completed well before your departure date. To receive a visa you need to send your passport to an embassy or consulate of the country you want to visit. Most countries have embassies and consulates worldwide, and travel agents can usually tell you where the nearest ones are located. Keep in mind that your passport may be tied up for days or weeks until the paperwork is done, so plan accordingly. In addition, some countries require proof of yellow fever vaccination before they will issue you a visa. The amount of time spent mailing your passport to the various agencies involved can really add up if you are visiting several countries. Plan ahead if possible. If you only have a few weeks to prepare, a commercial visa service can often speed up the process. |
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