It has to be said that most people thinking about planning holidays in Brazil probably have relaxation in mind. For many people the big attractions are the long golden beaches of Brazil’s north-east, or the small hidden coves of Buzios and Paraty. Others are attracted by the prospect of partying at Carnival, whether it’s the spectacular parades in Rio, or the street parties of the Salvador Carnival. These are certainly two famous aspects of Brazil, and for good reasons, but there’s another side to Brazil that perhaps has been ignored for too long, and that’s the potential for adventure!
- Paragliding in RioRodrigo_Soldon / Foter.com / CC BY-ND
Almost every destination in Brazil gives you the chance to push your boundaries and try a new adventure, and so even if you don’t always see yourself as the thrill-seeking type, it’s worth trying at least one sort of adventure activity, even if it’s just to get you off your sun lounger for a morning! In fact, the sheer variety of adventure activities on offer might just change the way you see things, and you wouldn’t be the first person to come back from holiday in Brazil with a new-found taste for adventure!
Most people begin their Brazil holidays in Rio de Janeiro, and even the nightlife here can be pretty wild! But if you’d like to try something a bit different to just another night out (no matter how good it might be!) or a trip up to the giant statue of Christ the Redeemer, then why not take a paragliding trip right over Rio itself? If you thought the views over the hills and bays of Rio were good from the top of Mount Sugarloaf, then just wait until you can swoop over the whole majestic picture and enjoy everything in perfect piece and tranquility, high above the crowds below.
- Iguazu FallsClaudio.Ar / Season greetings to everyone! / Water Photos / CC BY-NC-SA
Another favourite trip for people on holiday in Brazil is to see the famous Iguazu Falls, and this really is something that everyone should try and see. Ideally you should try and see the falls from both the Brazilian and Argentine sides (Iguazu sits right on the border between the two countries) as this lets you get two different perspectives on this monster waterfall system. Even better is the chance to get a third perspective by heading out onto the Rio Iguazu in a speedboat and zooming right up to the base of the Falls themselves. This is an absolute blast and – so long as you don’t mind getting soaked – hands-down the most fun way to experience the Iguazu Falls.
Heading further inland from Iguazu, you will reach the stunning Pantanal wetlands. Not many people outside of Brazil have actually heard of the Pantanal, but you have to put that down as their loss: this colossal wetlands area (about the size of Spain) is the single most bio-diverse spot in South America. That’s right: more than the Amazon. And while in the Amazon, to get to see the best wildlife can involve slogging through rainforest, in the Pantanal you can enjoy kayaking along the gentle rivers, walking through the savannah, or even horse-riding through the streams and meadows!
To the north of the Pantanal, the ground rises and dries as you reach the mountain range called the Chapada dos Guimaraes. This epic landscape of cliffs, forests and natural swimming pools is absolutely perfect for trekking, and in fact it’s arguably the best place for trekking in Brazil, alongside the Chapada Diamantina in the north-east of the country. You can easily spend a good week of your Brazil holidays here, enjoying treks in the Jurassic Park-like landscapes and perhaps trying your hand at some of the tougher adventure activities like canyoning and pot-holing…
Whatever your tastes when it comes to adventure sports, Brazil can meet your requirements and then some – adventure holidays in Brazil are getting more and more popular so why not beat the crowds and get involved now?
