Brazil Tourist Attractions - Great Reasons for a South American Vacation

Rio de Janeiro is a must see when you are in Brazil. There are so many attractions within Rio de Janeiro that you will want to make sure you spend a couple of days visiting. One of the most popular attractions is the statue of Jesus Christ, also known as the statue of Christ the Redeemer. It is 98 feet tall and is located at the top of Corcovado mountain. It is definitely a sight to see while in Brazil.

Within Rio de Janeiro you will also find Sugarloaf Mountain. It is located near Guanabara Bay and is used by many travelers as a way to located Guanabara Bay. Visitors can get to the top of the mountain by going on a cable car. Once at the top, they can see an amazing aerial view.

There are many carnivals and celebrations within Brazil, but one of the most spectacular and famous carnivals is the one in Rio de Janerio. The celebration lasts for four days and attracts approximately two million people every day. Approximately half a million of those people are visitors from other countries. The carnival is celebrated throughout much of Rio de Janeiro, including the streets, bars, clubs, and restaurants, among others.

Another amazing city to visit while in Brazil is São Paolo. Read more about the things to do in São Paulo. The Museum of Art is a great place to start your adventures in São Paolo. The architecture of the museum is amazing in itself, but once you get inside, you will see all of the great works of art that have been collected over many years.

If you are looking to go and check out some of the nightlife that São Paolo has to offer, then Vila Olimpia and Vila Madalena and Pinheiros are a few areas to visit. They are well known for the fun and exciting nightlife. There are also various shops and restaurants to go to as well.

Iguazu Falls is another amazing attraction. This waterfall is quite complex as it is not just one waterfall, but many waterfalls. The waterfalls layer down for as far as you can see, then they all plunge down below the canopy of the forest. It is a beautiful site to see while in Brazil.

The Amazon River is something that you will want to take the time to visit while you are in Brazil. This is the second longest river in the world, but is the biggest in terms of volume of water. There are over 3,000 different species of fish that are recognized within the Amazon River and there are still others that are being discovered. You can take a tour of the Amazon in order to see the various wildlife and amazing beauty of this river.

While traveling to Brazil, you could also take the time to visit Pantanal. This is a great place to go and see a large variety of wildlife that resides within Brazil. Pantanal is a large swamp and is home to a large number of Jaguars. This is the perfect place to go to see the natural beauty of this amazing wetland.

A great place to visit and relax when you take a trip to Brazil is the Salvador Beaches. The beaches range from inlets with calm waters that make it a perfect destination for swimming and other water activities to open sea inlets which are ideal for any surfer.  No matter what your preference in water activities are, you will find a beach just right for you.

All of these Brazilian tourist attractions are great reasons that make Brazil a popular tourist destination.

Photo Credit:  By Helder Ribeiro from Campinas, Brazil (Pão de Açúcar) , via Wikimedia Commons

An image of the carnival celebration in Rio.

Lots of entertainment

The carnival provides an opportunity for the people to come together, sing, dance and enjoy. Lots of parties are organized during the nights and the people can be a part of such celebrations and enjoy as much as they want. The amount of fun that you will have during the event is incomparable, so entertainment is one of the biggest reasons why people should explore this event and be a part of the celebrations.

Enjoy the Street Bands of Carnival

The carnival gives you a chance to enjoy the street bands of Brazil. Many street bands come and participate in this event so that they are able to show their talent to the people and make their place in everyone’s heart. On the other hand, people get to enjoy some fresh music which adds charm to the event thus leaving the people mesmerized. Cardao do Bola Preta, Suvaco de Cristo, Banda de Ipanema and Banda das Carmelitas are the popular bands which form an important part of the celebration.

Live Carnival Performances

Through this event, you will get to enjoy a marvelous performance of the different groups. Samba is one of the popular dance forms which are followed here, so you will get to see some good dancers who will definitely make you go crazy. The experience of watching them live is quite different and a lifetime opportunity as well. The dancers are highly trained and know how to attract people through their dance moves and excellent performance.

During the carnival, it is a bit difficult to find an accommodation in Rio for yourself so it will be good that you book your accommodation in advance to avoid problems at the last moment.

Hope you enjoy the event!

Photo Attribution:

By Sergio Luiz (Flickr) , via Wikimedia Commons

If you are planning a vacation or perhaps a business trip to Brazil it is important that you understand the various requirements and documents that you will need to secure prior to your journey.  In this post I'll take a look at the Visa requirement is if you live in the United States and want to travel to Brazil.

Brazil does not require tourist entry visas for many countries if the visit does not last more than 90 days.   However, for US citizens a tourist visa (VTUR) is required. Here is what you will need to obtain one:

(1) US issued passport with 6-month validity after staying in Brazil and must have at least a blank page in the passport for an official visa stamp. Residents of Connecticut, Rhode Island and Houston, Texas will need at least two blank pages facing side by side on their passport. Amendment pages are not allowed for visa stamps.

(2) Signed receipt for visa application and one copy thereof. Only visa applications processed online are accepted. For residents of Connecticut, the signed application receipt should be notarized. The visa form is valid only for 30 days so that travel should commence within this period.

(3) Recent 2 x 2 passport photo in color with plain white background. Alternatively, you can upload a scanned or digital passport photo online to the Global Service Order Form when applying.

(4) Proof of departure including a travel agency, airline or cruise ship showing a copy of your tickets or a system-generated itinerary

(5) Medical requirement is needed if you are from Washington D.C. in the form of a certificate of vaccination for yellow fever.

(6) For Chicago residents, a hotel confirmation is needed. If you do not plan to stay in a hotel or cruise ship, a hosting letter is needed from someone residing in Brazil where you will stay. It should be notarized by a local Brazilian notary public and addressed to a consulate in Chicago with the following details about the host: full name, contact information and home address, host ID number if a local citizen or nationality and visa status if a foreigner residing in Brazil, host's relationship with the tourist explaining how they have come to know each other, profession and employer's name, and an explanation behind the trip's purpose. A copy will do fine if the Brazilian notary mark is legible.

(7) Evidence of adequate funds that can support sojourn in Brazil for the following residents:
Atlanta and Chicago, recent bank statement with at least $1,000 balance;
Boston, latest bank statement;
Miami, 3 of the latest bank statements;
New York and Connecticut residents, recent bank statement, payslip, credit card statement or letter from your employer; and Washington DC, latest bank statement when travel calls for entering and departing by land.

(8) For minors below 18 years of ages, a copy of the birth certificate along with a Letter of Consent with signatures of both parents or legal guardian on the birth certificate authenticated by the local Brazilian embassy or consulate, plus the following:

if you are residents of Atlanta and Houston, 2 consent forms along with a couple of passport photos, 2 application forms with signatures of parents or guardians and notarized. Children 3 months to six years will need a polio vaccination certificate;
Boston, consent form and authenticated birth certificate;
Houston, 2 consent forms;
Los Angeles, consent form signed by parents and notarized, plus authenticated birth certificate;
New York, consent form with photo along with Letter of Authorization form; and
NY Connecticut, consent form along with a Letter of Authorization form.

How much does it cost?

That will depend on if you apply in person or via mail.  The last updated fee was USD $140 if you apply in person.  There are companies that will secure one for you for a fee.

Conclusion

Brazilian visas once approved can be issued repeatedly up to 10 years for a maximum of 90 days stay per entry. Processing times depend on the jurisdiction. In New York, for instance, the Brazilian consulate accepts visa application 5-7 days before the date of departure, while it could take 15 days in Chicago or as much as 6 weeks in Miami. While the visa issuance may look tedious, even a week-long vacation in Rio de Janeiro or to any of its landmarks can be well worth the hassle.

The above requirements are subject to change.

It is best to contact the Brazilian Consulate that serves your jurisdiction to make sure the information is still up-to-date.

Here is a listing of Brazilian Consulate Phone Numbers.