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A view of the city and beach at Jericoacoara

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IMPORTANT NEWS: Please support sustainable tourism in Ilha Grande and along the Emerald Coast. Sign a petition to repeal a decree that threatens the ecological sustainability of the entire area.

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We love just saying the word ‘Brazil’. Pronouncing it with a Portuguese lisp and slight slur makes us even happier. It reminds us of warm days and sultry nights, food and drink best consumed in company, infinity beaches, forever forests and friendships never forgotten.

We also think of size. Both big and small. Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world when measured by both surface area and population. Its 26 states pack the punch of the 10th largest economy on the planet.

But in a country so vast, we never lose sight of the dazzle of the detail. The whl.travel approach to Brazil – and the rest of the planet – is to zero in on what makes each of the awesome diversity of local climates, landscapes and people in Brazil so unique.

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FEATURE ARTICLES

A TASTE OF BELO HORIZONTE

The beautiful Brazilian horizon is not the only attraction of Belo Horizonte, the capital city of Minas Gerais state. Beagá, as locals fondly call it, is also the Brazilian capital of bars. Enjoy a cool beer, caipirinha or cachaça, as well as good food and a chance to meet or make friends. MORE…

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FERNANDO DE NORONHA: WHERE THE MOONRISE MATTERS

Summer in Brazil isn’t always about crowds and hordes of tourists. This tiny island is a peaceful gem of unspoiled beaches, secluded bays, stunning sunsets and spectacular marine life. Best yet, to preserve the pristine environment, there are limits on the number of visitors. MORE…

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: EAGLE SPOTTED RAYS OFF FERNANDO DE NORONHA, BRAZIL

An incredible shot of these beautiful and docile creatures, taken and described by whl.travel’s local partner, Pedro Paulo Godoy Capelossi. MORE…

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FLORIANÓPOLIS: BRAZIL AT ITS ZESTY BEST

Labelled ‘the hippest year-round beach scene in South America’ and famed for its legendary beauty, Florianópolis – the ‘Island of Magic’ – offers the ideal balance between adventure sports, eco-activities and an easygoing atmo- sphere, all coupled with a Brazilian zest for life! MORE…

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FINDING HEAVEN IN FOZ DO IGUASSU

Its most spectacular natural wonder and the area’s number one attraction are the thundering Iguassu Falls, wrapped in a World Heritage national park shared with neighbouring Argentina. But they’re not the only reason to visit. Escape from the grind at the city’s large and serene Buddhist Temple. MORE…

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MAKING A RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL IMPRESSION IN RIO DE JANEIRO

We love to think we’re on intimate terms with Rio de Janeiro, calling it just Rio. Fortunately, we can because we know a tour operator who can give you the fulfilment of having seen the real Rio as well as helped the local community. MORE…

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HUMPBACK WHALE CONSERVATION IN MORRO DE SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL

Elegant, mysterious and enormous, the humpback whale is breathtaking when seen up close. Interest in whalewatching tours has grown rapidly in coastal areas like Morro de São Paulo, Brazil, where tours support their survival. MORE…

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SWEET AS NATURAL HONEY: BRAZIL’S ILHA DO MEL

A pocket of calm in an otherwise chaotic world, Ilha do Mel is a pristine example of sedate beauty off the Brazilian coast. Even better, one guiding principle on this car-free isle is to preserve its unspoiled environment. MORE…

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK (10/01/10): HAWKSBILL TURTLE IN UBATUBA

This is amazing shot of an endangered marine turtle species commonly seen swimming around the snorkelling and dive sites off the coast of Ubatuba. Along with it comes word of an organisation determined to protect it from extinction. MORE…

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A TRUE DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH: BRAZIL’S CHAPADA DIAMANTINA

Once renowned for the quality of its precious stones, Brazil’s ‘Diamond Highlands’ were, until recently, perhaps the country’s best-kept secret, beloved for their spectacular natural beauty. MORE…

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RECENTLY LAUNCHED DESTINATION SITES

At present, whl.travel covers more than 20 destinations in Brazil, with travel portals to another 20 under construction. The following are the most recent destinations to have been added to the whl.travel family:

• Canoa Quebrada
• Chapada dos Veadeiros
• Ilha Grande
• Itacaré
• Manaus
• Ouro Preto
• Rio de Janeiro
• Salvador
• São Luiz
• Ubatuba

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MORE INFORMATION

Yes, Brazil’s a very big place and there’s plenty more to learn about it. In addition to all of our sites and guides, we recommend the following:

IN ENGLISH

• Official Brazilian Tourism Portal (Ministry of Tourism)
• Brazil Travel Blog
• Gringoes.com
• Maria-Brazil (”Home of Brazilian Culture on the Web”)
• Travel to Brazil blog

EM PORTUGUÊS

• Férias Brasil
• Guia Brasil para Todos
• Portal Brasileiro do Turismo (Ministério do Turismo)
• Terra – Guia de Cidades
• VCVAI.com
• Viaje Aqui / Guia Quatro Rodas

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FINGER ON THE PULSE

The whl.travel regional office for Central and South America is located in Belo Horizonte. To stay in touch with the growth of whl.travel throughout the hemisphere, follow us on:

• Facebook
• Flickr
• Twitter: @andrefranchini and @wallacefaria
• YouTube

For more information direct from our local partners in Brazil, follow them on Twitter at:

• @belo_horizonte – Belo Horizonte
• @CURITIBAtips – Curitiba
• @TripNoronha – Fernando de Noronha
• @ILHADOMELtravel – Ilha do Mel
• @RIODEJANEIROtip – Rio de Janeiro

Or read from their blogs about:

• Rio de Janeiro
• Travel to Parana (about Curitiba, Ilha do Mel, Morretes and Superagui)
• Amazon Destinations (about Manaus)

To learn a little more about whl.travel and its local connections in Central and South America, read the following articles:

• Diário do Comércio (in Portuguese)
• Próximo Destino: Brasil! (in Portuguese)
• An Interview with Pedro Paulo Capelossi of Trip Noronha (in English)

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