Hi Jerome, Here's a first attempt at some Brazilian itineraries for you. Brazilians say they live in a continent, not a country. The place is huge and diverse!
Many travelers to Brazil seem to think in categories. Then they plan their itineraries around them--or so it appears to me. Here are some of the typical categories:
- Beaches/Surfing
- Carnival/Rio
- Amazonia/Eco-tours
- Trekking/Extreme sports
- Photography
- History
- Sailing
- Fishing
- Scuba
My approach is geographic, and influenced by my study of Brazilian history and literature while in college there. Brazil has five distinct regions with their own local cultures. Attention to sampling the various "regional Brazils" can be the most satisfying way to experience the country for some people:
North - Amazonia with vast forests and endless rivers
Northeast - Try the states of Pernambuco & Bahia (where every Brazilian will tell you to visit); beaches on the coast but (sometimes very beautiful) desert inland. The desert area is called the Sertão.
Southeast - This includes the three cities you mostly hear about: Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Belo Horizonte; developed, cultured, lively and expensive.
South - Getting to be almost as developed as the Southeast it includes from Iguaçu Falls inland to the Atlantic Rainforest on the coast around Florianopolis and on down to the pampas grasslands bordering Argentina in the far south at Porto Alegre.
West-Central - With the Brazilian capitol, Brasilia, plopped down in the middle of this tropical savannah it has begun to develop agriculturally. It has natural beauty like the Pantanal wildlife refuge and Bonita River caverns. Some sections are quite a tourist draw.
Like you, I travel to see friends. So I look for natural "hooks" before I settle on an itinerary. Where will my friends likely take me? What else do I really want to see in that area? On my way to that area?
Not knowing if any tour category or geo-cultural region has already caught you fancy let me suggest the following based on the built-in airline hubs.
Your international flight will likely take you to one of the big three cities of the SE (Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo or Belo Horizonte). From these places you can get anywhere in the country easily. In fact, you'll probably find yourself going through one or another of their airports multiple times as you move around the country!
