Brazil things to see and do

There are literally thousands of gorgeous islands and beaches along Brazil's coastline, including the chic resort of Búzios, and car-free Morro de São Paulo in Bahia. Tropical islands are liberally sprinkled off the Costa Verde between Rio and São Paulo; among the most idyllic are Ilha Grande and Ilhabela. The ultimate getaway island paradise though is Fernando de Noronha, 330 miles (540km) off the northeast coast.

Go hiking, river rafting or just chilling in the Chapada Diamantina National Park, deep in the mountains of Bahia in the northeast. This park is one of Brazil's ecotourism hotspots; an adventure playground full of forests, caves, underground lakes and waterfalls. Access to the park is via the nearby town of Capão, which attracts New Agers for its laidback alternative lifestyle.

Floating through the rainforest on an Amazonian ferry is one of the great travel experiences. The world's largest rainforest is fed by 10 of the world's 20 largest rivers, including the Amazon itself, which is the biggest river system on the planet. The usual base for trips is Manaus, but try Santarem for a lesser-known alternative.

Visit the redbrick ruins of 300-year-old Saõ Miguel das Missões, the only survivor of the once 30 Jesuit missions in southern Brazil, which formed an important role, defending the indigenous Guaraní people against colonial slavery. The building is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and, despite the ravages of time and neglect, is well worth seeing for its stylised Baroque architecture and historical interest.

The deep blue waters of coastal Brazil are superb for diving, particularly in the north, where the sea is usually warmer and clearer. The protected marine park on the island of Fernando de Noronha has probably the best diving; also the Abrolhos Archipelago, off the coast of Bahia. Southern Brazil also has some excellent dive spots, including Arraial do Cabo, Ubatuba, and Laje de Santos.

Witness the wonderful mayhem of one of the world's wildest parties. While Rio is most famed for the spectacular Carnival processions through its purpose-built downtown Sambódromo, the whole city joins in with samba school parties and fancy dress balls. The main events last three days but Cariocas keep the fun going all week.

Find out what makes this one of the happiest and hippest cities in the world. With buzzing Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, the mountain backdrop and the Cariocas’ joyful spirit, what’s not to love about Rio? Take it all in from the foot of the Christ the Redeemer statue or catch a cable car up Sugarloaf at sunset, as the city lights sparkle below – an unforgettable sight.

Watch the belojogo (beautiful game) in Rio's world-famous Maracanã Stadium. With fans dancing, singing and pounding drums amid clouds of coloured smoke, the carnival atmosphere on the terraces sometimes overshadows the game itself. Football is a national obsession and matches are passionately noisy affairs.

This spectacularly rich ecosystem in west-central Brazil is home to big cats, reptiles and hundreds of exotic birds. The Pantanal’s vast wetlands have wide-open savannah, which, unlike the Amazon’s dense rainforests, allow easy viewing of their abundant wildlife. The dry season (April-October) is the best time to visit, when animals cluster around the waterholes and the birds are breeding.