Brazil boasts over 70 national parks and dozens of monuments, including one of the Seven Wonders of the New World — Christ the Redeemer, in Rio de Janeiro. Together, these attractions create one of the most appealing and exciting destinations in South America. People come from every corner of the world to find silver coasts, dazzling blue oceans, sprawling metropolises, and thick jungles that are home to monkeys, jaguars, and river dolphins. Here are 8 wonderful locations to visit in Brazil:

Rio de Janeiro

A city known for its stark contrasts, Rio de Janeiro perfectly blends golden shores, tremendous forests, and a bustling metropolis to create a home for its six million residents and an exotic holiday destination for its millions of annual tourists. Besides the obvious attractions such as Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf, and Copacabana, don’t miss the more off-the-beaten-track spots such as the unforgettable TransCarioca 180-kilometer hike, or the mesmerizing sunset at Arpoador. If you love music, then you don’t need to wait for Carnival for a samba hit; head to the samba schools for their all-year-round samba shows including live music and jaw-dropping dancers.

Belo Horizonte

Belo Horizonte is known for its bar scene rather than thumping nightclubs that comprise dozens of bars packed together to create the ideal late-night drinking spot for socializing and winding down at the end of the week. For food, you’ve come to the right place as everything from mobile stalls to sophisticated restaurants serve up classic Minas Gerais cuisine molded around home comfort and slow-cooking. If art is more your thing, hire a car to Inhotim, a large interactive art gallery set within a botanical garden.

São Paulo

They don’t call São Paulo the ‘concrete jungle’ for nothing. The often misunderstood city is home to over 13 million people and is regarded as the business and financial capital of Brazil. Yet that sweeping definition overlooks the quirks and curiosities that make São Paulo the buzzing cosmopolitan city that it is. For culture, visit some of the country’s finest art galleries and museums before treating your palate at any of the international restaurants celebrated for their haute cuisine. For a change of pace, head to Praca Roosevelt for hipster bars and an alternative, liberal crowd. Pack your stamina for the nightlife that helped give São Paulo its reputation as a city that doesn’t sleep.

Olinda

Originally founded in the early 16th century by the Portuguese settlers, Olinda is a small colonial town neighboring the much larger Recife. Its collection of baroque churches, 18th century convents, and vibrantly-colored houses cling to the hillside coupling exquisite architecture with sweeping ocean views. The local bohemian crowd have restored many of the buildings into artistic hubs, creating a center of art galleries, museums, and open studios. Go there in February to experience one of Brazil’s most traditional and lively carnivals.

Fernando de Noronha

Escape from it all on this picturesque and exclusive gem. Located 350 kilometers off the coast of Brazil, you have to take a flight from Recife to get to this volcanic archipelago. With jagged coastlines, unspoiled scenery, and shallow seas brimming with tropical fish, sharks, turtles, and dolphins, this protected area grants several opportunities for relaxation on golden beaches and getting close to wildlife. The ecological sanctuary limits the number of visitors per year, which is why it still boasts some of the most breathtaking natural landscapes in Brazil.

Bonito

Bonito is located in Mato Grosso do Sul on the border of the Pantanal and comprises crystal clear freshwater pools and deep abysses that create a unique ecosystem. Nutrient-rich rivers such as the Rio da Prata nourish hundreds of freshwater species and grant pleasant snorkeling opportunities among tight-knit shoals of brightly-colored fish. From stalactite-carpeted caverns and underground lakes to a depression in the earth that supports the nest of flocks of macaws, Bonito is a place that impresses with its ecology and beauty alike.

Chapada Diamantina

Take a walk through the wild at the Chapada Diamantina National Park in Bahia. In addition to rocky landscapes of flat-top mountains and deep canyons, the landscape is dotted with incredible natural wonders such at the Cachoeira da Fumaça, one of Brazil’s largest waterfalls where the water lacks volume to reach the bottom and turns into a cloud of mist. Yet one of the most striking features in the area is the two deep, underground cavities — Poço Encantado and Poço Azul. The two pools contain water so clear that it appears the crevices are empty and the sunlight that enters gives the pool a striking electric blue hue.

Amazon

One of the most striking ecosystems in Brazil, the vast Amazon rainforest continues to be an imposing, mysterious jungle despite deforestation and illegal mining in the area. The complex ecosystem comprises hundreds of species of flora and fauna that co-exist in a network unlike any other in the world. Sustainable tours in the region are actually good for the forest by providing an income to resource-lacking locals who come to depend on tourism instead of hunting endangered animals. It also gives you the chance to explore a magnificent part of the world where river dolphins, monkeys, and brightly-coloured tree frogs call home.

Book your vacation with XcelTrip and plan your travels to these 8 wonderful locations to visit in Brazil to make memories that last a lifetime.